JP2010066972A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method and a program that allow users to share information about the layout of composite images already created, when arranging images on such a template as a map, and that allow users to create composite images with high degrees of freedom of layout that they can enjoy more when viewing them. <P>SOLUTION: When images are arranged on such a template as a map, a shared information determining unit determines pieces of information to be shared among pieces of information such as information about a template of already created composite images stored in a storage unit and image processing information. Based on the result determined, an image editing unit creates a new composite image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program for synthesizing an image on a template, and more specifically, image processing capable of performing template selection and image synthesis using editing data of an existing synthesized image. The present invention relates to an apparatus, an image processing method, and a program.

  In recent years, various systems for displaying information such as images and characters corresponding to a template on a template for image synthesis prepared in advance have been proposed. For example, there is a method of displaying information corresponding to a position on the map, such as displaying an image or information of a store existing at a predetermined position on the map on a map image displayed on the Web.

In producing such a composite image, a method of easily producing an image having the same layout from the next time by reusing an image, layout information, etc. used for the composite image once produced has been proposed.
For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a method of sharing an image among a plurality of users belonging to a network community. Patent Document 1 describes that image information stored by users belonging to a group is automatically shared, and update notification is sent to the user according to the shared information.

  Further, Patent Document 2 proposes an image layout apparatus that lays out a plurality of images in a background area according to a predetermined rule and generates a layout image. In Patent Document 2, when a layout image is generated again for an image owned by the same user, the editing result performed by the user last time is stored as user preference information, and this is reflected at the next generation time. It is described that by generating a layout image, the user's preferences can be reflected when the next layout image is generated.

JP 2008-146174 A JP 2006-253992 A

However, the method of Patent Document 1 simply shares an image and does not share a layout. Further, in the method as disclosed in Patent Document 2, the previous information can be reused for the image layout, but there is no flexibility in layout.
As described above, in the conventional method as described above, it is possible to automatically arrange an image on a template. However, the synthesized image generated by this method has no layout freedom and is simply recorded. It will become a strong sense of meaning.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and when arranging an image on a template such as a map, it is possible to share information such as a layout of a composite image already created between users, Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program that can create a composite image that has a high degree of freedom in layout and that can be enjoyed when viewed by a user.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus that arranges an image on a template and performs editing to create a composite image, and stores a composite information related to the composite image prepared in advance. And an acquisition unit that acquires the composite information of a predetermined composite image from the storage unit, and an information determination unit that determines the composite information acquired from the acquisition unit as shared information used to create a new composite image; And an image editing unit that edits the new composite image using the determined shared information.

  In the present invention, the image has location information of a shooting location in advance, the template is a map or a guide map of a specific facility, has location information of each location in advance, and the composite image Preferably, the image is arranged on the template based on the position information of the image.

  Also, the composite information regarding the composite image prepared in advance is one or more of the template, one or more images arranged on the template, and image processing information applied to the composite image based on position information. It is preferable that

  Further, the editing performed by the image editing unit is based on the synthesis information, determining a display position of a frame that is an image layout frame of the image, display size of the frame, determination of an image to be arranged in the frame, One or more of a frame decoration type, image processing on the image, and selection of the template are preferable.

  The shared information is one or more of one or more of the images arranged on the template and image processing information applied to the composite image based on position information. It is preferable that the shared information of the corresponding existing composite image is extracted from the storage unit based on the position information of the template selected by the above.

  Further, the image editing unit compares position information of a plurality of different composite images stored in the storage unit, and if there is a portion that matches each position information, or if each position information is adjacent, It is preferable to combine the synthesized images to create a new synthesized image.

