JP2009071681A - Image processing device, its control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit the setting of a parameter employed for the photographing process, development process or correcting process of an image simply by a user. <P>SOLUTION: When a drag and drop is carried out onto an image under being displayed by an icon, the control parameter is determined based on a setting file related to the icon and the drop position information of the icon. A camera carries out photographing process and developing process based on the control parameter. Alternatively, the image processing device carries out the development process or the correcting process. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to setting of parameters used in image processing.

Conventionally, when a personal computer sets shooting control parameters and transmits them to a remote camera, the camera executes a shooting process based on the shooting control parameters.
JP 2007-208526 A

  The user may further specify the position of the camera in the shooting range to control the shooting process. For example, in spot metering, it is possible to specify exposure by determining the metering position.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it enables a user to easily set an image processing control parameter and a reference position by an intuitive operation without trouble.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention includes a display unit that displays an image;
Based on the position information and the setting file, the detecting means for detecting the position where the icon is dragged and dropped on the image and acquiring the position information, the acquiring means for acquiring the setting file associated with the icon, and the control A determination unit configured to determine a parameter, and an imaging process, a development process, or a correction process for the image is executed according to the control parameter.

  According to the present invention, the user can set the control parameter and the reference position used for image shooting processing, development processing, and correction processing with a simple operation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image processing system having a camera 100 and an image processing apparatus 101. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the camera 100 includes an imaging unit 111, a developing unit 112, a storage unit 113, a control unit 114, an operation unit 115, a display unit 116, and a communication unit 117. The image processing apparatus 101 includes a storage unit 121, a control unit 122, a communication unit 123, a display unit 124, and an operation unit 125.

  Each functional configuration of the camera 100 executes the following operation according to control by the control unit 114. The imaging unit 111 converts the light received from the subject by the imaging device into an electrical signal according to settings such as a photometry parameter, a distance measurement parameter, and a shutter speed. Further, after the zoom magnification of the lens and the power supply of the strobe are adjusted according to the zoom magnification and the strobe light ON / OFF setting, the above-described shooting is performed by the imaging unit 111. The developing unit 112 performs compression processing and expansion processing on the electrical signal to create an image file. The developing unit 112 creates an image file according to the recording image quality and white balance settings.

  The communication unit 117 transmits / receives data to / from an external device such as another camera or the image processing apparatus 101. The storage unit 113 stores shooting control parameters and image files used in shooting processing and development processing. The display unit 116 outputs various screens and images to a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The operation unit 115 receives input information input by operating an input device such as a direction button, a dial, an optical digitizer, or a touch pen, and transmits the input information to the control unit 114.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 101 will be described. The image processing apparatus 101 can be realized by a personal computer or the like. Each functional configuration of the image processing apparatus 101 executes the following operation in accordance with control by the control unit 122. The communication unit 123 transmits / receives data to / from an external device such as the camera 100 or another image processing apparatus. The storage unit 121 stores an OS (Operating System), a remote shooting software program, shooting control parameters, an image file, a shooting setting file, and the like. The display unit 124 outputs the screen of the remote shooting software program to a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The operation unit 125 receives input information input by operating an input device such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a touch pen, or an optical digitizer, and transmits the input information to the control unit 122.

  Next, in the present embodiment, a process in which the image processing apparatus 101 instructs the camera 100 to change the shooting setting will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. The processing described below is realized by the control unit 122 of the image processing apparatus 101 reading out and starting the OS and the remote shooting software program from the storage unit 121, operating in accordance with them, and controlling various modules (functional configurations). Is done. The image processing apparatus 101 and the camera 100 are connected to each other by wire or wireless to establish communication.

  When the image processing apparatus 101 starts the remote photographing software program when starting this processing, a remote photographing control screen 300 as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the display device 311 by the display unit 124. In FIG. 3A, reference numeral 301 denotes a live view area, and an image of a subject currently captured by the imaging unit 111 of the camera 100 is transmitted from the camera 100 to the image processing apparatus 101 and displayed. Reference numeral 302 denotes a release button, and the image processing apparatus 101 transmits a release instruction to the camera 100 in response to a user's click operation. In 303 to 305, the current shooting setting content in the camera 100 is displayed. The contents of the shooting setting being displayed can be individually changed in response to an operation by the user. When the image processing apparatus 101 notifies the camera 100 of the change, the camera 100 can change the setting contents. In FIG. 3, 303 is an ISO sensitivity, 304 is a recording image quality, and 305 is a white balance setting display field.

  In step S <b> 201, the image processing apparatus 101 detects whether or not the shooting setting icon 321 is dropped on the live view area 301 of the remote shooting control screen 300 as illustrated in FIG.

