JP2008242650A - Image processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and program of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the time when instructed to print multiple copies of the same image. <P>SOLUTION: A photo printer determines whether or not a closed border line has been drawn on a touch panel on the basis of touch positions detected by the touch panel while a predetermined photographic image is displayed in a selection photograph display area 21 on a display. When a closed border line is drawn, the closed area of the image or the other area is set as a trimming area. In this manner, a user draws a closed border line of a desired shape on a predetermined image to set the closed area or the other area as a trimming area. The user can thus trim the image in a desired shape. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a touch input device that includes a touch panel that is superimposed on the surface of a display and detects a user's touch position is known. Various image processing apparatuses using such touch input devices have also been developed. For example, in the image processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a user wants to enlarge a portion to be enlarged in a state where an image is displayed on the display of the touch input device by pen input, A rectangular trimming frame is generated, and an image cut out by the trimming frame is enlarged.
JP-A-8-137620

  However, the above-described image processing apparatus automatically converts the shape into a rectangular trimming frame regardless of the shape surrounded by the user, and thus there is a problem that the user cannot cut out an image with a desired shape. It was.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of cutting out an image in a shape desired by a user, a control method thereof, and a program thereof. .

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention
Display,
A touch panel that is superimposed on the surface of the display and detects a touch position of the user;
Based on the touch position detected by the touch panel in a state where a predetermined image is displayed on the display, it is determined whether or not a closed region outline is drawn on the touch panel, and the closed region outline is drawn. Trimming area setting means for setting the closed area or an area other than the closed area as the trimming area in the predetermined image when it is determined that
It is equipped with.

  In this image processing apparatus, it is determined whether or not a contour line of the closed region is drawn on the touch panel based on a touch position detected by the touch panel in a state where a predetermined image is displayed on the display. When it is determined that a line is drawn, a closed region or a region other than the closed region in a predetermined image is set as a trimming region. For this reason, the user can set the closed region or a region other than that region as the trimming region by drawing the outline of the closed region of his / her favorite shape on the predetermined image. Therefore, an image can be cut out in a shape desired by the user.

  Here, the outline of the closed region may be a straight line or a curved line. Further, the shape of the closed region is not particularly limited, and may be determined arbitrarily by the user. For example, it may be a polygon (triangle, square, pentagon, etc.), a circle, an ellipse, a mountain, a star, or the like. The user may touch the touch panel with a pen or a finger. Further, the outline of the closed region may partially include an outer peripheral boundary line of a predetermined image.

  The image processing apparatus of the present invention further controls the display so that the image is displayed as it is for the trimming area, and controls the display so that the image is covered for a non-trimming area other than the trimming area. Display control means may be provided. In this way, the user can easily visually recognize the clipped image on the display. Here, when covering the image of the non-trimming region, the image may be covered by painting with a predetermined color (for example, black, gray, white, etc., although not particularly limited).

  In the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, when the trimming area setting unit determines that the outline of the closed area is drawn on the touch panel, any of the closed area and the area other than the closed area is included in the predetermined image. When the user recognizes that the user has been designated as the trimming area based on the touch position, the designated area may be set as the trimming area. Alternatively, when the trimming area setting unit determines that the outline of the closed area is drawn on the touch panel, either the closed area or the area other than the closed area in the predetermined image is not trimmed by the user. When recognizing that the area is designated based on the touch position, an area other than the designated area may be set as the trimming area. In this way, the user can decide whether to cut out the image of the closed region or the image other than the closed region according to his / her preference. The trimming setting means may automatically set the closed area as a trimming area. In this way, the user's trouble of specifying the closed area is reduced.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the trimming area setting means determines whether or not the outline of the closed area is drawn on the touch panel and the end point of the line drawn continuously from an arbitrary start point is It may be determined that the outline of the closed region is drawn when it overlaps the start point or when the lines intersect. In this way, the shape drawn by the user can be used as the outline of the closed region as it is.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the trimming area setting means determines whether or not the outline of the closed area has been drawn on the touch panel, and one end of the drawn line and the drawn line. When there is an approach point where the distance from the other end (including the other end) falls within a predetermined proximity range, it is determined that a contour line of the closed region is drawn, and the approach point is automatically connected to outline the closed region. A line may be generated. Alternatively, the trimming area setting means determines whether or not the outline of the closed area has been drawn on the touch panel, and the inter-dot distance before and after the continuously drawn line is turned back halfway. When there is an approach location that falls within a predetermined proximity range, it may be determined that a contour line of the closed region has been drawn, and the close location may be automatically connected to generate the contour line of the closed region. In this way, even if the contour of the closed region cannot be properly drawn, the contour of the closed region is automatically generated, so that the effect of the present invention can be obtained effectively. Here, the proximity range may be set as appropriate based on display resolution, empirical rules, and the like, and may be determined to be, for example, within several dots or within several tens of dots.