Moreover, it is preferable that the said image editing part performs an expansion or reduction process with respect to each said composite image so that the scale of the template of each said composite image may correspond at the time of the said combination.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the enlargement or reduction process is performed only on the template of the composite image.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is an image processing method for creating a composite image by arranging an image on a template and performing editing, and stores composite information relating to the composite image prepared in advance. Determining the composite information of a predetermined composite image from the storage unit; determining the composite information acquired from the acquisition unit as shared information used for creating a new composite image; And a step of editing the new composite image using the shared information thus provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method for arranging and editing an image on a template to create a composite image. A step of storing composite information relating to a composite image, a step of acquiring the composite information of a predetermined composite image from the storage unit, and a sharing using the composite information acquired from the acquisition unit for creating a new composite image There is provided a program for causing a computer to execute a step of determining as information and a step of editing the new composite image using the determined shared information.

  According to the image processing device, the image processing method, and the program of the present invention, when placing an image on a template such as a map, it is possible to share information such as a layout of a composite image already created between users. It is possible to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program that can create a composite image that has a high degree of freedom in layout and that can be more enjoyed when viewed by a user.

  Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus of the present invention that realizes an image processing method of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an apparatus configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The image processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 has an image representing a place such as a map or a guide map as a template, and this template is obtained according to the shooting location of each captured image. The image is arranged above, and the image arranged or edited as necessary is edited to create an ornamental composite image that the user can enjoy. Further, the image processing apparatus 10 stores information on an image used for production, information on a template, and information on a layout for an existing composite image that has already been produced.

In the image processing apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 2, after the user A creates a composite image, the data is uploaded to a location such as a server accessible by other users. Thereafter, the user B accesses the server, acquires the data uploaded by the user A, and can create a new composite image using the data.
Here, the composite image in the present invention is produced by arranging an image arrangement frame (frame) at an arbitrary position on the template, arranging a photographed image in the image arrangement frame, and performing necessary image processing. The
The template is an image indicating a location, such as a map or a facility guide map. In the template, position information corresponding to each position such as a map drawn on the template is recorded in advance. Based on this position information, the image arrangement frame and the photographed image are arranged on the template at a position corresponding to the photographing location of the photographed image.

In FIG. 2, the data to be uploaded is the captured image data used to create the composite image, information about the image data, information about the template or template, and information about the image processing performed at the time of creating the composite image. These pieces of information are uploaded as shared information.
In FIG. 2, the data uploaded to the server is shared, but in the present invention, the shared information does not necessarily need to be uploaded to the server, and the users A and B directly exchange the shared information. In this way, data can be shared.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 10 includes a data transmission / reception unit 12, a storage unit 14, a display unit 16, an operation unit 18, a shared information determination unit 20, and an image editing unit 22.

  The data transmission / reception unit 12 transmits shared information regarding the generated composite image, a template used to generate the composite image, a captured image, a frame, information about image processing, and the like between users or with the user via the storage unit 14 described later. It is sent and received between servers.

The storage unit 14 stores shared information related to the generated composite image, a template used to generate a new composite image, a captured image, a frame, information about image processing, and the like. Each data stored in the storage unit 14 is read automatically or in response to a user instruction when the user creates a new composite image.
The storage unit 14 stores at least one piece of shared information.

  The display unit 16 is for displaying shared information related to a composite image, an editing screen for newly creating a composite image, and the like. The display unit 16 is not particularly limited, and known display means such as a monitor can be used.

  The operation unit 18 is used by the image processing apparatus 10 for a user to give instructions such as editing necessary for creating a composite image. The operation unit 18 is not particularly limited, and known operation means such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and a touch pen can be used.

  The shared information determination unit 20 determines which data to use among the shared information stored in the storage unit 14 when a template is newly created. When there are a plurality of pieces of shared information, it is determined which shared information is used. In addition, as described above, the shared information includes the captured image data used to create the composite image, information about the image data, information about the template or the template, and information about the image processing performed when the composite image is created. Although included, it is not necessary to use all of this information. For this reason, the shared information determination unit 20 determines which information to use among the shared information.

  The image editing unit 22 arranges the frame on the template using the template, the captured image, the frame acquired from the storage unit 14, the shared information determined by the shared information determining unit 20, and the like, and further within the frame. Each captured image is arranged to edit the composite image. When editing, perform image processing such as resizing the shot image, or if multiple images are duplicated at the same location on the template, make a layout that makes each image easier to see, Create a composite image.