  The shooting setting icon 321 is an icon associated with the shooting setting file, and holds the file path of the shooting setting file.

  In the shooting setting file, values of setting items at the time of shooting as shown in FIG. 4 are described. Examples thereof include those shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (d). Image quality, file size, shutter speed, aperture value, metering mode, click focus on / off, strobe light on / off, click white balance on / off, face detection on / off, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity, shooting mode, etc. It is.

  Here, the click focus is a function for focusing on a position designated by a click operation in the video displayed in the live view area. The click white balance is a function for adjusting the white balance so that the position designated by the click operation becomes white in the video displayed in the live view area.

  Note that the shooting setting file may be an image file. In this case, the value of each setting item used for shooting the image data included in the image file is used. For example, in an Exif format image file, the value of each setting item is stored as metadata according to the standard.

  Further, the image processing apparatus 101 downloads a shooting setting file from a Web server on the Internet, receives it from the camera 100, or creates it by a user setting operation on the image processing apparatus 101. Is stored in advance.

  When it is detected in step S201 that the shooting setting icon 321 has been dropped on the live view area 301, in step S202, the image processing apparatus 101 detects the drop position of the shooting setting icon and acquires position information. Also, a shooting setting file corresponding to the shooting setting icon is acquired. The drop position information of the shooting setting icon is, for example, coordinates expressed with the lower left of the shooting range displayed in the live view area 301 as the origin.

  In step S203, the image processing apparatus 101 generates a shooting setting command based on the drop position information acquired in step S202 and the value of each setting item described in the shooting setting file.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, when “spot metering” is set in the metering mode, a shooting control command for spot metering within a predetermined range including the drop position is generated. Here, the predetermined range is set in advance in the remote shooting control program or the camera 100, and is generally about 2 to 3% of the shooting range and the light receiving angle is about 1 to 2 degrees. When the range set by the remote shooting control program is used, information regarding this range is also included in the shooting setting command.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, if the click focus setting is ON, a command for setting the drop position to the focus position is generated.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4C, if the click white balance setting is ON, a command for adjusting the white balance so that the drop position is white is generated.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4D, when the face detection mode is set to “ON”, a shooting setting command for performing face detection around the drop position and focusing on the detected face is displayed. Generate.

  In step S <b> 204, the image processing apparatus 101 transmits the shooting setting command generated in step S <b> 203 to the camera 100 via the communication unit 123.

  Next, the operation of the camera 100 will be described. The processing described below is realized by controlling various modules by operating in accordance with an OS or firmware program in which the control unit 114 of the camera 100 is built.

  In step S <b> 211, the camera 100 detects whether a shooting setting command is received from the image processing apparatus 101 via the communication unit 117. When it is detected that it has been received, the process proceeds to step S212.

  In step S212, the camera 100 analyzes the shooting setting command received in step S211, and calculates shooting control parameters.

  Note that the drop position information included in the shooting setting command corresponds to the range displayed in the live view area 301 by the image processing apparatus 101, that is, the coordinates in the shooting range of the imaging unit 111.

  For example, when the shooting setting command is an instruction for spot photometry at the drop position, the camera 100 obtains a predetermined range including the drop position as a photometry target range. Then, photometry is performed within the obtained range to determine an exposure parameter. In step S213, the exposure parameter recorded in the storage unit 113 is updated.

  Alternatively, if the shooting setting command is to focus at the drop position, the focus position is obtained from the drop position. In step S213, the focus detection parameter recorded in the storage unit 113 is updated.

  Alternatively, if the command is to adjust the white balance so that the drop position is white, the reference position for white is obtained from the drop position. In step S213, the white balance parameter recorded in the storage unit 113 is updated.

  Alternatively, when the shooting setting command is for instructing face detection in the vicinity of the drop position, the camera 100 detects a peripheral face area around the drop position, and uses the detected face area as a focus position. Ask. In addition, photometry is performed in a range including the face to determine an exposure parameter. In step S213, the focus detection parameter and the exposure parameter stored in the storage unit 113 are updated.

  In step S213, as described above, the camera 100 updates the existing shooting control parameter stored in the storage unit 113 with the shooting control parameter calculated in step S212.

  In step S <b> 214, the camera 100 executes subject shooting processing according to the shooting control parameters stored in the storage unit 113. For example, the photographing operation is performed according to the focus detection parameter and the exposure parameter. Also, the captured video is adjusted according to the white balance parameter.

  In step S <b> 215, the camera 100 transmits the video data of the subject imaged in step S <b> 214 to the image processing apparatus 101 via the communication unit 117. The video data transmitted here is displayed in the live view area 301 of the image processing apparatus 101.