The control method of the image processing apparatus of the present invention includes:
A method of controlling, by computer software, an image processing apparatus including a display and a touch panel that is superimposed on a surface of the display and detects a touch position of a user,
Based on the touch position detected by the touch panel in a state where a predetermined image is displayed on the display, it is determined whether or not a closed region outline is drawn on the touch panel, and the closed region outline is drawn. When it is determined that the image has been deleted, the closed area or an area other than the closed area of the predetermined image is set as a trimming area.

  In this control method of the image processing apparatus, it is determined whether or not the outline of the closed region has been drawn on the touch panel based on the touch position detected by the touch panel while a predetermined image is displayed on the display. When it is determined that the outline of the region is drawn, a closed region or a region other than the closed region in the predetermined image is set as a trimming region. For this reason, the user can set the closed region or a region other than that region as the trimming region by drawing the outline of the closed region of his / her favorite shape on the predetermined image. Therefore, an image can be cut out in a shape desired by the user. In the control method of the image processing apparatus, a step for realizing the function of any of the above-described image processing apparatuses may be added.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing one or a plurality of computers to execute each step of the control method of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. This program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (for example, hard disk, ROM, FD, CD, DVD, etc.), or from a computer via a transmission medium (communication network such as the Internet or LAN). It may be distributed to another computer, or may be exchanged in any other form. If this program is executed by a single computer, or if each step is shared and executed by a plurality of computers, the same effect as the above-described control method of the image processing apparatus of the present invention can be obtained.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a front door 14 and a cover 36 of a photo printer 10 which is an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention are opened, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of an electrical configuration of the photo printer 10. FIG. 3 and FIG. 3 are electrical circuit diagrams of the touch panel 40 constituting the operation panel 19.

  The photo printer 10 according to the present embodiment includes an operation panel 19 provided on the upper surface of the printer main body 12, a cover 36 that is attached to the inner side of the upper surface of the printer main body 12 so as to be freely opened and closed, and covers the operation panel 19 in the closed state A printing mechanism 50 (see FIG. 2) built in the printer main body 12, a front door 14 that can open and close the front surface of the printer main body 12, and a controller 70 that controls the entire photo printer 10 (see FIG. 2, see FIG. 2). Trimming area setting means and display control means).

