JP2010250765A - Device and method for editing image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to easily find a target record. <P>SOLUTION: An image editing device includes: an editing means for performing editing according to an editing instruction from the user; a record management means for managing records of the editing instruction; a determination means for determining sections of editing records; and a record output means for grouping the records by the sections to be obtained by the determination means to be output by each group, and raises visibility of the records by grouping the records to be output, and enables the user to easily detect the target record by performing narrowing down. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus and an image editing method, and more particularly to an image editing apparatus and method for displaying an editing history.

Conventionally, the following method is used as the history display function of the image editing method.
As a first method, there is a method in which the history is expressed by a character string or an icon, and all the histories are arranged in the same column in time series. In this method, each history is indicated by a character string or an icon indicating the type of the edit instruction item, thereby allowing the user to identify each history.

  As a second method, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is disclosed as a technique for arranging images of processing results obtained by respective editing instructions in time series. In this prior art, a main region for displaying image processing results and a sub region for displaying history images before image processing in time series are provided side by side, and images displayed in the main region and sub region each time image processing is executed. It is characterized by reflecting image processing results.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-34775

  In the conventional method, since the history items are arranged in the same row, there is a problem that the detection efficiency is poor in visually searching for the target history. That is, in the first method described above, each history item is represented by an icon and a character string indicating the type of editing instruction item, and consideration is given so that each history can be identified. However, since they are simply arranged in time series, the user cannot detect the target history unless the user visually confirms the history in order.

Further, in the second method, consideration is given so that the history can be intuitively grasped by displaying the image processing result as a history. In order to detect this, it is necessary to visually check the history in order.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable a user to easily find a target history.

  The image editing method of the present invention includes an editing step of performing image editing in accordance with an editing instruction from a user, a history management step of managing an editing history performed by the editing instruction, a determination step of determining a break of the editing history, And an editing history output step of grouping the editing histories based on the division determined in the determination step and outputting each group.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve visibility by grouping and outputting the history, and to detect the history targeted by the user by narrowing down.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a delimiter determination process in the image editing apparatus according to the first embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image editing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing function in an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen configuration of an image editing function in the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen configuration of a history display function in the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen configuration of a history display function in the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen configuration of a history display function in the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen configuration of a history display function in the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of this invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of a history display function in the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows the structural example of the image processing function in an image processing apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen configuration of an image editing function in the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a delimiter determination process in the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an editing processing unit in an image processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a delimiter determination processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an example as means for realizing the present invention, and should be appropriately modified or changed according to the configuration and various conditions of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is not limited to the embodiment.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a personal computer system (PC) that can configure the image editing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In the image editing apparatus 200 of the present embodiment, reference numeral 201 denotes an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) that controls image editing processing and editing history delimitation operations.

  Reference numeral 202 denotes a hard disk drive in which digital data such as an image editing process execution program and an encoded image signal is recorded in a readable format. Reference numeral 203 denotes a memory device, which is configured such that a program code and digital data recorded in the hard disk drive 202 are loaded and executed by the CPU 201.

  An operation input unit 204 includes a keyboard and a mouse. The CPU 201 detects the input from the operation unit 204 and notifies the program loaded in the memory device for processing. Reference numeral 205 denotes a display unit (display) such as a CRT display or a liquid crystal panel, which displays image editing results and a list of generated history groups.

  Reference numeral 206 denotes an external storage medium drive for reading an external storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. An internal bus 207 connects the CPU 201 to the external storage medium drive 206.

  In this embodiment, an execution program and digital data recorded in a hard disk drive (HDD) 202 are used. However, when the execution program or digital data is recorded on the external storage medium, the execution program or digital data may be executed via the external storage medium drive 206. Similarly, the present invention is also applied to a form in which an execution program or digital data is loaded via a network.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration of an image processing function that operates in the image editing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 301 denotes an image to be edited. An editing processing unit 303 performs image editing processing in accordance with the input editing instruction 302. Reference numeral 305 denotes a determination unit that detects a history break in accordance with the input break instruction 304. A history management unit 306 stores the delimiter information obtained from the editing instruction 302 and the determination unit 305 as history information. The history display unit 307 outputs an editing history by dividing and displaying a list of editing histories according to the history information acquired from the history management unit 306.