  Next, a specific operation of the image processing apparatus of the present invention that realizes the image processing method of the present invention will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  In the image processing apparatus 10, a composite image created by the user is uploaded in advance, and is stored in the storage unit 14 in association with shared information regarding the created composite image. There may be one composite image or a plurality of composite images.

  First, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, in order for a user who has uploaded or another user to create a new composite image, in step S10, from among the composite images stored in the storage unit 14, Select what you want to share. The selection method may be performed by, for example, displaying a thumbnail image of the composite image on the display unit 16 and operating the operation unit 18 by the user. The user arbitrarily selects a composite image created using a template that the user wants to use, a composite image created using a user's favorite frame, and the like. Here, as an example, it is assumed that a composite image as shown in FIG.

Next, in step S12, the sharing information determination unit 20 determines a sharing method as to which part of the sharing information of the selected composite image is to be shared.
As a sharing method, sharing of image processing information for sharing the contents of image processing performed on a selected composite image, sharing of a template used for the selected composite image, and sharing of image processing information and a template are three. There is a pattern. The user selects one of the sharing methods using the operation unit 18.
A method for producing a composite image by each sharing method will be described below.

  First, processing when image processing information sharing is selected as a sharing method will be described. In this case, among the shared information, the image processing information applied at the time of creating the composite image is shared. The image processing information here refers to various settings made when placing an image on the template, such as the placement position of the image on the template, the type of frame, and the size of the placement image, and the frame used for it. Points to the contents of the decoration image.

  Here, in the composite image of the present invention, the photographed image has information indicating the photographing position such as GPS information of the photographing position in advance. Further, the template is a map or a guide map as described above, and has position information indicating which position on the template corresponds to which actual position. When an image is arranged on a template, the image is arranged at a position on the template corresponding to position information included in the image to produce a composite image. Therefore, the arrangement position of the image on the template can be said to be actual position information indicated by the arrangement position.

In step S14, the user selects a template to be used for creating a composite image. The storage unit 14 stores a plurality of templates for creating a composite image, and the user selects a favorite template from the templates. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a template as shown in FIG. 4B is selected as an example. The template shown in FIG. 4B is an enlargement of a part of the map template used in the composite image shown in FIG.
When a template is selected, a predetermined frame is displayed at a predetermined size at a predetermined position on the selected template based on the above-described image processing information. Here, among the frames arranged in the selected composite image, the position information on the template used for the composite image is three frames corresponding to the position information on the selected template as shared information. Displayed on the selected template.

  Here, in addition to the image processing information, the user selects whether to use the captured image arranged in the selected composite image as shared information (step S16). When sharing a captured image, the same image as that arranged in the selected composite image is arranged in each frame. That is, in this state, for the elements other than the template, the selected composite image and the newly created image are the same. In this way, a composite image newly created using the template shown in FIG. 4B using the image processing information of the composite image shown in FIG. 4A as shared information is shown in FIG. ).

  On the other hand, when the captured image is not used as shared information in step S16, no image is displayed in the frame as shown in FIG. In this case, the user selects and arranges an image to be arranged in each frame from the captured images stored in the storage unit 14 (step S18).

The composite image produced in this way is displayed on the display unit 16 in step S20, and is output as a photo print, a photo book, or other recording medium as necessary.
Note that the position of the frame of the produced composite image can be changed manually by the user. In addition, a new frame may be added on the template and an image may be arranged.

  Next, processing when template sharing is selected as the sharing method in step S12 of FIG. 3 will be described. In this case, only sharing of the template used for the selected composite image is shared among the shared information.