  The operation panel 19 includes a push button type power switch 34 that switches on and off each time it is pressed, and a touch type input device 39 capable of pen input. As shown in FIG. 3, the touch input device 39 has a transparent resistive touch panel 40 layered on the surface of a display 20 that displays characters, figures, symbols, and the like. The display 20 is a well-known color liquid crystal display in which the pixels are evenly arranged in a lattice pattern and an active element such as a TFT (thin film transistor) is disposed in each pixel and is driven. In the touch panel 40, a first conductive film 41 having electrodes 41 a and 41 b on both left and right sides and a second conductive film 42 having electrodes 42 a and 42 b on both upper and lower sides are spaced apart via a dot spacer (not shown). Of the first conductive film 41, one electrode 41a can be switched to apply a constant voltage Vs, and the other electrode 41b can be switched to be grounded as it is or via the voltmeter 43. It is. The second conductive film 42 can also switch whether one electrode 42a is applied with a constant voltage Vs, and the other electrode 42b can be switched between being grounded as it is or grounded via a voltmeter 43. Is possible. When the user performs a pen input on the touch panel 40, the conductive films 41 and 42 are pressed at the pen input position (touch position), so that they are electrically connected. That is, since dot spacers (not shown) are provided at predetermined intervals, the dot spacers are electrically connected at portions where no dot spacers are provided. Here, detection of the pen input position will be described. In detecting the pen input position, first, a constant voltage Vs is applied to one electrode 41a of the first conductive film 41, the other electrode 41b is grounded as it is, and one electrode 42a is connected to the second conductive film 42 as it is. The other electrode 42b is grounded via the voltmeter 43 without applying the constant voltage Vs (see the solid line in FIG. 3). Since the voltage value of the voltmeter 43 at this time is determined depending on the X coordinate of the pen input position, the X coordinate of the pen input position can be specified based on the voltage value. Subsequently, with respect to the first conductive film 41, the constant voltage Vs is not applied to one electrode 41a, and the other electrode 41b is grounded via the voltmeter 43, and the second conductive film 42 is connected to one electrode 42a. A constant voltage Vs is applied and the other electrode 42b is grounded as it is. Since the voltage value of the voltmeter 43 at this time is determined depending on the Y coordinate of the pen input position, the Y coordinate of the pen input position can be specified based on the voltage value. Since the touch panel 40 is transparent, the user can visually recognize the content displayed on the display 20 via the touch panel 40.

  The cover 36 is a resin plate formed in a size that can cover the upper surface of the printer main body 12. The cover 36 exposes the surface of the operation panel 19 to the outside in the open state (see FIG. 1), and the operation panel 19 in the closed state. Cover. The cover 36 includes a window 38 having the same size as the display 20. When the cover 36 is in a closed state, the user can check the display content of the display 20 through the window 38. Further, the cover 36 is held in a state of being inclined obliquely rearward with respect to the operation panel 19 in the open state. For this reason, the back surface of the open cover 36 can be used as a tray for supplying paper to the printing mechanism 50. In addition, a paper feed port 58 of the printing mechanism 50 is provided at the back of the operation panel 19, and a pair of papers that are slid in the left-right direction so that the guide width matches the paper width are provided in the paper feed port 58. Guides 59, 59 are provided.

  The printing mechanism 50 is disposed inside the printer main body 12. This printing mechanism 50 moves the paper 56 in the sub-scanning direction (front-rear direction in FIG. 2) while reciprocating the carriage 56 on which the print head 54 for discharging ink toward the paper is reciprocated in the main scanning direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2). ) Is a well-known ink jet printing mechanism that executes printing by conveying it to the head. Here, an on-carriage type in which the ink cartridge 52 for supplying ink to the print head 54 is mounted on the carriage 56 is illustrated, but an off-carriage type in which the ink cartridge is disposed at a place other than the carriage 56 may be used. Further, the print head 54 may adopt a method of applying pressure to the piezoelectric element by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element to pressurize the ink, or applying a voltage to a heating resistor (for example, a heater) to apply the ink. You may employ | adopt the system which pressurizes ink with the bubble generated by heating.

  The front door 14 is a lid for opening and closing the front surface of the printer main body 12. When the front door 14 is open, the front door 14 functions as a paper discharge tray for receiving paper discharged from the front surface of the printer main body 12. The various memory card slots 16 provided on the front surface of the user can be used by the user. A memory card M is inserted into the memory card slot 16. The memory card M stores a plurality of JPEG image files. When the memory card M is inserted into the memory card slot 16, the controller 70 assigns the photo numbers (image numbers) to all the photo images stored in the memory card M in ascending order from the oldest shooting date and time. Give. That is, photo numbers are assigned to all photo images that can be selected and set as print target images by the user.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 70 is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU 71, and includes a ROM 72 that stores various processing programs and various data, and a RAM 73 that temporarily stores data. Are connected to each other via a bus 74 so that signals can be exchanged with each other. The operation panel 19, the printing mechanism 50, and the reader / writer 18 are also connected to the bus 74. The controller 70 inputs a photographic image of the memory card M inserted into the memory card slot 16 via the reader / writer 18, as well as a detection signal from each part of the printing mechanism 50 and a command signal from the touch panel 20 of the operation panel 19. Enter. In addition to storing the edited image in the memory card M via the reader / writer 18, the controller 70 outputs a control signal to the print head 54 of the printing mechanism 50 and a control signal to the display 20 of the operation panel 19. .