Next, the screen configuration of the image editing function shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes an entire image editing function window, which includes an editing function button 402, an editing instruction window 403, an editing instruction slider 404, an editing target image 405, and a separation instruction input button 406. Yes.

  The editing function button 402 is an activation button for operating each editing function, and when one of them is pressed, a corresponding editing instruction input window is activated. FIG. 4 illustrates a case where the digital exposure correction editing function button 402a is pressed out of the editing function buttons 402, and an editing instruction window 403 for issuing an editing instruction for digital exposure correction is activated. In FIG. 4, in addition to the editing function button 402, a white balance editing function button 402b, a contrast editing function button 402c, a color density editing function button 402d, a hue editing function button 402e, and a sharpness editing function. There is a button 402f.

  The editing instruction window 403 includes an editing instruction slider 404 for inputting an editing instruction. By operating the editing instruction slider 404, an editing amount instruction is given to the editing target image 405, and the editing amount of the editing amount window 403 is displayed. Instructions are added to the history. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the editing instruction window 403 includes only the editing instruction slider 404 as editing instruction input means. However, according to the selected edit function button 402, other edit instruction input means such as a drop-down box and a check box can be provided as the edit instruction input means. The delimiter instruction input button 406 is a button for instructing a group delimiter. When pressed by the user, the editing history up to that point is collected as one group, and the next group creation is newly started.

Next, the screen configuration of the history display function will be described with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes an entire window for displaying a history list, and has a group window 502 for displaying groups in the history. Further, the group window 502 includes a group icon 503 expressing a group as an icon, a group name 504 expressed as a character string, an editing icon 505 indicating an editing instruction input so far, and an editing instruction name 506.

  The edit icon 505 is obtained by reducing the edit result obtained by applying the edit instruction corresponding to the edit instruction name 506, and displays a reduced image corresponding to each history. A group icon 503 is obtained by reducing the latest editing result in the group.

  FIG. 5 shows a result of two editing instructions given from the start of editing. FIG. 5 shows a state in which no group separation has been made since the start of editing, and there is only one group window 502. The group window 502 is newly added when the delimiter instruction input button 406 is pressed, but the first group window exists from the start of editing.

A configuration example of the history list window at the start of editing will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 includes an entire window 501, a group window 502, a group icon 601, and a group name 504. In this case, since no editing instruction is given, the editing icon 505 and the editing instruction name 506 do not exist. Since no editing instruction is given, the group icon 601 is displayed in a single color, unlike the group icon 503 described with reference to FIG.

The configuration of the history list window when there are a plurality of groups will be described with reference to FIG.
The components in FIG. 7 are the same as those in FIG. 5 except that there are two group windows 502. This is a result of a group separation instruction being made after two editing instructions have been made since the start of editing, and a further editing instruction being made once. Thereby, two groups are generated in the history.

Each group can be switched to simple display. The display contents when switched to the simple display will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 8, 801 displayed in a simplified manner is a group window, and only a group icon 503 and a group name 504 are displayed. By simply displaying in this way, the visibility of the entire history can be enhanced. The example of FIG. 8 shows an example in which group 1 is displayed in the group window 802a, group 2 is displayed in the group window 802b, group 3 is displayed in the group window 802c, and group 4 is displayed in the group window 802d.

  Each group window 801 can be selected by the operation unit 204, and only the selected group window is displayed in detail in the display state of the group window 502. Further, the group window 502 displayed in detail can also be selected by the operation unit 204. By selecting, the group window 502 is switched to the simple display group window 801 and displayed. The history list window shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 is displayed together with the entire window 401 of the image editing function shown in FIG. 4, and image editing instructions and history browsing can be performed simultaneously.

Next, a processing procedure for determining a group break will be described with reference to FIG.
The group separation instruction is made by the separation instruction input button 406, but the group is not separated when only the separation instruction is made without the editing instruction. Therefore, the group break determination is performed every time an editing instruction is received. FIG. 1 shows a flow of determination processing that occurs each time an editing instruction is given.

  In FIG. 1, in step S <b> 101, it is determined whether a delimitation instruction is given by the delimitation instruction input button 406. As a result of the determination, if a delimiter instruction is input, the process proceeds to step S102. If not, it is determined that the group is not delimited by this editing instruction, and the determination ends.