When the template sharing is selected, the template used for the selected composite image is displayed on the display unit 14. The user selects a captured image to be arranged on the template from the images stored in the storage unit 14 (step S22).
Subsequently, in step S24, a frame in which each image is arranged is selected from the frames stored in the storage unit 14. When an image and a frame are selected, the image editing unit 22 arranges the frame and the image at a predetermined position on the template based on the position information of the image.
The produced composite image is displayed on the display unit 16 in step S20 and is performed as necessary. In this case as well, the position of the frame of the produced composite image may be changed by the user, and the image can be arranged by newly adding a frame on the template.

  Next, processing when image processing information and template sharing are selected as a sharing method in step S12 of FIG. 3 will be described. In this case, all shared information about the selected composite image is shared.

  When image processing information and template sharing are selected, a template used for the selected composite image is displayed on the display unit 16, and a frame arranged in the selected composite image is further displayed on the template. The selected composite image is displayed in the same position at the same position.

  Next, the user selects whether to use the captured image arranged in the selected composite image as shared information (step S16). When sharing a captured image, the same image as that arranged in the selected composite image is arranged in each frame. At this point, the selected composite image and the newly created image are exactly the same.

  On the other hand, if the captured image is not used as shared information in step S16, the image is not displayed in the frame. In this case, the user selects and arranges an image to be arranged in each frame from the captured images stored in the storage unit 14 (step S18).

The composite image produced in this way is displayed on the display unit 16 in step S20 and is output as necessary.
As in the case of selecting the other two sharing methods, in this case, the position of the frame of the created composite image can be changed manually by the user, and a new frame is added on the template. An image can also be arranged.

As described above, by preparing a plurality of sharing method patterns, it is possible to more easily and smoothly create a composite image in accordance with the user's intention.
In the above-described embodiment, selection of a composite image to be shared and determination of a sharing method are performed according to a user instruction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and selection and determination of these are performed by an image processing apparatus. It may be performed automatically on the 10 side. Alternatively, the user of the selected composite image may determine a sharing method for each composite image when uploading the composite image.

Further, in step S10 of FIG. 3, when the user selects an existing composite image, it is stored in the storage unit 14 by the method shown in FIG. 5 so that a more appropriate composite image can be selected. You may search for the synthesized image.
For example, based on the position information of the image that the user intends to place, it is possible to search for a composite image in which a template including a point corresponding to the position information is used. As described above, since position information corresponding to each position on the template is recorded in the template in advance, a search can be performed based on the position information.
Alternatively, based on a template that the user has, a composite image that uses a template that indicates a location that is the same as or near the location indicated by those templates is searched, and a new composite is created using this. Images can also be created.
Alternatively, the user may directly input position information and search for a template indicating the input position information.

  Using the shared information of composite images searched by these methods, a template or frame similar to the composite image that the user wants to create is used, particularly when image processing information and sharing of the template is selected as the sharing method. The composite image can be easily searched, and a new composite image intended by the user can be efficiently created.

  In the above-described embodiment, it is possible to share not only a part of the composite image but also the entire composite image, such as image processing information and a template. That is, the composite image created by itself and the existing composite image can be connected or overlapped and combined.

The combination between composite images will be described in detail based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, in step S30, the user selects a composite image to be combined from existing composite images stored in the storage unit 14. Next, in step S32, the position information of the template of the composite image created by itself is compared with the position information of the template of the selected existing composite image.
If the position information of each other does not overlap at all, these synthesized images are not geographically related and cannot be combined and shared.

On the other hand, when there is a shared portion in the position information of each other or the position information is adjacent, the combined images can be combined.
In this case, the scales of the synthesized images are compared (step S34). If the scales are the same, these composite images are combined based on each other's position information. If there is a shared part in the position information, the overlapping of the parts indicated by the shared part of each other's composite image, and if the position information is adjacent, by combining the composite images Do.

If the scales are different, in step S38, the template of one or both of the combined images is enlarged or reduced so that the combined images have the same scale.
For example, a case will be described in which the user combines a composite image as shown in FIG. 7A with an existing composite image as shown in FIG. 7B. The template shown in FIG. 7A corresponds to the area A in the template shown in FIG. Therefore, in order to combine these two images, the scale of the composite image in FIG. 7A is reduced so as to be the same as that in FIG. Thereby, a composite image as shown in FIG. 7C can be newly created.

