JP2008244955A - Photograph vending machine, manufacturing method for photographic sticker, photographic sticker, and program for photograph vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photograph vending machine which prints special colors, even if complicated preservation or processings for an edited images are eliminated. <P>SOLUTION: A photographic image P1 is generated by a camera 10 and the edited image P2 is generated by a photographic processings and an image editing processings. The edited image P2 includes a background image P20 and doodle images P21 and P22. The photographic image P1 and the edited image P2 are combined and a normal-color combined image P3 is generated. A hologram printing data HL is generated based on the edited image P2. The hologram printing data HL goes to "1", in an area where the edited image exists and becomes "0", in the area where there is no edited image. A normal color printing is conducted based on the normal-color combined image P3 generated here, and a hologram printing is conducted based on the hologram printing data HL. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photo vending apparatus, a photo sticker manufacturing method, a photo sticker, and a program for a photo vending apparatus. The present invention relates to a photo vending apparatus, a photo sticker manufacturing method, a photo sticker, and a program for a photo vending apparatus.

  Amusement facilities such as game centers are equipped with a photo vending apparatus that takes a user as a subject and photographs it with a camera, prints the photograph image on a sticker sheet, and sells it. These photo vending machines capture a photograph of a user and obtain a photographic image, display the photographic image on a tablet display, etc. An apparatus equipped with an image editing apparatus for inputting an image has become common. The edited image input by the image editing apparatus is combined with the photographic image, and the combined image is printed on a sticker sheet by a printer and provided to the user.

  In image editing, there is a function for inputting graffiti materials such as pens, stamps, frames, and background images. Using this function, the user edits the captured image. By such editing, the personality of the user can be exhibited, and a photo sticker with expressive power can be created.

  In the photo vending apparatus, various measures are taken so that users can create more expressive photo stickers. As one of the contrivances, there are two printing processes, normal color printing and special color printing. By superimposing normal color printing, special color printing with metallic luster such as gold, silver, and glitter is performed. Unlike normal color graffiti material, it has a function to provide sparkling graffiti material.

  Specifically, the following techniques are known.

  First, in the image printing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-110971 (Patent Document 1), image data designated by standard colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) in image data is first printed. When printing with the head, it is determined whether there is a part specified in the special color in the image data, and if it is determined that there is a part specified in the special color in the image data, the special color of the image data When overprinting is performed by the print head No. 2 and it is determined that there is no portion designated by the special color in the image data, printing by the second print head is not performed (see paragraphs 0122 to 0124). In addition, the user is allowed to select whether or not to perform special color printing (see paragraph 0114). That is, this technique is based on the premise that the image data is composed of standard colors and special colors.

  Further, an image printing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-260820 (Patent Document 2) has a special color printing unit in addition to a color printing unit, and uses the color printing unit or the special color printing unit to edit the image printing unit. A printing unit that prints the edited image that has been edited by the above-described method on a predetermined print medium, and the printing unit prints the edited image on the print medium by using a printing unit that corresponds to the color constituting the edited image. (See paragraph 0006). That is, this technique is also based on the premise that the edited image is composed of a color and a special color, as in Patent Document 1.

  In addition, in the image printing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-103888 (Patent Document 3), in order to suppress the waste of special color ink and reduce the running cost (see paragraph 0014), a special in the seal mount is used. A range limiting unit that limits a color printing range, and after printing by the first printing unit, the second printing unit sets the special color of the sticker mount limited by the range limiting unit to a special color. The ribbon sheet is used for overprinting (see paragraph 0034). The range for printing the special color is limited to be smaller than the printable range of the sticker mount or limited to the upper half of the sticker mount (see paragraph 0037). That is, this technique limits the range in which the special color is printed on the entire surface of the sticker mount for printing a plurality of photographic images.

  Further, in the photographic print providing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-153379 (Patent Document 4), primary editing is performed at an edit input location of a captured image, and the primarily edited captured image is printed by the first print head. By printing the secondary edited image with the second print head on the primary edited image of the printing medium on which the photographed image that has been primarily edited is printed, the color of the printed image is expressed by a second print head. (See paragraph 0013). In other words, this technique attempts to express an edited image by overlapping normal colors and translucent colors.

  However, all of the technologies described in Patent Documents 1 to 4 are based on the premise that the edited image is composed of a normal color and a special color as described above, and expressive power in the category of “graffiti”. They are only doing special printing to improve the quality. Therefore, in order to print the normal color portion of the edited image with normal color ink and the special color portion with special color ink, it is necessary to first separate the edited image into the normal color portion and the special color portion. is there. Furthermore, in order to enable such separation processing, the entire edited image is not stored in one image layer, but the normal color portion and the special color portion of the edited image are separately stored in two image layers. Need to save.