  In step S102, it is determined whether or not editing has been performed once or more in the history after the start of the current group. If the result of this determination is that editing has been performed, the process proceeds to step S103. Otherwise, it is determined that the group is not divided by this editing instruction, and the determination is terminated.

  Step S103 determines that the group is to be separated in order to complete the current group according to the editing instructions so far when the division instruction has been made and the group has already been edited since the start of the group. Exit. According to the procedure described above, the edit history is determined and stored in the history management unit 306. This determination result is managed by the history management unit 306 and used for display.

Next, processing for appropriately displaying the history as a group in the history display function whose screen configuration is shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 9, step S901 is a step of displaying the start of the group, and displays the entire window 501, the group window 502, the group icon 503, and the group name 504 in FIG. Here, nothing is displayed in the group icon because there is no content to be displayed.

  Subsequent steps S902 to 908 are steps for determining and displaying the display contents of each individual edit history, and steps S903 to S907 are repeated by the number of edit histories. In step S903, one history is extracted from the editing history in time series. The history extracted in step S903 is extracted from the oldest in accordance with the repetition, and the history extracted once is not repeatedly extracted. The history extracted in step S903 is one editing instruction and a delimiter instruction stored simultaneously with the editing instruction. This is stored in the history management unit 306 in FIG. 3, and when no delimitation is specified, only an editing instruction is taken out.

  In the subsequent step S904, it is determined whether or not a delimiter instruction is included in the history extracted in step S903. As a result of this determination, if a delimiter instruction is included, the process proceeds to step S905; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S906. In step S905, in order to display the end of the current group, a new group window 502, a new group icon 503, and a new group name 504 are displayed therein.

  In step S906, a reduced image is generated from the latest editing result (final history included in the group) for the group icon 503 of the current group, and overwritten with the generated reduced image. Through the processing performed in step S906, the group icon 503 is generated from the latest editing result in the group. In subsequent step S907, the edited result of the extracted history is displayed as an edit icon 505, and an edit instruction name 506 is also displayed. According to the procedure described above, initial image reading is performed to read the initial image before starting editing and replace the image being edited. The group icon 503 in the group being edited is replaced with a reduced image of a new editing result every time an editing instruction is given.

  In the present embodiment, the method of updating the display contents each time each editing history is read from the history management unit 306 has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a method of outputting the display contents to the memory device 203 in the same procedure as this display function, reading all editing histories and confirming the display contents, and outputting only the final display contents to the screen. . In the present embodiment, the PC is described as the target image editing apparatus 200. However, the present invention is also applied to an imaging apparatus equipped with a CPU and a memory device.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the present embodiment, an image editing apparatus is described in which a group is divided by an editing instruction for a digital exposure correction item. Note that the image editing apparatus according to the present embodiment also has the configuration of the PC whose block diagram is shown in FIG. The history display function in the present embodiment is the same as that described in the first embodiment with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, and the processing procedure for grouping in the history display is also the same as in the first embodiment. This is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

Next, the configuration of the image processing function in the image editing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes an image to be edited. The image to be edited 1001 is added with an imaging condition when the image is captured. When the image is read, the imaging condition is read, and an imaging condition image that reflects the imaging condition is generated.

  Reference numeral 1003 denotes an editing processing unit that performs image processing in accordance with the input editing instruction 1002. Reference numeral 1004 denotes a determination unit that detects a history break according to the input editing instruction 1002. Reference numeral 1005 denotes a history management unit, which stores the delimiter information obtained from the editing instruction 1002 and the determination unit 1004 as history information. The history display unit 1006 divides the editing history list into groups according to the history information acquired from the history management unit 1005 and outputs the group.

Next, the screen configuration of the image editing function shown in FIG. 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
11, the entire window 401, editing function button 402, editing instruction window 403, editing instruction slider 404, and editing target image 405, which are constituent elements, are the same as those described with reference to FIG. The screen configuration shown in FIG. 4 is different from the screen configuration shown in FIG.

  Next, a process for determining a group break will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The group delimitation instruction is performed in accordance with the editing instruction for the digital exposure correction item, so that the group delimitation is started according to the editing instruction. FIG. 12 shows a procedure of determination processing that occurs every time a single editing instruction is given.

