JP2009027350A - Image processing device and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device and an image processing method capable of performing life-size printing with a simple apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing device comprises a photographing portion for photographing an image, an image extracting portion for extracting two or more criteria objects from the two or more criteria objects photographed with an object and the image photographed by the photographing portion during photographing by the photographing portion, a measuring portion for measuring a distance of the extracted two or more criteria objects within the image, a computation portion for calculating the scale factor at the time of printing, a removing portion for removing the criteria objects extracted by the image extracting portion, and a printing portion for printing an image from which the criteria objects are removed at the removing portion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of performing life-size printing with a simple apparatus configuration.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an invention for creating a printed matter of a life size. However, it is not known what enlargement ratio calculation means is used to obtain a life-size output image from the input image.

  In addition, an invention of a device that translates a camera portion and digitizes a large object is described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-4346.

  In general, it is possible to perform shooting while fixing the distance from the camera, calculate the shooting size from the distance of the fixed camera, the focal length of the lens, etc., and determine the enlargement ratio.

It is also possible to take an object of known dimensions together with the subject and calculate the enlargement ratio based on this.
No. 6-4346

  However, in a method using a dedicated device such as a digitizer, it takes time to shoot, and it is difficult in terms of funding and store area to provide a casual service at a general photo store.

  Also, in the method of photographing an object and a subject whose dimensions are known in advance together, a reference object of a size that does not interfere with the subject is inserted, but the reference object is reflected in the printed product of the final product. In some cases, it was not preferable.

  In addition, the calculation method based on the generally considered shooting distance from the camera and the focal length of the lens requires complicated measurement to calculate the enlargement ratio, and lacks simplicity.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and is simply taken with a general-purpose digital camera, and an enlargement ratio is calculated from the taken image, and a reference object is automatically removed to make life-size printing. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image capturing unit that captures an image, two or more reference objects that are imaged together with a subject when the image capturing unit captures an image, and an image capturing unit that captures the image. From the image, the image extraction unit for extracting the reference object, a plurality of extracted measurement units for measuring the distance in the image of the reference object, a calculation unit for calculating enlargement / reduction at the time of printing, The image extracting unit includes a removing unit that removes the extracted reference object, and a printing unit that prints the image. For an image photographed with two or more reference objects, the image extracting unit The reference object is extracted, and the enlargement / reduction ratio calculation unit calculates the enlargement / reduction ratio at the time of printing from these distances, the actual distance of the reference object, and the resolution of the printing part, and removes the reference object. The reference object is removed by the unit, and the image after removal is enlarged or reduced. It is characterized in that it is scaled up and down at a rate, and printing is performed in the printing section.

  As described above, when photographing a digital image, two or more reference objects photographed together with the subject are photographed, a plurality of reference objects are extracted from this image, and the distances thereof are measured, Calculate the enlargement ratio at the time of printing from this distance, the actual distance of the reference object, and the resolution of the printing device, then remove the extracted reference object, and after removing the reference object by the calculated magnification By simply printing the image, it is possible to easily take a picture with a general-purpose digital camera, calculate the enlargement ratio from the photographed image, automatically remove the reference object, and perform life-size printing. I can do it.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which an image captured by a digital camera is input, an enlargement ratio is automatically calculated, a reference object is automatically deleted, and printing is performed.

  The configuration of this system is shown in (Fig. 1).

  In FIG. 1, (101) is an image input unit, which is a device that reads an image as digital data. This includes PC cards, flexible disks, MO, ZIP drives and the like.

  (102) is a computer that contains a program for image processing and printing, such as Ram, which temporarily stores image data, image information, and other calculation results during operation, and a hard disk. An external storage device is included.

  Reference numeral (103) denotes a part for inputting a command such as image processing of image information, and this input form means input by a keyboard, a mouse (both not shown) or the like.

  (104) is a display device, which includes a display.

  Reference numeral (105) denotes a printing apparatus that performs printing, such as an inkjet, a sublimation type, and a color laser printer.

  (FIG. 2) shows a state at the time of photographing in this embodiment. (201) is a digital camera. (202) is a subject to be printed in life size. Reference numeral (204) denotes a background sheet at the time of photographing, and in the present embodiment, a white background. Two reference objects (203) are added to this background portion.

  These reference materials are printed in a background sheet so that shadows of these reference materials cannot be formed at the time of photographing, and good results can be obtained in the subsequent removal process.

  In addition, these two reference objects are arranged largely apart from each other, so that accuracy can be obtained when the enlargement ratio is calculated.

  (FIG. 3) is an image at the time of shooting. At the time of shooting, it is necessary to shoot an image that includes not only the subject but also two reference objects.

  Hereinafter, since coordinate values are handled when performing internal processing, the origin is set at the upper left, the Y-axis positive is set downward, and the X-axis positive is set rightward.

  The size of the photographed image is 400 * 300pixel. (301) is the scanning range of the reference extraction process of the next process.

  (FIG. 4) is an image immediately before printing, and is an image from which the reference object has been removed.

  (FIG. 5) is a GUI screen of the application of this embodiment. (501) The image input button is selected when inputting an image to be printed. When this button is selected, an image is read from a predetermined image input device (101).

  Reference numeral (502) denotes a print button. When this button is selected, the reference object is extracted, the enlargement ratio is calculated, and the reference object is removed, and life-size printing is performed by the printing apparatus (105).