In such a method of specially expressing an edited image, only a part of the photographic image is specially expressed, and the expressive power of special printing is not fully exhibited. It wasn't what it was. For this reason, it has not been possible to provide a novel photo sticker that is so expressive that it overturns the image of a conventional photo sticker.
JP 2003-110971 A JP 2003-260820 A JP 2003-103888 A JP 2004-153379 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-281417 (unpublished prior application)

  An object of the present invention is to provide a photo vending apparatus, a photo sticker manufacturing method, a photo sticker, and a photo vending apparatus program that can print special colors without complicated storage and processing of edited images. is there.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  The photo vending apparatus according to the present invention includes photographing means, editing means, composition means, data generation means, normal color printing means, and special color printing means. The photographing means photographs a subject and generates a photographic image. The editing unit generates an edited image to be combined with the photographic image generated by the photographing unit. The combining unit combines the edited image generated by the editing unit with the photographic image generated by the photographing unit to generate a combined image. The data generation unit generates special color print data for specifying an area excluding all or part of the subject in the photographic image generated by the photographing unit. The normal color printing unit prints the normal color on the print medium based on the combined image generated by the combining unit. The special color printing unit prints the special color based on the special color print data generated by the data generation unit on the normal color composite image printed by the normal color printing unit.

  Here, the photographing unit is typically a digital camera, a single-lens reflex camera, a video camera, or the like, but may be a unit that receives an input of an image from the outside through a storage medium such as a memory card or a communication line. The special color is typically a hologram, but is a metal color (lamé), a fluorescent color, or the like. Further, the normal color printing means and the special color printing means may be composed of two printer heads built in one printer, and each is composed of two printers incorporating one printer head. May be.

  According to the present invention, special color print data for specifying an area excluding all or part of a subject in a photographic image is generated, and the special color is printed on the normal color composite image based on the special color print data. Therefore, the special color can be printed without complicated storage and processing of the edited image.

  Preferably, the data generation means sets the area of the edited image generated by the editing means as the area specified by the special color print data.

  Preferably, the editing unit inputs a predetermined background image as an edited image in an area other than the subject in the photographic image generated by the photographing unit, and inputs a desired image as an edited image according to a user operation. Means.

  Preferably, the photo vending apparatus further includes selection means for selecting whether or not the special color is printed by the special color printing means in accordance with a user operation. The special color printing unit prints the special color when the selection unit selects to print the special color, and does not print the special color when the selection unit selects not to print the special color.

  The method for manufacturing a photo sticker according to the present invention includes a photographing process, an editing process, a synthesis process, a data generation process, a normal color printing process, and a special color printing process. In the photographing process, a subject is photographed to generate a photographic image. In the editing process, an edited image to be combined with the photographic image generated in the photographing process is generated. The synthesizing process generates a synthesized image by synthesizing the photographic image generated in the photographing process and the edited image generated in the editing process. The data generation step generates special color print data that specifies a region excluding all or part of the subject in the photographic image generated by the photographing step. In the normal color printing process, the normal color is printed on the sticker paper based on the combined image generated by the combining process. In the special color printing process, a special color is printed based on the special color print data generated by the data generation process on the normal color composite image printed by the normal color printing process.

  The photographic seal according to the present invention is manufactured using the above manufacturing method.

  The photo vending apparatus program according to the present invention is for causing a computer to execute a photographing step, an editing step, a compositing step, a data generation step, a normal color printing step, and a special color printing step. In the photographing step, the camera is controlled so as to photograph a subject and generate a photographic image. The editing step generates an edited image to be combined with the photographic image generated in the photographing step. The synthesizing step generates a synthesized image by synthesizing the photographic image generated in the photographing step and the edited image generated in the editing step. The data generation step generates special color print data for specifying a region excluding all or part of the subject in the photographic image generated by the photographing step. In the normal color printing step, the printer is controlled so as to print the normal color on the sticker paper based on the composite image generated by the synthesis step. The special color printing step controls the printer to print the special color based on the special color print data generated by the data generation step on the normal color composite image printed by the normal color printing step.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

[First Embodiment]
1. External Configuration With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a photo vending apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a photographing space 2 for photographing and an editing space for editing a photograph image obtained by photographing. Divided into three. In the imaging space 2, the imaging device 4 and the back panel 5 are installed facing each other, and in the editing space 3, an image editing device 8 is installed adjacent to the imaging device 4. The shooting space 2 and the editing space 3 are separated from the outside by a side curtain 9 or the like.

  A background curtain unit 6 is provided slightly ahead of the rear panel 5. A plurality of background curtains 7 are wound and stored in the background curtain unit 6. The background curtain 7 has various colors and patterns, and at the time of photographing, one desired sheet is lowered to form the background of the subject. The background curtain 7 may be automatically lowered by being rotated by a motor or the like, but may be drawn by a user's manual operation and lowered. Here, a blue or green background curtain is used to enable chroma key processing.

  On the side of the photo vending machine 1, there are a coin insertion slot 31 for inserting coins, and a print discharge opening 51 for printing an image shot in the shooting space 2 and edited in the editing space 3 on a sticker sheet and discharging it. Is provided.

  When using this photo vending apparatus 1, the user first inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot 31. When a coin is accepted, the photo vending apparatus 1 will inform the user if it is available. In accordance with the guidance, the user enters the imaging space 2 from the open rear side and performs an imaging operation toward the imaging device 4. After shooting, the user moves to the editing space 3 and inputs an image editing operation toward the image editing apparatus 8, specifically, a graffiti image such as a frame, stamp, pen-written character or figure.