  In FIG. 12, in step S1201, it is determined whether the input editing instruction is a digital exposure correction item. If the result of this determination is digital exposure correction, the process proceeds to step S1202, and if not, it is determined that the group is not divided by this editing instruction, and the determination ends.

  In step S1202, it is determined in the history whether or not editing has been performed once or more after the start of the current group. If the result of this determination is that editing has been performed, the process proceeds to step S1203. Otherwise, it is determined that the group is not divided by this editing instruction, and the determination is terminated.

  In step 1203, it is determined whether the previous history was digital exposure correction. If the result of this determination is not digital exposure correction, the process proceeds to step S1204. If it is digital exposure correction, it is determined that the group is not divided by this editing instruction, and the determination ends.

  In step S1204, it is determined to divide the group in order to complete the current group based on the editing instructions so far, and the determination ends. According to the procedure described above, the edit history is determined and stored in the history management unit 1005. Thereafter, the saved history is grouped and displayed according to the flow shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, the image editing apparatus that divides a group when an editing instruction is given to a digital exposure correction item has been described. However, the image editing apparatus that divides a group when an editing instruction is given to a white balance item. The present invention is also applied. In the present embodiment, the PC is described as the target image editing apparatus, but the present invention is also applied to an imaging apparatus equipped with a CPU and a memory device.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The image editing apparatus according to the present embodiment is an image editing apparatus that generates an editing result by applying editing instructions input to each editing instruction item to the editing target image itself in a specific order. A feature of the image editing apparatus according to the present embodiment is that groups are divided based on reusability of output data of luminance system processing and color system processing generated as intermediate results. Also, editing instruction classification for classifying the editing instruction input from the user into luminance system processing and color system processing is performed. The image editing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described below.

  In the present embodiment, every time an editing instruction is given, an editing result is generated by applying input values for all editing instruction items to the editing target image itself. For this reason, when the editing instruction is repeatedly performed on the same editing instruction item, the image processing is not overlapped, but the editing result is generated only by the latest editing instruction. In addition, when the editing result is generated, the initial setting value is applied to each editing instruction item for which no editing instruction has been input by the user.

  The image editing apparatus according to the present embodiment also has the configuration of the PC whose block diagram is shown in FIG. Further, the history display function in this embodiment is the same as that described in the first embodiment with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, and the processing procedure for grouping in the history display is also shown in the first embodiment. 9 is the same as that described with reference to FIG. Also, the configuration of the image editing function and the screen configuration thereof are the same as those described in the second embodiment with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the editing processing unit 1003 in the present embodiment.
In FIG. 13, reference numeral 1301 denotes an encoded editing target image 1001 to which an imaging condition is added. The editing target image 1001 is subjected to interpolation processing by the interpolation processing unit 1302 and converted into RGB values. A white balance processing unit 1303 changes an RGB value that is a value affecting the white balance processing in accordance with the input white balance editing instruction 1304. The conversion unit 1305 converts RGB values into YCrCb values, passes the Y values to the luminance system processing unit 1308, and passes Cr and Cb to the color system processing unit 1311.

  Here, the values before applying the luminance system processing and the color system processing are stored as an intermediate result as a Y cache 1 of 1306 and a CrCb cache 1 of 1310, respectively.

  The intermediate results stored in the Y cache 1 of 1306 and the CrCb cache 1 of 1310 can be reused unless the white balance editing instruction 1304 is changed. For this reason, when an edit instruction other than the white balance item is given, the processing up to here can be omitted, and the Y cache 1306 and the CrCb cache 1310 can be used.

  A luminance system processing unit 1308 changes the Y value in accordance with a luminance system editing instruction 1307 set by the user. The result generated here is also stored in the Y cache 2 1309 as an intermediate result. The Y cache 2 1309 can be reused as long as the white balance editing instruction 1304 or the luminance system editing instruction 1307 is not changed.