  In step S <b> 216, the camera 100 detects whether the release button on the main body is pressed or a release instruction is received from the image processing apparatus 101.

  In response to detecting that a release instruction has been received in step S216, in step S217, the camera 100 opens the shutter.

  In step S218, the camera 100 executes development processing on the electrical signal obtained by the shooting in step S217 in accordance with the shooting control parameter stored in the storage unit 113, and generates an image file. For example, the development processing operation is performed according to the white balance parameter.

  In step S219, the camera 100 records the image file generated in step S418 in the storage unit 113.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user simply drags and drops the shooting setting icon in the image processing apparatus to easily collect the shooting control parameter value of the camera and the reference position of the shooting control. User convenience is improved.

(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the shooting setting is changed not by the image processing apparatus 101 but by the camera 100 itself. Hereinafter, description of the same parts as those of the above-described first embodiment will be omitted, and parts unique to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  The operation of the camera 100 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the camera 100 is activated and the live view shooting mode is set, a live view area 601 as shown in FIG. 6A is displayed on the display device by the display unit 116. In the live view area 601, an image of a subject currently captured by the imaging unit 111 is displayed. Then, when switching to the shooting setting change mode is instructed, a list of shooting setting icons 621 is displayed in the icon area 602. Reference numeral 603 denotes a release button, reference numeral 604 denotes a viewfinder, and reference numeral 605 denotes an operation button.

  In step S501, the camera 100 detects whether or not the user has dropped the shooting setting icon 621 in the live view area 601 via the operation unit 115 as shown in FIG. 6B. Here, as the operation unit 115, the display device is a display with a contact sensor, and is operated by a touch pen or the like to input input information.

  If it is detected in step S501 that the shooting setting icon 621 has been dropped on the live view area 601, in step S502, the camera 100 acquires a shooting setting file corresponding to the dropped shooting setting icon and drop position information. The camera 100 stores the shooting setting file in advance in the storage unit 113 by downloading the shooting setting file from a Web server on the Internet, receiving it from the image processing apparatus 101, or creating the shooting setting file by a user setting operation on the camera 100. Yes.

  In step S503, the camera 100 analyzes the drop position information acquired in step S502 and the value of each shooting setting item in the shooting setting file to obtain a shooting control parameter.

  The subsequent processing is the same as steps S213 to S219 in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user simply sets the shooting control parameter value of the camera and the reference position of the shooting control by simply dragging and dropping the shooting setting icon on the camera. As a result, user convenience is improved.

(Third embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which correction control parameters are set when the image processing apparatus 101 executes correction processing on an image file.

  Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The following processing is realized by the control unit 114 of the image processing apparatus 101 reading out and starting the OS and the image correction software program from the storage unit 121, operating in accordance with them, and controlling various modules.

  When the image processing apparatus 101 starts the correction processing software program when starting this processing, a correction processing screen 800 as shown in FIG. 8A is displayed on the display device by the display unit 124. In FIG. 8, 801 is a preview area, and 802 is a setting field for each item. In the preview area 801, an image of the image file selected by the user from the image files stored in the storage unit 121 of the image processing apparatus 101 is displayed.

  In step S701, the image processing apparatus 101 detects whether the correction setting icon 821 has been dropped in the preview area 801. When it is detected that it has been dropped, the process proceeds to step S702.

  In step S702, the image processing apparatus 101 acquires a correction setting file and drop position information corresponding to the correction setting icon 821. Here, the correction setting icon is associated with the correction setting file. In the correction setting file, values of setting items at the time of image correction as shown in FIG. 9 are described. For example, white balance, brightness, contrast, hue, color density, sharpness, etc., as shown in FIGS.

  Note that the correction setting file may be an image file, and in this case, the value of each setting item used for correcting the image data included in the image file is used.

  Further, the image processing apparatus 101 downloads the correction setting file from a Web server on the Internet, receives it from the camera 100, or creates it by a user setting operation on the image processing apparatus 101. Is stored in advance.

  In step S703, the image processing apparatus 101 obtains a correction control parameter based on the drop position information acquired in step S702 and the setting item value of the correction setting file.

  In step S704, the image processing apparatus 101 records the correction control parameter obtained in step S703 in the storage unit 121.

  In step S705, the image processing apparatus 101 executes image correction processing based on the correction control parameter recorded in step S704.

