JP2011119945A - Imaging apparatus, method of controlling the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply photograph an image most suitable to be arranged in an electronic album when the electronic album is created while the images are photographed by an imaging apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: After specifying a frame on the page of the electronic album for inserting the image to be photographed, an object is photographed. Face detection processing is performed to the photographed image, and whether a detected face area overlaps the warning area of the specified frame is determined. As the result of determination, when the detected face area overlaps the warning area of the specified frame, a warning is notified. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that captures an image and places it on an electronic album, and a control method and program thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, album editing is performed simultaneously with shooting an image, and an image of a subject to be shot is displayed on an album page (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, when the electronic album layout is edited using a personal computer, when the electronic album is printed and bound, the edge of the page to be trimmed (hereinafter referred to as a fore edge) or the center of the page to be bound ( Hereinafter, the presence of the throat portion) is notified. The main subject of the image is arranged so as to overlap these portions, and is prevented from being lost or hidden when bookbinding printing is performed (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-316131 A JP 2007-172238 A

  Conventionally, resizing or trimming the main subject of a captured image so that it does not overlap the throat or forehead of an electronic album reduces the image resolution and reduces the image quality. There was a problem that the composition changed from the photographer's intention.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it is possible to easily shoot an image optimal for placement in an electronic album.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, one of the present invention is an imaging apparatus that captures an image of a subject, acquires the image, stores the image on a recording medium, and arranges the image on a page of an electronic album. The detected subject is based on the designation means for designating a frame for inserting a frame, detection means for detecting a predetermined subject from the photographed image, and the detected subject and the designated frame. A determination unit configured to determine whether or not the predetermined frame overlaps a predetermined area; and a notification unit configured to notify a warning when the detected subject overlaps the predetermined area as a result of the determination. Features.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily take an image that is optimal for placement in an electronic album.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the album data based on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure of operation | movement of the imaging device which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the layout for every page of the electronic album which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the screen displayed on the LCD display part of the imaging device which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure of operation | movement of the imaging device which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the screen displayed on the LCD display part of the imaging device which concerns on one Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

(First embodiment)
The internal configuration of the image pickup apparatus in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The imaging unit 101 includes an optical system including a plurality of lenses and a sensor. The LCD display unit 102 displays an image from the imaging unit 101 during imaging or reads and displays an already recorded image. The LCD display unit 102 reads album data from the ROM 106 and displays an album summary. The subject detection unit 103 performs subject detection processing on the image acquired from the imaging unit 101, and outputs data such as the size and position of the subject to the RAM 107. In this embodiment, the subject detection unit 103 performs face detection processing. In the following, a case where a human face is detected as the predetermined subject will be described, but an object other than the face may be detected. The operation unit 104 receives an instruction from the photographer with an operation button or the like. The CPU 105 performs overall control processing and calculation of the imaging apparatus 100. The ROM 106 stores program data executed by the imaging apparatus 100, album data, and the like. A RAM 107 holds temporary data used for processing of the entire imaging apparatus 100. The memory slot 108 serves as an interface with a recording medium, for example, a memory card 109, and writes and reads an image from the imaging unit 101 to the memory card 109. The modules 101 to 108 are connected by a bus and exchange various data.

  The imaging apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment further creates an electronic album while capturing an image by recording the captured image in association with the album data. The album data of this embodiment has an XML format, and FIG. 2A shows an example of the album data structure. In FIG. 2A, the entire album data is managed as an <Album> element in the first layer. In addition, an <AlbumAttribute> element exists in the second layer, includes <Size> and <Design> elements, and information that affects the entire album data is managed. Similarly, <page> elements are connected to the second layer. The <page> element has a number attribute indicating a page number, and manages information in units of pages constituting album data. Each <page> element has a <PictureFrame> element for managing an image insertion frame in the page as a third-layer element. There are as many <PictureFrame> elements as the number of image insertion frames defined in the page. FIG. 2 shows that there are two image insertion frames on the first page. Each <PictureFrame> element is given an ID attribute in order to uniquely identify an image insertion frame in the page. Also, five elements of <FileName>, <CoordinateX>, <CoordinateX>, <Height>, and <Width> are managed as elements in the fourth layer. Each of these manages the file name of the image data to be inserted into each image insertion frame, the X and Y coordinates indicating the location of the image insertion frame in the page, and the height and width information of the image insertion frame. . Further, in the album data of this embodiment, warning area information is also managed for each image insertion frame. The warning area information indicates the position of a fore edge or a throat portion of a page included in the image insertion frame, and the position of the fore edge or the throat portion is determined according to a place where the image insertion frame is arranged on the page of the electronic album.