  A color processing unit 1311 changes the Cr value and the Cb value in accordance with a color editing instruction 1312 set by the user. The result generated here is also stored in the 1313 CrCb cache 2 as an intermediate result. The 1313 CrCb cache 2 can be reused as long as there is no change in the white balance editing instruction 1304 or the color system editing instruction 1312. A conversion unit 1314 converts the YCrCb value into an RGB value. The resulting RGB values are also stored in the 1315 RGB cache as intermediate results for reuse. A tone curve processing unit 1317 edits RGB values according to a tone curve editing instruction 1316 instructed by the user. The edited RGB value becomes the output 1318.

  The editing process is performed according to the above procedure, and the processing result is passed to the determination unit 1004. Further, the intermediate results shown in 1306, 1310, 1309, 1313 and 1315 are not newly generated as much as possible, and are discarded and newly generated only when they cannot be reused. Thereby, even if an editing instruction is given by the user, some image processing can be omitted depending on the editing instruction item, and an editing result can be generated at high speed.

  Next, a processing procedure for determining group separation will be described with reference to FIG. The group separation instruction is generated when an editing instruction is issued that requires all intermediate results to be discarded. However, after the start of the group, if all the intermediate results are discarded without being reused at all, the group shall not be divided exceptionally.

  FIG. 14 shows processing of the determination unit 1004 that occurs every time an editing instruction is given. The determination unit 1004 determines whether the intermediate result generation unit has reused the cache when generating the editing result by performing the same cache use determination as the intermediate result generation unit described with reference to FIG. Can do.

  In FIG. 14, in step S1401, it is determined whether the Y cache 1 and the CrCb cache 1 exist. As a result of this determination, if a cache exists, the process proceeds to step S1402, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1403. In step S1402, it is determined whether the existing Y cache 1 and CrCb cache 1 are reusable. In this determination, if the white balance has not been changed since the last generation of the cache, it is determined that it can be reused. If it is determined by this determination that the cache is reusable, the process proceeds to step S1404; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1403.

  In step S1403, the cache generation flag 1 is set, and the process proceeds to step S1404. In step S1404, it is determined whether the Y cache 2 exists. As a result of this determination, if a cache exists, the process proceeds to step S1405; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1406. In step S1405, it is determined whether the existing Y cache 2 is reusable. In this determination, it is determined that reusability is possible if the luminance editing items have not been changed since the last generation of the cache. If it is determined by this determination that the cache is reusable, the process proceeds to step S1407; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1406.

  In step S1406, the cache generation flag 2 is set and the process proceeds to step S1407. In step S1407, it is determined whether the CrCb cache 2 exists. As a result of this determination, if a cache exists, the process proceeds to step S1408; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1409. In step S1408, it is determined whether the existing CrCb cache 2 is reusable. In this determination, it is determined that the color system edit item has not been changed since the previous generation of the cache, and that it can be reused. If it is determined by this determination that the cache is reusable, the process proceeds to step S1410; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1409.

  In step S1409, the cache generation flag 3 is set, and the process proceeds to step S1410. In step S1410, it is determined whether an RGB cache exists. As a result of this determination, if a cache exists, the process proceeds to step S1411; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1412.

  In step S1411, it is determined whether the existing RGB cache is reusable. In this determination, it is determined that reuse is possible if edit items other than the tone curve have not been changed since the cache was generated last time. If it is determined by this determination that the cache is reusable, the process proceeds to step S1413; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1412. In step S1412, the cache generation flag 3 is set and the process proceeds to step S1413.

  In step S1413, the cache generation flag is determined. As a result of this determination, if all of the cache determination flags 1, 2, and 3 are set, the process proceeds to step S1414; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1416. In step S1414, it is determined whether the cache created in the previous editing result generation has been reused even once. As a result of the determination, if the cache has been reused, the process proceeds to step S1415. If all the caches have been reconfigured without being reused, the process proceeds to step S1416.

In step S1415, it is determined to divide the group in order to complete the current group based on the editing instructions so far, and the process proceeds to step S1416. In step S1416, the cache determination flags 1, 2, and 3 are invalidated, and the determination process ends.
The history of the editing history is determined by the procedure described above and stored in the history management unit 1005. Thereafter, the saved history is grouped and displayed according to the flow shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the image editing apparatus has been described that divides a group when an editing instruction is given to a digital exposure correction item. However, the present invention is also applied to an image editing apparatus that divides a group when an editing instruction is given to a white balance item.