  Referring to FIG. 3, a camera 10 is provided at the front center of the photographing apparatus 4, a photographing operation monitor 11 is provided below the camera 10, and an illumination device 13 is provided around them.

  The camera 10 photographs a user as a subject, and a digital camera is generally used. A plurality of cameras 10 may be provided, or the camera 10 may be moved or adjusted in angle.

  The shooting operation monitor 11 displays the video shot by the camera 10 in real time. Further, a transparent touch panel 12 (see FIG. 5) is pasted on the screen, and the photographing operation monitor 11 accepts a user input operation on the touch panel 12.

  The illumination device 13 is provided on the top, bottom, left, and right of the camera 10 and the ceiling, and illuminates the subject from the front. The illuminating device 13 includes an ordinary lamp illumination such as a fluorescent lamp and a flash illumination (flash) such as a strobe. The strobe emits light at the moment when the start of shooting is instructed by the user and the image captured by the camera 10 is captured as a still image, and strongly illuminates the subject.

  In addition to the above, the illumination device is also provided on the side and rear of the subject to illuminate the subject from all directions.

  Referring to FIG. 4, image editing device 8 is installed back-to-back with imaging device 4. The image editing device 8 is a device for editing a photographic image obtained by the photographing device 4. An editing operation monitor 40 is provided at the front center of the image editing apparatus 8.

  The editing operation monitor 40 displays one or more photographic images selected from photographic images taken by the camera 10. Further, a transparent touch panel 41 (see FIG. 5) is pasted on the screen, and the editing operation monitor 40 accepts a user's editing operation on the touch panel 41. On both sides of the editing operation monitor 40, touch pens 42 for inputting graffiti images on the touch panel 41 are provided. The image editing device 8 executes an image editing process on the photographic image according to the editing operation of the user.

  After the editing is completed, the photo vending apparatus 1 prints a composite image of the edited image and the photo image on a sticker sheet, discharges it from the print discharge port 51, and provides it to the user.

2. Functional Configuration Referring to FIG. 5, a photo vending apparatus 1 includes a photographing computer device 101a that performs photographing processing, an image editing computer device 101b that performs image editing processing, and operating computer devices 101a and 101b. And a control board 102 that receives various instructions and controls various devices connected thereto. The photographing computer device 101a and the image editing computer device 101b are connected to each other and exchange image data and the like on a peer-to-peer basis. These function as control means of the photo vending apparatus 1.

  The computer apparatuses 101a and 101b are CPUs (Central Processing Units) 103a and 103b, a control program for causing the apparatus to execute a predetermined process, graphic data necessary for the process, audio data, photographed photographic image, and photographic image. Graffiti images for editing, hard disk drives (HDD) 104a, 104b for storing input edited images, and memories 105a, 105b serving as temporary work areas for control programs.

  The photographing computer device 101 a executes photographing processing in the photographing space 2. Specifically, a control signal is transmitted to the control board 102 based on an instruction signal in accordance with an input operation received on the touch panel 12 by executing a shooting process program or touching a user's finger or the like. The photographing computer device 101a is connected to the camera 10, the photographing operation monitor 11, and the control board 102 and controls them.

  The image editing computer apparatus 101 b executes image editing processing and printing processing in the editing space 3. Specifically, the image editing computer apparatus 101 b executes a control program and transmits a control signal to the control board 102 in accordance with an input operation with the touch pen 42 on the touch panel 41. The image editing computer device 101b is connected to the printer 55, the editing operation monitor 40, and the control board 102 and controls them.

  The HDD 104b in the image editing computer device 101b stores a control program. The HDD 104b also stores graffiti images such as background images and stamp images used for image editing processing described later.

  The printer 55 prints a combined image obtained by combining the edited image with the photographic image on a print medium such as sticker paper. The printer 55 of this embodiment prints an image on sticker paper, but the print medium is not limited to sticker paper and may be another print medium.

  The touch panel 12 is stacked on the photographing operation monitor 11. The touch panel 12 detects contact of a user's finger or the like, and transmits an instruction signal corresponding to the contact to the photographing computer device 101a. The imaging operation monitor 11 displays an image transmitted from the imaging computer device 101a, specifically, a photographic image captured by the camera 10, guidance for shooting, options, and the like.

  The touch panel 41 is stacked on the editing operation monitor 40. The touch panel 41 detects the contact of the left and right touch pens 42 and transmits an instruction signal corresponding thereto to the image editing computer device 101b. The editing operation monitor 40 displays the edited image transmitted from the image editing computer apparatus 101b on the photographic image.

  In addition to the computer devices 101a and 101b, the control board 102 is connected to the strobe control unit 110, strobe 15, fluorescent lamp 14, service panel 113, printing LED 52, print error LED 53, coin control unit 112, and voice control unit 111. Is done.