  The CPU 105 of the image capturing apparatus 100 interprets the album data shown in FIG. 2A to display the spread page 201 of the electronic album as shown in FIG. On the first and second facing pages of the electronic album, the upper left corner of the facing page 201 is the origin, there are four image insertion frames at the corresponding coordinates, and the image is already inserted in the upper left image insertion frame of the first page. Has been. A boundary line 202 is drawn between the first page and the second page.

  An operation of photographing an object and creating an electronic album using the photographed image in the imaging apparatus 100 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. The following operations are realized when the imaging apparatus 100 is activated to enter the shooting mode, and the CPU 105 controls various modules.

  First, the CPU 105 designates an image insertion frame of an electronic album for inserting an image to be taken (S301). Here, the CPU 105 reads the album data from the ROM 106 and displays the layout of the electronic album on the LCD display unit 102 in order for each spread page as shown in FIG. Let the frame be selected. FIG. 4A shows the layout of the spread 1 & 2 page, in which four image insertion frames are arranged on the background image, and all the image insertion frames 411 do not overlap the node portion or the fore edge portion. FIG. 4B shows a layout of spread 3 & 4 pages. Two image insertion frames are arranged on the background image, and the upper end, lower end and right end of the image insertion frame 421 are the end of the page so that they overlap the fore edge. Yes. FIG. 4 (c) shows a layout of spread 5 & 6 pages. One image insertion frame is arranged on the entire surface, and the periphery of the image insertion frame 431 is the edge of the page, so that it overlaps the fore edge, and the center of the image insertion frame 431 is Since it is a page boundary, it overlaps with the throat. In FIG. 4, a corresponding image may be displayed in an image insertion frame in which an image has already been inserted. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the image insertion frame 431 in FIG. 4C is selected. The CPU 105 acquires the location of the warning area based on the warning area information of the selected image insertion frame 431 (S302). Since the image insertion frame 431 has a gutter at the center and a fore edge around the image insertion frame 431, these places serve as warning areas.

  Next, in response to the operation of the photographer, the CPU 105 starts imaging processing (S303), and the warning area acquired in step S302 in the through image 511 on the LCD display unit 102 as shown in FIG. 5A. 512 is superimposed and displayed. Thus, the photographer can determine the composition of the image while checking the warning area on the page of the electronic album. Next, in response to the photographer's focusing operation, the CPU 105 causes the subject detection unit 103 to perform face detection processing on the through image sent from the imaging unit 101 (S304). Then, the CPU 105 determines whether or not the face area detected by the face detection process overlaps the warning area (S305). If the result of determination in step S305 is that there is an overlap, a warning is displayed on the LCD display unit 102 (S306). Specifically, the photographer is warned by displaying a warning mark 521 in a face area overlapping with the warning area, flashing a warning area 522 overlapping with the face area, or displaying a warning message. Accordingly, the photographer can change the composition and avoid in advance a problem that the face of the subject is hidden when the electronic album is bound and printed. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the photographer has operated the release (S307). If the result of determination in step S307 is that there has been a release operation, the subject is photographed, the photographed image is temporarily stored in the RAM 107, and face detection processing is performed on the photographed image (S308). Then, the CPU 105 determines whether or not the face area detected in step S308 overlaps the warning area (S309). If there is an overlap as a result of the determination in step S309, a dialog asking whether to discard the temporarily stored captured image and recapture is displayed on the LCD display unit 102 to determine whether to recapture (S310). . If the photographer has instructed re-shooting operation, it is determined that shooting is to be performed again, the temporarily stored image is discarded, and the process returns to step S303. If the result of determination in step S309 is that there is no overlap, or if the result of determination in step S310 is that the photographer does not retake, the temporarily stored captured image is stored in the memory card 109 via the memory slot 108 (S311). . At this time, the captured image is stored in association with the ID attribute of the image insertion frame selected in step S301 of the album data.