  Next, FIG. 2 shows an example of an image composition screen displayed on the display 20 for the functions of the photo printer 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above. This image composition screen is a screen that is opened when a decorative frame composition function called PIF (Print Image Framer) is used. Here, a description will be given assuming that the user has already selected a desired decorative frame image from among a plurality of decorative frame images stored in the ROM 72 in advance. On the upper left of the image composition screen, a selected photo display area 21 for displaying a photo selected by the user is arranged. A photo information display area 22 is arranged below the selected photo display area 21, and the file name of the photo displayed in the selected photo display area 21 and the shooting date are displayed in the photo information display area 22. . A photo feed button 23 and a photo return button 24 are arranged on the left and right sides of the photo information display area 22. When the photo advance button 23 is touched with a pen, a photo having the newest date after the date of the photo displayed in the selected photo display area 21 is read from the memory card M and newly displayed in the selected photo display area 21. Is displayed. On the other hand, when the photo return button 24 is touched with a pen, a photo having a date that is the oldest next to the date of the photo displayed in the selected photo display area 21 is newly displayed in the selected photo display area 21. Under the photo information display area 22, a trimming area designation area 25 is arranged. The trimming area designation area 25 includes a pen button 25a for switching to the trimming area setting mode, a fill button 25b for filling an area other than the trimming area, and an erase button 25c for restoring the filled area. A cancel button 25d is provided for re-designating the trimming area from the beginning. When the user touches the pen button 25a, the mode is switched to the trimming region setting mode, and the user can draw a line with the pen on the photo displayed in the selected photo display area 21. Here, in order to specify the trimming area, the user draws a stroke on the photograph to draw the outline of the closed area, and then touches the paint button 25b and then touches the closed area or an area other than the closed area. To do. By doing so, the touched area can be designated as the trimming area. At this time, areas other than the trimming area are filled with gray and displayed in the selected photo display area 21. A composite image display area 26 is arranged on the upper right of the image composition screen. In the composite image display area 26, a decorative frame image selected and set in advance by the user before selecting a photograph is displayed. When the user touches the composition start button 27 having a right arrow shape after designating a trimming area in the selected photo display area 21, a composite image in which an image (cutout image) cut out in the trimming area and a decorative frame image are overlaid. Is generated, and the composite image is displayed in the composite image display area 26. A print number display area 28 for displaying the number of prints designated by the user is arranged on the right side of the composite image display area 26, and a count-up button 29 for increasing the number of copies and the number of copies are displayed above the print number display area 28. A countdown button 30 for reduction is arranged. A print button 31 that is touched when the composite image displayed in the composite image display area 26 is printed on the paper S is arranged at the lower right of the image composition screen.

  Next, a specific operation when the trimming area is set on the image composition screen in the above-described decorative frame composition function will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the trimming area setting routine, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the line drawn in the selected photo display area 21 and the outline of the closed area, and FIG. 6 displays the trimming area in the selected photo display area 21. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a composite image displayed in the composite image display area 26. The trimming area setting routine is a process executed by the CPU 71 when the user touches the pen button 25a on the image composition screen (see FIG. 2) to set the trimming area setting mode. The program for the trimming area setting routine is stored in the ROM 72.