  A strobe control unit 110 is connected to the camera 10 and controls the strobe 15 to emit light according to the shutter timing of the camera 10. The audio control unit 111 is connected to the photographing computer device 101a and the image editing computer device 101b via the control board 102. The photographing speaker 16 is provided in the photographing space 2 and outputs guidance such as an operation method for photographing play, BGM, and the like based on an instruction signal provided from the photographing computer device 101a via the control board 102. The editing speaker 46 is provided in the editing space 3 and outputs guidance such as an operation method for editing play, BGM, and the like based on an instruction signal provided from the image editing computer apparatus 101b via the control board 102. .

  The image editing apparatus 8 includes at least the image editing computer apparatus 101b, the editing operation monitor 40, the touch panel 41, and the touch pen 42 in the above configuration.

3. Operation The operation of the above-described photo vending apparatus 1 is as follows.

3-1. Operation in shooting space (shooting process)
First, the operation of the photo vending apparatus 1 in the shooting space 2 will be described. The CPU 103a of the imaging computer device 101a implements this imaging process by reading the control program stored in the HDD 104a into the memory 105a and executing it.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the CPU 103a displays a title demonstration screen for prompting the use of the photo vending apparatus 1 on the photographing operation monitor 11 (S11), and monitors coin insertion in the coin control unit 112 during that time (S12). . When a predetermined number of coins are inserted during the display of the title demonstration screen (YES in S12), the CPU 103a selects one of a plurality of background images prepared in advance according to the user's operation (S13). ). A video (moving image) photographed by the camera 10 is displayed on the photographing operation monitor 11 in real time, but only the subject portion is cut out by chroma key processing or the like, and the selected background image is inserted into the other portion. Subsequently, the CPU 103a executes predetermined photographing (S14). Specifically, the camera 10 captures a user as a subject together with the background curtain 7 to generate a photographic image (still image).

  The user performs photographing a plurality of times according to the guidance displayed on the photographing operation monitor 11. The CPU 103a determines whether or not the number of photographing has reached a predetermined number (for example, 10 times) (S15). If the predetermined number of times has not been shot (NO in S15), the CPU 103a returns to step S13 and repeats selection and shooting of the background image. On the other hand, when the predetermined number of times of shooting has been taken (YES in S15), the CPU 103a determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 140 seconds) has elapsed since the start of play (at the time of coin insertion) (S16). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in S16), the CPU 103a executes extra shooting (S17). In the extra shooting, the selection of the background image and the shooting are repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, twice), for example, in the same manner as described above, in order to adjust the time with the user who finished normal shooting earlier or the image editing process described later.

  When the predetermined time has elapsed or after the extra shooting, the CPU 103a displays a list of all the photographic images obtained by shooting on the shooting operation monitor 11, and displays a predetermined number (for example, 4 to 6) of the photographic images. The selection is made according to the user's operation (S18). The selected photographic image is a target of editing processing described later.

  The CPU 103a transfers data of a plurality of photographic images obtained by photographing to the image editing computer apparatus 101b, and then displays a photographing end guide on the photographing operation monitor 11 (S19) and edits the image in the editing space 3. The prompting guidance is displayed on the photographing operation monitor 11 (S20). Thereafter, the CPU 103a returns to step S11 to display the title demo screen again.

3-2. Operation in editing space (image editing processing and printing processing)
Next, the operation of the photo vending apparatus 1 in the editing space 3 will be described. The CPU 103b of the image editing computer device 101b reads out and executes the control program stored in the HDD 104b to the memory 105b, thereby realizing image editing processing and printing processing.

  Referring to FIG. 7, CPU 103b displays a demonstration screen prompting to start from shooting play on editing operation monitor 40 (S21), and the data of the photographic image to be edited is transferred from shooting computer apparatus 101a. Watch for coming. Then, the CPU 103b waits for completion of preparation of all transferred photographic images (for example, image processing such as size processing and color correction) (S22).

  When the preparation is completed (YES in S22), the CPU 103b executes an image editing (doodle) process (S23). In the image editing process, the photographed photographic image is displayed on the editing operation monitor 40, and the user uses the touch pen 42 to make a favorite graffiti on the photographic image. The CPU 103b monitors the passage of time from the start of the graffiti. When a predetermined time limit (for example, 180 seconds) has elapsed, or when the “end” button for finishing the graffiti image input is operated, the graffiti image input is performed. The graffiti image (including the background image) input for each photo image is fixed as an edited image, and the image editing process (S23) is terminated. When the image editing process is completed, the fixed edited image and the photographic image are combined to generate the same number of normal color combined images as the photographic image (S231).

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 103b displays a screen prompting selection of whether or not to perform hologram printing (holo printing) on the editing operation monitor 40, and accepts the user's selection (S24). When performing hologram printing (YES in S25), the CPU 103b starts creating hologram printing data (S26), but when not performing hologram printing (NO in S25), the CPU skips step S26. Details of the process of creating the hologram print data will be described later.

  Subsequently, the CPU 103b selects a divided layout for printing in accordance with a user operation (S27). In order to shorten the play time, the hologram print data creation process and the divided layout selection process are performed in parallel. The divided layout predefines the number, arrangement, and size of edited photographic images to be printed on one sheet of sticker paper. In the divided layout selection process, one of a plurality of predetermined divided layouts is selected.