  (FIGS. 6 and 7) are graphs related to the X and Y axes of the pixel value when the reference object is detected.

  (601) and (701) are threshold values, and a portion larger than the threshold value is detected as a reference object.

  When removing the reference object, pixels each having a pixel value larger than the threshold value are filled one by one.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to these drawings and the flow.

  First, shooting is performed in a set as shown in FIG. At this time, photographing is performed so that the two reference objects (203) are inserted together with the subject. The photographed image (FIG. 3) is input to the application via the image input device (101). The processing flow within the application is shown in (Fig. 8).

  In (S801), the pre-processed image created earlier is input as an input image.

  In (S802), two reference objects are detected in the target image and the positions are stored.

  If the reference object exists, the relationship between the X direction and the Y direction and the pixel value is created for the upper left and the lower right, respectively. (FIG. 6) From this graph, the center part and the region of the reference object are specified, and the respective position information is retained.

  In (S803), the enlargement ratio is calculated from the position information held in the previous process, the preset actual distance of the reference object, and the resolution information of the printing unit.

For example, if the actual distance of the reference object is 1000 mm, the distance on the image is 500 pixels, and the printer resolution is 25 dots / mm, the enlargement ratio r is
r = (actual distance) * (printer resolution) / (distance on image)
= 1000 * 25/500 = 50 (times)
It becomes.

  In (S804), the reference object detected in the previous process is removed.

  This scans the area of the reference object specified in the previous step (S802) one by one, and fills with the background pixels. In this embodiment, the pixel value of the coordinate value (0,0) that is clearly the background color is acquired as (r, g, b) = (254,245,254), and each pixel value of the area scanned in (S803) Is taken as a threshold value, and if it is significantly different from this, it is filled.

  As a result, the two reference objects are removed. The image after removal is (FIG. 4).

  In (S805), the image (FIG. 4) from which the reference object has been removed is enlarged by the calculated enlargement ratio in the previous step, and life-size printing is performed.

  Through the above steps, it is possible to calculate the enlargement ratio at the time of life size from the image in which the reference object is copied, delete the reference object again, perform life-size printing, and obtain a preferable print result.

  In this embodiment, the reference object in (S802) is detected using the relationship between the X axis, the Y axis, and the pixel value, but the neighboring region (301) is scanned one by one, and the pixel value and the edge are scanned. It is possible to substitute a method of detecting an object by detecting the object. It is also possible to improve the detection accuracy by performing contour detection processing or binarization on the image itself.

  Further, in (S804), the reference object is simply removed by painting, but this can also be finished with a more beautiful image by painting with neighboring pixels.

  Although the reference object (203) has been described as being printed on the background sheet (204), this reference object can be used as a seal so that the reference object (203) can be freely placed where it will not interfere with the subject (202). You may do it.

  Further, it is possible to perform subsequent processing on the digitized data using the digital camera (201) as a conventional silver salt camera and the image input device (101) as a scanner.

(Second embodiment)
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the process before printing (S804) is performed at the time of photographing in the digital camera.

  However, the enlargement ratio calculation (S803) is obtained in dot / mm.

X (dot / mm) = (distance on image (dot)) / (actual distance (mm))
The enlargement ratio X is used as resolution information in the image and saved.
At the time of printing, enlargement / reduction is performed based on the information and resolution information of the printing apparatus, and printing is performed.

The block diagram of the software of the system of a present Example. When photographing according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The photographed image of the first embodiment of the present invention. The image for printouts of the first embodiment of the present invention. The application screen of 1st Example of this invention. The X direction graph of the reference | standard object detection of 1st Example of this invention. The Y direction graph of the reference value detection of 1st Example of this invention. The processing flow of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (2)

An image extracting unit that extracts a reference object from an image capturing unit that captures an image, two or more reference objects that are imaged together with a subject when the image capturing unit performs image capturing, and an image that is captured by the image capturing unit. A plurality of extracted units, a measuring unit that measures the distance in the image of the reference object, a calculation unit that calculates enlargement / reduction at the time of printing, and the extracted reference object is removed from the image extraction unit A removal unit that performs printing and a printing unit that prints an image.
For an image taken with two or more reference objects, the reference object is extracted by the image extraction unit, and the enlargement / reduction is performed based on the distance, the actual distance of the reference object, and the resolution of the printing unit. In the rate calculation unit, the enlargement / reduction ratio at the time of printing is calculated, the reference object is removed by the reference object removal unit, and the image after removal is enlarged / reduced by the enlargement / reduction ratio, and the printing unit An image processing apparatus that performs printing. An image extraction unit that extracts an image of a reference object from an image capturing unit that captures an image, two or more reference objects that are imaged together with a subject when the image is captured by the image capturing unit, and an image that is captured by the image capturing unit Means, a measuring means for measuring a distance in the extracted image of the reference object, a calculating means for calculating an enlargement / reduction ratio at the time of printing, and a reference object extracted by the image extracting means. It comprises a removing means for removing and a printing means for printing an image,
For the image taken with two or more reference objects, the image extraction means extracts the reference objects, and the enlargement / reduction is based on the distance, the actual distance of the reference objects, and the resolution of the printing means. In the ratio calculation means, the enlargement / reduction ratio at the time of printing is calculated, the reference object removal means removes the reference object, and the image after removal is enlarged / reduced by the enlargement / reduction ratio, and the printing means An image processing method characterized by printing.

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