  In the present embodiment, change amount detection is performed to detect a change amount between an image obtained by applying an editing instruction from a user and an image before application. The detected change amount may be compared with a preset determination threshold value to determine the edit history break. In the above-described embodiment, the PC is described as the target image editing apparatus. However, the present invention is also applied to an imaging apparatus equipped with a CPU and a memory device.

(Another embodiment according to the present invention)
Each means constituting the image editing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention can be realized by operating a program stored in a RAM or a ROM of a computer. This program and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program are included in the present invention.

  In addition, the present invention can be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like, and can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices. Moreover, you may apply to the apparatus which consists of one apparatus.

  In the present invention, a software program for executing each step in the above-described image editing method is supplied directly or remotely to a system or apparatus. In the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 1, 9, 12, and 14 is supplied. In addition, this includes a case where the system or the computer of the apparatus is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, and the like.

  Various recording media can be used as a recording medium for supplying the program. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD- R).

  As another program supply method, a browser on a client computer is used to connect to an Internet home page. The computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the homepage by downloading it to a recording medium such as a hard disk.

  It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, the present invention includes a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. Let It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing. Also, the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized.

  Further, the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

301 editing target image 302 editing instruction 303 editing processing unit 304 delimiter instruction 305 determination unit 306 history management unit 307 history display unit

Claims (15)

An editing process for performing image editing in accordance with an editing instruction from the user;
A history management step for managing an editing history performed in accordance with the editing instruction;
A determination step of determining a break of the editing history;
An image editing method comprising: an editing history output step of grouping the editing histories based on divisions determined in the determination step and outputting the histories for each group.   The image editing method according to claim 1, wherein the determination step determines a break of the editing history based on a break instruction from a user.   The image editing method according to claim 1, wherein the determination step determines a break of an editing history based on an editing instruction from a user. An image reading step of reading an image to be subjected to the image editing;
An imaging condition image generation step for generating an image reflecting the imaging conditions added to the image read in the image reading step;
The image editing method according to claim 1, wherein the determination step determines a break of an editing history based on an instruction to the imaging condition image generation step. An initial image reading step of reading an initial image before starting editing and replacing an image being edited;
The image editing method according to claim 1, wherein the determination step determines a break of an editing history based on an instruction to the initial image reading step.   The image editing method according to claim 1, wherein the determination step determines a break of an editing history based on an editing amount based on an editing instruction from a user.   The image editing method according to claim 1, wherein the determination step determines an edit history break based on an edit instruction to change a value affecting white balance or digital exposure correction. An editing instruction classification step for classifying editing instructions input from the user into luminance system processing and color system processing;
An image processing step for performing the luminance system processing or the color system processing and outputting a processing result;
A storage step of storing an intermediate result for each of the luminance system processing and the color system processing;
The image editing method according to claim 1, wherein the determination step determines a break of an editing history based on the intermediate result. A change amount detection step of detecting a change amount between an image obtained by applying an editing instruction from a user and an image before application;
2. The determination step according to claim 1, wherein the determination step determines a delimiter of the editing history by comparing a change amount obtained in the change amount detection step with a determination threshold every time an edit instruction is issued from the user. Image editing method.   The image editing method according to claim 1, wherein the history output step outputs a group and a reduced image corresponding to each history included in the group together.   The image editing method according to claim 10, wherein the reduced image corresponding to the group is generated based on a final history included in the group. Editing means for performing image editing in accordance with an editing instruction from the user;
History management means for managing an editing history performed in accordance with the editing instruction;
Determining means for determining a break of the editing history;
An image editing apparatus comprising: an editing history output unit that groups the editing histories based on a delimiter determined by the determining unit and outputs each group. Editing means for performing image editing in accordance with an editing instruction from the user;
History management means for managing an editing history performed in accordance with the editing instruction;
Determining means for determining a break of the editing history;
An imaging apparatus comprising: an editing history output unit that groups the editing histories based on a delimiter determined by the determining unit and outputs the groups for each group. An editing process for performing image editing in accordance with an editing instruction from the user;
A history management step for managing an editing history performed in accordance with the editing instruction;
A determination step of determining a break of the editing history;
A program that causes a computer to execute an editing history output step of grouping the editing histories based on a delimiter determined in the determining step and outputting each group.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 14 is recorded.

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