  Further, when the composite image is reduced, as shown in FIG. 7C, if the arranged image is also reduced, there arises a problem that the image becomes difficult to see. Therefore, in such a case, as shown in FIG. 7D, only the size of the template of FIG. 7A is reduced in the area A ′ in the template of FIG. Can combine two composite images as they are before combining.

  As described above, according to the image processing apparatus using the image processing method of the present invention and the program for causing a computer to execute such an image processing method, a user can place an image on a template such as a map. Information such as the layout of composite images that have already been created can be shared with each other. In addition, since the user can arbitrarily select a sharing method, the degree of freedom in layout is large, and a composite image that can be more enjoyed when viewed by the user can be created.

  The image processing apparatus, the image processing method, and the program according to the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the various embodiments described above, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of an apparatus structure of the image processing apparatus of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of the image processing apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the production method of the synthesized image using shared information. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the synthetic | combination image used as shared information, (b) is a figure which shows an example of the newly selected template, (c) is the synthetic | combination image of (a), and It is a figure which shows an example of the synthesized image produced based on the template of (b), (d) is a figure which shows an example of the synthesized image when not using a picked-up image as shared information. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the search method of the existing synthesized image. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the coupling | bonding method of synthesized images. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the synthesized image which a user has, (b) is a figure which shows an example of the existing synthesized image, (c) and (d) are (a) and (b It is a figure which shows an example of the synthesized image obtained by combining the synthesized image of ().

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing apparatus 12 Data transmission / reception part 14 Storage part 16 Display part 18 Operation part 20 Shared information determination part 22 Image editing part

Claims (10)

An image processing apparatus that arranges and edits an image on a template to create a composite image,
A storage unit that stores composite information related to a composite image prepared in advance;
An acquisition unit that acquires the composite information of a predetermined composite image from the storage unit;
An information determination unit that determines the composite information acquired from the acquisition unit as shared information used to create a new composite image;
An image processing apparatus comprising: an image editing unit that edits the new composite image using the determined shared information. The image has position information of a shooting location in advance,
The template is a map or a map of a specific facility, and has position information of each position in advance,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composite image is created by arranging an image on the template based on position information of the image.   The composite information related to the composite image prepared in advance is one or more of the template, one or more images arranged on the template, and image processing information applied to the composite image based on position information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The editing performed by the image editing unit is:
Based on the composite information, determination of a display position of a frame which is an image arrangement frame of the image, display size of the frame, determination of an image to be arranged in the frame, type of decoration of the frame, image processing on the image The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is one or more of selections of the templates. The shared information is one or more of one or more images arranged on the template and image processing information applied to the composite image based on position information,
The image processing according to claim 2, wherein the image editing unit extracts the shared information of a corresponding existing composite image from the storage unit based on position information of a template selected by a user. apparatus.   The image editing unit compares position information of a plurality of different composite images stored in the storage unit, and if there is a portion that matches each position information, or each position information is adjacent, The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the composite images are combined to create a new composite image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image editing unit performs an enlargement or reduction process on each composite image so that a scale of a template of each composite image matches at the time of the combination.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the enlargement or reduction process is performed only on the template of the composite image. An image processing method for arranging and editing an image on a template to create a composite image,
Storing composite information relating to a composite image prepared in advance;
Obtaining the composite information of a predetermined composite image from the storage unit;
Determining the composite information acquired from the acquisition unit as shared information used to create a new composite image;
And a step of editing the new composite image using the determined shared information. A program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method for arranging and editing an image on a template and creating a composite image,
Storing composite information relating to a composite image prepared in advance;
Obtaining the composite information of a predetermined composite image from the storage unit;
Determining the composite information acquired from the acquisition unit as shared information used to create a new composite image;
A program for causing a computer to execute a step of editing the new composite image using the determined shared information.

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