  After selecting the divided layout, the CPU 103b starts print processing for instructing printing to the printer 55 (S28), and performs print waiting processing (S29). The printing process and the print waiting process are also performed in parallel. Details of the printing process will be described later. In the print waiting process, a predetermined play (input of an e-mail address for sending an image to a mobile phone, an Viewing, creation of images for use in mobile phone emails, etc.). When the predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU 103b displays on the editing operation monitor 40 a screen for notifying the end of editing and prompting the user to take out the photo sticker from the horizontal print discharge port 51 (S30). As a result, the manufactured photo sticker is provided to the user from the print discharge port 51.

3-2-1. Details of Hologram Print Data Creation Processing Referring to FIG. 9, a photographic image P1 is generated by the camera 10, and an edited image P2 is generated by a shooting process and an image editing process. In this edited image P2, graffiti images P21 and P22 input using the background image P20 selected in step S13 and the ordinary pen (a graffiti material that can draw only a normal color line not including a metal color) in step S23. And are included. The graffiti image P21 is input in a region where there is no subject, but the graffiti image P22 is input over the subject. Here, a case where the graffiti images P21 and P22 are input using an ordinary pen will be described as an example. However, graffiti images may be input using graffiti materials such as stamps and frames instead of the ordinary pen. However, the graffiti material used here is composed only of ordinary colors, and “lame pen” composed only of metal colors, “smile pen” composed of ordinary colors and metal colors, etc. are not used.

  The photographic image P1 and the edited image P2 are combined to generate a normal color combined image P3. On the other hand, the hologram print data HL is generated based on the edited image P2. The hologram print data HL is “1” in the area where the image is in the edited image (hatched area in FIG. 9), and “0” in the area where the image is not in the edited image (area of the subject where the graffiti image P22 is not overwritten). " In FIG. 9, the graffiti images P21 and P22 are schematically shown as rectangles, but actually, they are lines constituting characters and various figures constituting stamps and frames. The hologram print data HL may be “1” only on the line, but may be “1” with a predetermined width centered on the line. As will be described in detail later, normal color printing is performed based on the normal color composite image P3 generated here, and hologram printing is performed based on the hologram print data HL. FIG. 9 only shows the relationship between the images, and the image sent to the printer 55 for printing is not a composite image or holographic print data corresponding to each photographic image, but according to a predetermined divided layout. It is the image for normal color printing and the image for hologram printing (after-mentioned) of the produced | generated substantially the same magnitude | size as the photograph sticker.

  Details of the hologram print data creation process are shown in FIG. Here, n is the serial number of the edited image currently being processed, y is the vertical coordinate of the edited image, x is the horizontal coordinate of the edited image, and N is the processing target. The total number of edited images, X is the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the edited image, and Y is the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the edited image.

  Referring to FIG. 10, CPU 103b initializes n, y, and x to 0 (S261 to S263). Subsequently, the CPU 103b executes hologram data substitution processing, and sets the hologram print data corresponding to the pixel to “0” or “1” (S264). The CPU 103b increments x (S265), and repeats the hologram data substitution process S264 until x> X (NO in S266). The CPU 103b also increments y (S267), repeats steps S263 to S266 until y> Y (NO in S268), and repeats the hologram data substitution process S264. The CPU 103b also increments n (S269) and repeats steps S262 to S268 until n> N (NO in S270). Thereby, hologram data substitution processing S264 is executed for all pixels of all edited images.

3-2-1-1. Details of Hologram Data Substitution Processing Next, details of hologram data substitution processing will be described. This process may or may not set a hologram layer during the image editing process (S23).

(A) When a hologram layer is not set First, the graffiti image input in the image editing process (S23), which is a premise for creating the hologram print data HL, will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 11, person layer M, person lower layer DN, and person upper layer UP are set in memory 105b. The subordinate layer DN has a lower priority of display or composition than the human layer M. The upper layer UP has a higher priority of display or composition than the human layer M. One set of layers M, DN, and UP is prepared for each photographic image P1. In addition, a “return” (or “UNDO”) function for canceling an input after inputting an image and a “forward” (or “REDO”) function for canceling the cancellation are generated for each shooting. A plurality of (for example, five) sets of layers may be generated. The lower person layer DN and the upper person layer UP may be composed of a plurality of layers for each graffiti material such as a pen, a stamp, a background, and a frame.

  First, a human mask MM is generated from the photographic image P1 by chroma key processing or the like. Each pixel data MM (n, x, y) constituting the human mask MM is “1” in the area where the subject is shown, and “0” in the area where the subject is not shown.

  Simultaneously with the creation of the human mask MM or with reference to the human mask MM, a region other than the subject in the photographic image P1 is made transparent and input to the human layer M. Also, referring to the human mask MM, only the area other than the subject is cut out from the selected background image P20 and input to the lower layer DN.