  When the trimming area setting routine is started, the CPU 71 first determines whether or not a line is drawn in the selected photo display area 21 based on a detection signal regarding the touch position from the touch panel 40 (step S102). When not drawn, the process returns to step S102 again. In the present embodiment, when an arbitrary point (start point) of the touch panel 40 is pressed with a pen and the pressed position is moved while the pressed state is maintained, and the press is released at another point (end point). It is determined that a line is drawn. If it is determined in step S102 that a line has been drawn in the selected photo display area 21, one of the condition that the XY coordinates of the start point and the XY coordinate of the end point coincide with each other and the condition that the drawn lines intersect in the middle If any of the conditions is satisfied, only the outline of the closed region of the drawn lines is displayed in the selected photo display area 21 (step S106). For example, when the start point and the end point of the drawn line coincide with each other as shown in FIG. 5A, the drawn line becomes the outline of the closed region as shown in FIG. Further, when the drawn lines intersect in the middle as shown in FIG. 5B, the intersections are regarded as the start point and the end point, and the outline of the closed region is displayed as shown in FIG. 5E.

  Here, a procedure for automatically recognizing the closed region drawn in the selected photo display area 21 will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram when the closed region is automatically recognized. As shown in FIG. 6, a large number of horizontal scanning lines are arranged in the vertical direction on the selected photo display area 21, the number of dots in each scanning line is counted, and the number of dots is counted based on the number of dots. It is determined from which position of the scanning line to which position the closed line is entered. For example, if the closed region is a substantially circular region and the thickness of the contour line is one dot, all the dots on the scan line L1 are closed for the scan line L1 having the number of dots of zero or value 1. For the scanning lines L2, L3,... Having a value of 2 as the number of dots, it is determined that a region other than the region is configured. It is determined that a dot outside the range constitutes an area other than the closed area. By doing so, the closed region can be automatically recognized.

  If none of the conditions is satisfied in step S104, is there an approach point where the distance between one end (start point or end point) of the drawn line and the drawn line falls within a predetermined proximity range (for example, within 10 dots or within 20 dots). If there is such an approaching point, the approaching point is connected to automatically generate a contour line of the closed region and display it in the selected photo display area 21 (step S110). For example, in FIG. 5C, a portion surrounded by a dotted-line ellipse is an approach location, and the distance between the end point and the drawn line falls within a predetermined proximity range at this approach location. As shown in FIG. 5 (e), the contours of the closed region are displayed by automatically connecting the approach points.

  On the other hand, when there is no approaching point where the distance between one end of the drawn line and the drawn line falls within a predetermined range in step S108, the drawn line composed of a large number of dots has a folded shape, and the distance between the dots before and after the folded line is set. It is determined whether or not there is an approach location that falls within a predetermined proximity range (step S112). If there is such an approach location, the close location is connected to automatically generate a contour line of the closed region and select photo display area 21. (Step S110). For example, in FIG. 5D, a portion surrounded by a dotted ellipse is an approach location, and the distance between dots is within a predetermined proximity range at this approach location, so the CPU 71 tries to draw the outline of the closed region by the user. As shown in FIG. 5E, the approach points are automatically connected and the outline of the closed region is displayed as shown in FIG.

  The predetermined proximity range may be set as appropriate according to the display resolution, empirical rules, and the like. Further, in order to automatically connect the approaching locations in step S110, two approaching dots may be connected by a line segment, or one dot may overlap the other dot by slightly deforming the drawn line. May be.