  For example, if the click white balance is set to ON, the white balance is corrected so that the drop position is white. Alternatively, if brightness correction is set, a predetermined area including the drop position is corrected according to the brightness correction parameter. Alternatively, if contrast correction is set by the correction control parameter, a predetermined area including the drop position is corrected according to the contrast correction parameter. Alternatively, if the hue correction is set by the correction control parameter, a predetermined area including the drop position is corrected according to the hue correction parameter. Alternatively, if color density correction is set in the correction control parameter, a predetermined area including the drop position is corrected according to the color density parameter. Alternatively, if sharpness correction is set by the correction control parameter, sharpness correction is performed on a predetermined area including the drop position according to the sharpness correction parameter. Alternatively, if the red-eye correction function is set to ON in the correction control parameter, the pupil region is detected in a predetermined region including the drop position, and when the red eye is detected, the pupil color is changed to black, blue, etc. , Replace with a predetermined color.

  Here, the predetermined area including the drop position described above is, for example, a circular area whose radius is 10% of the vertical size of the entire image with the drop position as the center. Further, the predetermined area is not limited to the above-described example, but may be determined according to conditions stored in advance in the image correction software program or the correction setting file.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user simply drags and drops the correction setting icon in the image processing apparatus, and easily sets the values of the setting items and the reference position used for the image correction processing. Therefore, convenience for the user is improved.

(Other embodiments)
An object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program codes stored in the recording medium Is also achieved. Here, the computer may be a CPU or an MPU. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, a DVD, or the like is used. it can.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are not only realized by executing the program code read by the computer. The operating system (OS) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above embodiments are realized by the processing. Needless to say.

  Further, the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of the camera and image processing apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of operation | movement of the camera and image processing apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the remote imaging | photography control screen which the image processing apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention displays. It is a figure which shows an example of the imaging | photography setting item in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of operation | movement of the camera 100 in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the live view area | region which the camera in one Embodiment of this invention displays. It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of operation | movement of the image processing apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the correction process screen in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the correction setting item in one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Camera 101 Image processing apparatus 111 Image pick-up part 112 Developing part 113 Storage part 114 Control part 115 Operation part 116 Display part 117 Communication part 121 Storage part 122 Control part 123 Communication part 124 Display part 125 Operation part

Claims (10)

Display means for displaying an image;
Detecting means for detecting a position where the icon is dragged and dropped on the image, and acquiring position information;
Obtaining means for obtaining a setting file associated with the icon;
Determining means for determining a control parameter based on the position information and the setting file;
The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the photographing process, the developing process, or the correction process for the image is executed according to the control parameter. An image processing apparatus connected to a camera,
Display means for displaying an image of a subject of the camera;
Detecting means for detecting a position where an icon is dragged and dropped on the video, and acquiring position information;
Obtaining means for obtaining a setting file associated with the icon;
Generating means for generating a control command for executing image processing based on the position information and the setting file;
An image processing apparatus comprising: transmission means for transmitting the control command to the camera.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the generation unit generates a command for instructing to perform photographing processing by performing spot photometry or focusing based on the position information and face detection.   4. The command according to claim 2, wherein the generating unit generates a command for instructing to develop an image photographed by the camera by adjusting white balance based on the position information. 5. Image processing device. Display means for displaying an image;
Detecting means for detecting a position where the icon is dragged and dropped on the image, and acquiring position information;
Obtaining means for obtaining a setting file associated with the icon;
Determining means for determining a control parameter based on the position information and the setting file;
An image processing apparatus comprising: an image processing unit that executes development processing or correction processing on the image according to the control parameter.   The image processing means performs white balance adjustment or brightness adjustment, contrast adjustment, hue adjustment, color density adjustment, and sharpness adjustment on the image based on the position information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus connected to a camera,
Displaying an image of a subject of the camera;
Detecting a position where an icon is dragged and dropped on the video, and acquiring position information;
Obtaining a configuration file associated with the icon;
Generating a control command for executing image processing based on the position information and the setting file;
Transmitting the control command to the camera. Displaying an image;
Detecting a position where an icon is dragged and dropped on the image, and obtaining position information;
Obtaining a configuration file associated with the icon;
Determining a control parameter based on the position information and the setting file;
And a step of executing a development process or a correction process for the image according to the control parameter. On the computer connected to the camera,
Displaying an image of a subject of the camera;
Detecting a position where an icon is dragged and dropped on the video, and acquiring position information;
Obtaining a configuration file associated with the icon;
Generating a control command for executing image processing based on the position information and the setting file;
And a step of transmitting the control command to the camera. On the computer,
Displaying an image;
Detecting a position where an icon is dragged and dropped on the image, and obtaining position information;
Obtaining a configuration file associated with the icon;
Determining a control parameter based on the position information and the setting file;
And a step of executing a development process or a correction process for the image according to the control parameter.

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