  Subsequently, acceptance of graffiti image input is started. Graffiti drawn in front of the subject using a normal pen, stamp, or the like is input to the upper layer UP. Also, graffiti drawn after the subject using a human pen or a human stamp is input to the human layer DN. In this case, the human mask MM is referred to and control is performed so that no image is input to the subject area. When the “eraser” button for erasing an image by tracing with the touch pen 42 is operated, the image corresponding to the position traced with the touch pen 42 is erased from each layer. When the “return” or “forward” button is operated, the set of layers holding the previous or previous image is read and set to the set of the current layer. When the “From the beginning” button is pressed again, the state before the graffiti image input is set.

  When a predetermined time limit elapses, or when an “end” button for ending graffiti image input is operated, acceptance of graffiti image input ends. Then, the upper layer UP and the lower layer DN to which the graffiti image is input are stored in an image file, and subsequent hologram print data HL is created with reference to the image file.

  The hologram print data HL is generated based on the upper person layer UP and the lower person layer DN. Specifically, with reference to FIG. 12, it is determined whether or not there is an image in each pixel data DN (n, x, y) constituting the subordinate layer DN (S2641). If there is an image (YES in S2641), that is, if all of R (red component), G (green component) and B (blue component) of the pixel are not 0, hologram print data HL (n, n, “1” is substituted into x, y) (S2642). On the other hand, if there is no image (NO in S2641), that is, if all of R, G, and B of the pixel are 0, “0” is assigned to the hologram print data HL (n, x, y) corresponding to the pixel. (S2643).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not there is an image in each pixel data UP (n, x, y) constituting the upper layer UP (S2644). If there is an image (YES in S2644), “1” is substituted into the hologram print data HL (n, x, y) corresponding to the pixel (S2645). If there is no image (NO in S2644), step S2645 is skipped.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 13, when a part of the graffiti image is transparent, it may be determined that there is an image in the transparent part or not. When a hologram is printed also on the transparent part, it is determined that there is an image in the transparent part, and when a hologram is not printed on the transparent part, it may be determined that there is no image in the transparent part. Since R, G, and B of the pixels in the transparent portion are all 0, it is usually determined that there is no image in the transparent portion. Therefore, in order to determine that there is an image in the transparent portion, for the pixels in the transparent portion, any one of colors that cannot be visually recognized, for example, any one of R, G, and B is set to “1” in advance. Good. When an image including such colors (for example, R = 0, G = 0, B = 1) is displayed on the screen, a transparency process is performed so that the input image can be seen behind the image. May be. In the case of printing, when creating an image for printing, processing such as conversion to the original R = 0, G = 0, and B = 0 may be performed. In addition, the graffiti image may be unified so that holograms are printed on all transparent portions, the graffiti image may be unified so that holograms are not printed on all transparent portions, or a mixture of these Also good.

(B) When setting a hologram layer First, the graffiti image input in the image editing process (S23) which is a premise for creating the hologram print data HL will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 14, in this case, the upper hologram layer UPH is set corresponding to the upper layer UP. Each time a graffiti image is input to the upper layer UP, “1” is input to the upper hologram layer UPH at a position corresponding to the coordinates of the input graffiti image with reference to a shape mask described later.

  In addition, since the human mask MM is referred to when creating hologram print data HL, which will be described later, graffiti images are input to areas other than the subject in the human layer DN. When a layer having a lower priority than the human layer is set, the reference of the human mask MM may be performed at the time of graffiti image input as in “(a) When no hologram layer is set”, Further, as in this example, it may be performed when creating the hologram print data HL. Further, as described later, when a layer having a lower priority than the human layer is not set, it is not necessary to refer to the layer.

  As described above, when the acceptance of the graffiti image input is completed, the upper hologram layer UPH may be stored in an image file, and the subsequent hologram print data HL may be created by referring to the image file. You may make it write in an image file directly at the time of input.

  The hologram print data HL is generated based on the upper hologram layer UPH and the human mask MM. Specifically, referring to FIG. 15, when the pixel data MM (n, x, y) of the human mask MM is “0” (NO in S 2646), that is, when there is no subject, the pixel corresponds. “1” is substituted into the hologram print data HL (n, x, y) (S2647). On the other hand, if the pixel data MM (n, x, y) of the human mask MM is “1” (YES in S2646), that is, if there is a subject, “0” is added to the hologram print data HL (n, x, y). Is substituted (S2648). If there is an image in the upper hologram layer UPH (n, x, y) corresponding to the pixel (YES in S2649), “1” is substituted into the hologram print data HL (n, x, y) (S2650). ). On the other hand, when there is no image in the upper hologram layer UPH (n, x, y) (NO in S2649), the hologram print data HL (n, x, y) is “0” as it is.

  The layer configuration described above is merely an example. If there is no personal pen or personal stamp, for example, in order from the bottom, a human layer in which a photographic image that is not extracted by the human mask MM is set, a background layer that is extracted by the human mask MM, and a human upper layer that inputs a pen or stamp You may comprise.