  When a negative determination is made in both steps S108 and S112, the CPU 71 considers that the outline of the closed region has not been drawn, and erases the line drawn this time from the selected photograph display area 21 (step S114), and again performs step Return to S102. On the other hand, after the outline of the closed region is displayed in the selected photo display area 21 in step S106 or step S108 (see FIG. 5E), the selected photo display area is displayed after the fill button 25b is touched with a pen. It is determined whether or not an operation of touching 21 with a pen has been performed (step S116), and when such an operation has not been performed, the process returns to step S116 again. On the other hand, when such an operation is performed, a non-trimming area and a trimming area are set according to the touch position in the selected photo display area 21 (step S118). Specifically, if the touch position is an area other than the closed area, the area other than the closed area is set as a non-trimming area, and the closed area is set as a trimming area. On the other hand, if the touch position is a closed region, the closed region is set as a non-trimming region, and a region other than the closed region is set as a trimming region. Then, for the photo displayed in the selected photo display area 21, the trimming area displays the photo as it is, and the area other than the trimming area is displayed in a predetermined color (for example, gray or black) (step S120). For example, FIG. 7 shows the display content of the selected photo display area 21 when the inside of the closed region is touched in FIG. 5E and the closed region is set as the trimming region.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the composition start button 27 has been touched (step S122). When the composition start button 27 has not been touched, it is determined whether or not the erase button 25c has been touched (step S124). When neither the composition start button 27 nor the erase button 25c is touched, the process returns to step S122 again. On the other hand, when the erase button 25c is touched, the painting is canceled (step S126), and the process returns to step S116 again. As a result, the display content of the selected photo display area 21 returns from FIG. 7 to FIG. 5 (e). On the other hand, when the composition start button 27 is touched in step S122, a composite image is generated by superimposing the image cut out by the trimming area (cutout image) and the decorative frame image, and the composite image is displayed in the composite image display area. 26 (step S128), and this routine is terminated. The state at this time is shown in FIG. Although omitted in FIG. 4, when the cancel button 25d is touched in the middle of this routine, the process returns to step S102 in order to redo the designation of the trimming area from the beginning.

  Next, in the photo printer 10 according to the present embodiment, when using the decorative frame composition function called PIF, it is possible for the user to arbitrarily determine the order in which the cut-out images are laid out. Will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a layout setting screen. Here, the layout type is 1 up for arranging one photo on the entire surface of the paper, 2 up for dividing the paper into two photo frames and arranging the photos in each photo frame, and dividing the paper into four photo frames. The ROM 72 stores 4 ups for arranging photos in each photo frame. In addition, photo numbers stored in the memory card M are preliminarily assigned photo numbers in ascending order from the oldest shooting date and time. Further, the shape of the trimming area can be determined by the user by drawing a line as described above, or can be selected from a plurality of trimming area shapes prepared in advance. In FIG. 9, 2-up is selected as the layout, and a quadrangle is selected as the shape of the trimming area. The order of fitting into the 2-up photo frame is determined by default so that the first selected cut-out image is fitted into the upper photo frame, and the next selected cut-out image is fitted into the lower photo frame.

  In the layout setting screen, the same areas as those in the image composition screen shown in FIG. An image operation area 65 is arranged around the selected photo display area 21. The image operation area 65 includes a first enlargement button 65a for enlarging the image in the direction when the triangle is touched, a second enlargement button 65b for enlarging the image while maintaining the aspect ratio each time it is touched, A first reduction button 65c that reduces the image in that direction when the triangle is touched, a second reduction button 65d that reduces the image while maintaining the aspect ratio each time it is touched, and an image around the center of the image every time it is touched. A first rotation button 65e that rotates by a certain angle, a second rotation button 65f that rotates the image by 90 ° around the center of the image every time it is touched, and a movement button that moves the image in that direction when each triangle is touched 65g is arranged. When the user touches each of the buttons 65a to 65g, the photo image is enlarged / reduced, rotated, or moved while the position of the trimming area (rectangle in FIG. 9) in the selected photo display area 21 is fixed. When the user operates the photographic image so as to have a desired size, angle, and position using the buttons 65a to 65g and then touches the composition start button 27 having the right arrow shape, the image ( A composite image in which the cut-out image) is inserted into the photo frame 2 up is generated, and the composite image is displayed in the composite image display area 26. At the same time, an image operation area similar to the image operation area 65 is displayed around the composite image display area 26. This image operation area operates the cut-out image displayed in the composite image display area 26. Is for. The user operates the cut-out image so as to have a desired size, angle, and position by using each button in the image operation area. Here, it is assumed that the user has moved the cutout image from the upper photo frame to the lower photo frame. That is, it is assumed that the order in which the cut-out images are laid out is changed from the default order. Further, the user touches the back color designation button 66 as necessary, and determines the back color (background color) while checking the color in the composite image display area 26. After that, when another photo is selected with the photo advance button 23 or the photo return button 24 to set a cut-out image, and the composition start button 27 is touched, the cut-out image is fitted into an empty photo frame of 2 up. Then, after touching the count-up button 29 or the count-down button 30 so that the desired number of copies is obtained, the print button 31 is touched. Then, printing on the paper S is executed by the printing mechanism 50. It should be noted that by touching the layout registration button 68 as necessary, information on the layout displayed in the composite image display area 26 (for example, when a photograph is placed in two photo frames at the time of 2-up, the first selection is made) The memory card M or the like can be stored in a memory card M or the like (information such that the cutout image is arranged in the lower photo frame and the next selected cutout image is in the upper photo frame). The saved layout information can be used from the next time.