4). Details of the Printing Process Next, details of the printer 55 will be described in relation to the printing process. Referring to FIG. 17, a printer 55 includes a sublimation printer head 65 for normal color printing, a transfer type printer head 66 for hologram printing, controllers 67 and 68 for controlling the printer heads 65 and 66, and a printer. And buffer memories 69 and 70 for storing images to be printed by the heads 65 and 66, respectively. Here, a printer that forms an image by heat for normal color printing is used, but an ink jet printer, a laser printer, or the like may be used instead.

  Referring to FIG. 18, print medium 71 is first transported under sublimation type printer head 65 and then transported under transfer type printer head 66. The sublimation type printer head 65 forms an image by soaking the dye ink applied to the base material of the normal color ink ribbon 72 into the receiving layer of the print medium 71 by heat applied to the head. As the dye ink, normal color inks of cyan, magenta and yellow are used. A protective sheet for protecting an image printed with dye ink is affixed to the base material of the normal color ink ribbon 72, and the protective sheet is applied by heat applied to the head of the printer head 65 after printing the dye ink. Is peeled from the substrate and transferred to the printing medium. The transfer type printer head 66 peels off the hologram film spread on the base material of the hologram ink ribbon 73 by heat applied to the head, transfers it to the print medium 71, and forms an image.

  Next, details of the printing process will be described with reference to FIG.

  When performing hologram printing (YES in S31), the CPU 103b waits for the completion of hologram printing data of all images to be printed by the hologram printing data creation processing that has already been performed in parallel (S32). Here, a case where holograms are printed for all images will be described as an example. However, when a divided layout is selected, an image on which holograms are printed and an image that is not printed may be selected.

  After the hologram print data is completed (YES in S32), the CPU 103b processes the size and orientation of all the images to be printed, and each normal color composite image P3 is selected on one print medium. A normal color printing image arranged according to the divided layout and a hologram printing image corresponding to each normal color composite image P3 are created on a single print medium according to the selected divided layout. Then, the created normal color printing image and hologram printing image are transmitted to the printer 55 (S35, S36). Then, the CPU 103b instructs the printer 55 to start printing (S37). Accordingly, the printer 55 prints the normal color printing image on the printing medium, and prints the hologram printing image thereon. When printing is completed (YES in S38), the above-described series of printing processing ends.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the hologram print data HL is generated and the hologram is printed on the normal color composite image P3 based on the hologram print data HL. Holograms can be printed without complicated storage and processing. The edited image P2 here is composed of only ordinary colors because the graffiti images P20 to P22 are composed of ordinary colors, and does not include special colors such as metal colors. Therefore, the process of separating the edited image or graffiti image into the normal color portion and the special color portion is completely unnecessary.

  In addition, not only specially expressing a part of the photographic image, but also enhancing the expressive power of the entire photographic image, so it produces a novel photo sticker that is completely different from the image of a conventional photo sticker and has excellent expressive power. be able to. Specifically, since the hologram printing is performed on the entire area of the graffiti images P21 and P22 regardless of whether or not they overlap with the subject, the graffiti images P21 and P22 are uniformly decorated.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the hologram print data HL is created based on the edited image P2, but may be created based on the photographic image P1 as shown in FIG. Specifically, referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, when the pixel data MM (n, x, y) of the human mask MM is “1” (YES in S2651), that is, when there is a subject, the pixel “0” is substituted into the hologram print data HL (n, x, y) corresponding to (S2652). On the other hand, if the pixel data MM (n, x, y) of the human mask MM is “0” (NO in S2651), that is, if there is no subject, “1” is added to the hologram print data HL (n, x, y). Is substituted (S2653).

  In this case, in principle, hologram printing is performed on the area where the graffiti image is input. This is the same as in the first embodiment. However, even if the graffiti image is input, the hologram printing is not performed on the area overlapping with the subject. This is different from the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the hologram print data HL is created based on the edited image P2. In the second embodiment, the hologram print data HL is created based on the photographic image P1, but as shown in FIG. You may create based on P3. Specifically, referring to FIGS. 24 and 25, the pixel data G (n, x, y) of the normal color composite image P3 and the pixel data BG (n, x, y) of the background image P20 are obtained. It is determined whether or not they match (S2656). If the pixel data G (n, x, y) and the pixel data BG (n, x, y) match (YES in S2656), that is, if there is only a background image, the hologram print data HL (n , X, y) is substituted for “1” (S2657). On the other hand, if the pixel data G (n, x, y) and the pixel data BG (n, x, y) do not match (NO in S2656), that is, if there is an image other than the background image, the hologram corresponding to the pixel “0” is substituted into the print data HL (n, x, y) (S2658).

  In this case, in principle, hologram printing is performed on the area where the background image P20 is input. This is the same as in the first and second embodiments. However, even in the area where the background image P20 is input, the hologram printing is not performed for the area where the graffiti images P21 and P22 are input. This point is different from the first and second embodiments. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, when the character “NA” of the doodle “NAKAYOSHI” is drawn on the background image P20, the hologram print data HL on the line of the character “NA” becomes “0”.

  While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments are merely examples for carrying out the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented by appropriately modifying the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit thereof.

1 is a cross-sectional side view showing an internal configuration of a photo vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which shows the external appearance structure of the photograph automatic vending apparatus shown in FIG. It is a front view of the imaging device in the photograph vending apparatus shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. It is a perspective view of the image editing apparatus in the photograph automatic vending apparatus shown in FIGS. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the photograph automatic vending apparatus shown in FIGS. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the imaging | photography process of the photograph vending apparatus shown in FIGS. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the image editing process of the photograph automatic vending apparatus shown in FIGS. It is a figure which shows the selection screen of the hologram printing displayed by the image editing process shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the hologram printing data produced by the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and each other image. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the hologram printing data creation process in the image edit process shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a summary of the hologram print data creation process shown in FIG. 9 and shows a case where a hologram layer is not set. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of the hologram data substitution process in FIG. 10 and creating hologram data by the method shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating when hologram data is created by the method shown in FIG. 11 and when a transparent portion of an input graffiti image is hologram-printed and when hologram printing is not performed. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an outline of the hologram print data creation process shown in FIG. 9 and showing a case where a hologram layer is set. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing details of hologram data substitution processing in FIG. 10 and showing a case where hologram data is created by the method shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating when hologram data is created by the method illustrated in FIG. 14 and when a transparent portion of an input graffiti image is hologram printed and when hologram printing is not performed. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating details of the printer in FIG. 5. It is a side view which shows the printing process of the printer shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of a printing process started in step S28 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the hologram printing data produced by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and each other image. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the hologram printing data creation process shown in FIG. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing details of the hologram data substitution process in FIG. 10 and creating hologram data by the method shown in FIG. 21. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the hologram printing data produced by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and each other image. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the hologram printing data creation process shown in FIG. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing details of the hologram data substitution process in FIG. 10 and showing a case where hologram data is created by the method shown in FIG. 24.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photo vending apparatus 4 Image taking apparatus 8 Image editing apparatus 10 Camera 40 Editing operation monitor 55 Printer 65 Sublimation type printer head 66 Transfer type printer head 71 Print medium

Claims (8)

Photographing means for photographing a subject and generating a photographic image;
Editing means for generating an edited image to be combined with the photographic image generated by the photographing means;
Combining means for combining the photographic image generated by the photographing means and the edited image generated by the editing means to generate a combined image;
Data generating means for generating special color print data for specifying a region excluding all or part of the subject in the photographic image generated by the photographing means;
Normal color printing means for printing a normal color on a print medium based on the synthesized image generated by the synthesizing means;
And a special color printing means for printing a special color on the normal color composite image printed by the normal color printing means based on the special color print data generated by the data generation means. apparatus. The photo vending apparatus according to claim 1,
The photo vending apparatus characterized in that the data generation means sets the area of the edited image generated by the editing means as the area specified by the special color print data. The photo vending apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The editing means includes
Means for inputting a predetermined background image as the edited image in an area other than the subject of the photographic image generated by the photographing means;
And a means for inputting a desired image as the edited image in response to a user's operation. The photo vending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
A selection means for selecting whether or not to print a special color by the special color printing means according to a user operation;
The special color printing unit prints the special color when the selection unit selects to print the special color, and does not print the special color when the selection unit selects not to print the special color. Photo vending equipment characterized by that. The photo vending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A photo vending apparatus, wherein the special color is a hologram. A shooting process of shooting a subject and generating a photographic image;
An editing step for generating an edited image to be combined with the photographic image generated by the photographing step;
A synthesis step of synthesizing the photographic image generated by the photographing step and the edited image generated by the editing step to generate a composite image;
A data generation step for generating special color print data for specifying a region excluding all or part of the subject in the photographic image generated by the photographing step;
A normal color printing step of printing a normal color on a sticker paper based on the synthesized image generated by the synthesis step;
A special color printing step of printing a special color on the normal color composite image printed by the normal color printing step based on the special color printing data generated by the data generation step. Production method. A shooting process of shooting a subject and generating a photographic image;
An editing step for generating an edited image to be combined with the photographic image generated by the photographing step;
A synthesis step of synthesizing the photographic image generated by the photographing step and the edited image generated by the editing step to generate a composite image;
A data generation step for generating special color print data for specifying a region excluding all or part of the subject in the photographic image generated by the photographing step;
A normal color printing step of printing a normal color on a sticker paper based on the synthesized image generated by the synthesis step;
And a special color printing step for printing a special color on the normal color composite image printed by the normal color printing step based on the special color printing data generated by the data generation step. Photo sticker characterized by that. A shooting step for controlling the camera to shoot a subject and generate a photographic image;
An editing step for generating an edited image to be combined with the photographic image generated by the photographing step;
A combining step of combining the photographic image generated by the photographing step and the edited image generated by the editing step to generate a combined image;
A data generation step of generating special color print data for specifying a region excluding all or part of the subject in the photographic image generated by the photographing step;
A normal color printing step for controlling the printer to print a normal color on a sticker sheet based on the synthesized image generated by the synthesis step;
A special color printing step for controlling the printer to print a special color based on the special color print data generated by the data generation step on the normal color composite image printed by the normal color printing step is executed on the computer. A program for photo vending equipment.

Images