  According to the photo printer 10 of the present embodiment described in detail above, when the user draws the outline of the closed region of his / her favorite shape on the photographic image displayed in the selected photo display area 21, the closed region is Since the trimming area is set, the image can be cut out in a shape desired by the user. Also, the photographic image is displayed as it is in the selected photo display area 21 in the trimming area, and the photographic image is filled and displayed in the non-trimming area other than the trimming area, so that the user can easily display the cut image on the display 20. Can be visually recognized. Furthermore, after drawing the outline of the closed region, the user can decide whether to cut out the image of the closed region or to cut out an image other than the closed region according to his / her preference. Furthermore, even if the user cannot properly draw the contour of the closed region, the contour of the closed region is automatically generated, so that the effect of the present invention can be obtained effectively.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, after the outline of the closed region is drawn in the selected photo display area 21, the user touches the non-trimming region, that is, the region to be filled. May be touched. Specifically, if the touch position is a closed area, the closed area is set as a trimming area, the area other than the closed area is set as a non-trimming area, and if the touch position is an area other than the closed area, the area other than the closed area is set. This area is set as a trimming area, and the closed area is set as a non-trimming area. Alternatively, when the outline of the closed region is drawn in the selected photo display area 21, the closed region is automatically set as a trimming region without waiting for the user's touch operation, and the region other than the closed region is set as a non-trimming region. May be.

  In step S104 of the embodiment described above, when the drawn line intersects with the outer peripheral boundary line 21a of the selected photograph display area 21 as shown in FIG. 10A, the portion 21b delimited by the drawn line in the outer peripheral boundary line 21a. May be regarded as a drawn line, and it may be determined that the condition that the XY coordinates of the start point and the XY coordinates of the end point coincide with each other for convenience. The outline of the closed region at this time is shown in FIG. By doing so, the outline of the closed region is completed simply by dividing the image displayed in the selected photo display area 21 with the drawn lines, which is highly convenient for the user.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where only one closed area is drawn with one stroke is illustrated. However, when a plurality of closed areas are drawn with one stroke, only the first closed area may be adopted. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the resistive film method is adopted as the touch panel 40, but other methods such as an infrared method, an analog capacitive coupling method, and an ultrasonic method may be adopted. In either case, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the photographic image stored in the memory card M is used. However, it is stored in an external device (for example, a digital camera, a mobile phone, a CD / DVD drive device, etc.) connected to the photo printer 10. The photographic image may be used, or the photographic image distributed to the photo printer 10 via the network may be stored and used. Further, an image (document, table, graph, etc.) other than a photographic image may be used as the print target image.

  In the above-described embodiment, the inkjet photo printer 10 is exemplified as the image processing apparatus. However, the present invention may be applied to a multifunction printer having a scanner in addition to the inkjet printing mechanism, a fax, and the like. The present invention may be applied to a touch input device that does not have the printing mechanism 50.

The perspective view of the state which opened the front door and cover of the photo printer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an electrical configuration of a photo printer. The electric circuit diagram of the touch panel which comprises an operation panel. The flowchart of a trimming area | region setting routine. Explanatory drawing of the outline of the closed area drawn in the selection photograph display area. Explanatory drawing when a closed area | region is recognized automatically. Explanatory drawing which shows an example at the time of making a closed area | region into a trimming area | region. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the synthesized image of a cut-out image and a decoration frame image. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of a layout setting screen. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of the outline of the closed area drawn in the selection photograph display area.

Explanation of symbols

10 Photo printer, 12 Printer body, 14 Front door, 16 Memory card slot, 18 Reader / writer, 19 Operation panel, 20 Display, 21 Selected photo display area, 22 Photo information display area, 23 Photo feed button, 24 Photo return button, 25 Trimming area designation area, 25a Pen button, 25b Fill button, 25c Erase button, 25d Cancel button, 26 Composite image display area, 27 Compositing start button, 28 Print number display area, 29 Count up button, 30 Count down button, 31 Print button, 34 Power switch, 36 Cover, 38 Window, 39 Touch input device, 40 Touch panel, 41 First conductive film, 41a, 41b electrode, 42 Second conductive film, 42a, 42b electrode, 43 Voltmeter, 50 mark Mechanism, 52 Ink cartridge, 54 Print head, 56 Carriage, 58 Paper feed port, 59 Paper guide, 65 Image operation area, 65a First enlargement button, 65b Second enlargement button, 65c First reduction button, 65d Second reduction button , 65e First rotation button, 65f Second rotation button, 65g Move button, 66 Back color designation button, 68 Layout registration button, 70 Controller, 71 CPU, 72 ROM, 73 RAM, 74 bus.

Claims (9)

Display,
A touch panel that is superimposed on the surface of the display and detects a touch position of the user;
Based on the touch position detected by the touch panel in a state where a predetermined image is displayed on the display, it is determined whether or not a closed region outline is drawn on the touch panel, and the closed region outline is drawn. Trimming area setting means for setting the closed area or an area other than the closed area as the trimming area in the predetermined image when it is determined that
An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
An image processing apparatus comprising: a display control unit configured to control the display so that the image is displayed as it is for the trimming area, and to control the display so that the image is covered for a non-trimming area other than the trimming area. . When the trimming area setting means determines that the outline of the closed area has been drawn on the touch panel, either the closed area or the area other than the closed area of the predetermined image is designated as a trimming area by the user. When it is recognized based on the touch position, the designated area is set as a trimming area.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. When the trimming area setting unit determines that the outline of the closed area is drawn on the touch panel, either the closed area or the area other than the closed area of the predetermined image is set as a non-trimming area by the user. When recognizing that it is designated based on the touch position, an area other than the designated area is set as a trimming area.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The trimming area setting means determines whether a contour line of a closed area is drawn on the touch panel when an end point of a line drawn continuously from an arbitrary start point overlaps the start point, or It is determined that the outline of the closed area is drawn when the lines intersect.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The trimming area setting means determines whether a contour line of a closed area has been drawn on the touch panel, one end of a continuously drawn line and the drawn line (including the other end). When there is an approach point where the distance falls within a predetermined proximity range, it is determined that the outline of the closed region has been drawn, and the approach point is automatically connected to generate the outline of the closed region.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. In determining whether or not the outline of the closed region has been drawn on the touch panel, the trimming region setting means wraps the continuously drawn line in the middle and sets a predetermined inter-dot distance before and after the wrapping. When there is an approaching point that falls within the proximity range, it is determined that a contour of the closed region has been drawn, and the approaching point is automatically connected to generate a contour of the closed region.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. A method of controlling, by computer software, an image processing apparatus including a display and a touch panel that is superimposed on a surface of the display and detects a touch position of a user,
Based on the touch position detected by the touch panel in a state where a predetermined image is displayed on the display, it is determined whether or not a closed region outline is drawn on the touch panel, and the closed region outline is drawn. When it is determined that the closed region of the predetermined image or a region other than the closed region is set as a trimming region,
A method for controlling an image processing apparatus.   A program for causing one or more computers to execute each step according to claim 8.

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