  In this embodiment, the warning is displayed. However, the warning may be generated by making a sound.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the photographer shoots an image with the imaging device, the photographer can check the optimum composition when the captured image is laid out in an electronic album and bookbinding printed. You can easily shoot images that are optimal for placement in electronic albums.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the case where the photographer changes the composition in accordance with the warning has been described, but in this embodiment, the case where the imaging apparatus automatically changes the composition will be described. Hereinafter, description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted, and a configuration specific to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, an operation of capturing an object and creating an electronic album by automatically changing the composition of the captured image in the imaging apparatus 100 will be described. The following operations are realized when the imaging apparatus 100 is activated to enter the shooting mode, and the CPU 105 controls various modules. First, similarly to the first embodiment, the processing from step S301 to step S306 is executed. Then, the CPU 105 determines whether or not a photographer's face rearrangement release instruction has been given (S607). The face rearrangement release instruction is performed by pressing down a button for inputting a face rearrangement release instruction, which is different from a shutter button for an operator to input a normal release instruction. As a result of the determination in step S607, if there is a face rearrangement release instruction, the CPU 105 performs face detection processing on the through image again (S608), and the face area detected in the face detection processing in step S608 is the warning area. It is determined whether or not they overlap (S609). In FIG. 7A, it is determined that the face 711 overlaps the throat portion 712. If they overlap as a result of the determination in S609, the CPU 105 changes the zoom magnification and enlarges or reduces the through image as shown in FIG. 7B so that the face area does not overlap the nodule or fore edge. The image is taken after adjustment, and the taken image is temporarily stored in the RAM 107 (S610). In step S610, it is determined whether a photographed image that meets the conditions is stored (S611). If the result of determination in step S611 is that the photographed image is not stored, a notification is made that it is impossible to photograph an optimal image in the image insertion frame (S612). If the result of determination in step S611 is that the photographed image has been saved, then the temporarily saved photographed image having the largest face area is selected (S613). The CPU 105 stores the selected captured image in the memory card 109 via the memory slot 108 (S614). At this time, the captured image is stored in association with the ID attribute of the image insertion frame selected in step S301 of the album data.

In step S613, the photographed image having the largest face area is selected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ratio of the face area to the photographed image is set in advance for each image insertion frame. Alternatively, a captured image closest to the ratio may be selected. Or you may make it select the picked-up image which most matches the conditions set beforehand by the photographer.
In step S610, the zoom magnification is adjusted for shooting, but the optical system of the imaging unit 101 may be used to shift the optical axis.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when taking an image with the imaging apparatus, the photographed image is changed to an optimal composition when the booked and printed image is laid out on the electronic album. Can shoot images that are optimal for placement in electronic albums without the hassle.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (6)

An imaging device that shoots a subject, acquires an image, stores the image on a recording medium, and arranges the image on a page of an electronic album,
A designation means for designating a frame into which a photographed image is inserted;
Detecting means for detecting a predetermined subject from the photographed image;
Determining means for determining whether the detected subject overlaps a predetermined area of the designated frame based on the detected subject and the designated frame;
An imaging apparatus comprising: notification means for notifying a warning when the detected subject overlaps the predetermined area as a result of the determination.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is preset according to a position where the image is inserted into a page of the electronic album.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined subject is a human face. An imaging device that shoots a subject, acquires an image, stores the image on a recording medium, and arranges the image on a page of an electronic album,
A designation means for designating a frame into which a photographed image is inserted;
Detecting means for detecting a predetermined subject from the photographed image;
Determining means for determining whether the detected subject overlaps a predetermined area of the designated frame based on the designated frame and the detected subject;
As a result of the determination, when the detected subject overlaps the predetermined area, an adjustment unit that adjusts the zoom magnification and shoots,
The detection means detects a predetermined subject from the adjusted and photographed image, and if the result of the determination is that the detected subject does not overlap the predetermined area, the detected and photographed image An imaging apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores the information in the recording medium. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus that captures an image of a subject, acquires an image, stores the image on a recording medium, and places the image on a page of an electronic album,
Specifying a frame in which to insert the image to be shot;
Detecting a predetermined subject from the captured image;
Determining whether the detected subject overlaps a predetermined area of the designated frame based on the detected subject and the designated frame;
And a step of notifying a warning when the detected subject overlaps the predetermined area as a result of the determination. In the computer of the imaging device that captures an image of a subject, acquires the image, stores the image in a recording medium, and places the image on a page of the electronic album,
Specifying a frame in which to insert the image to be shot;
Detecting a predetermined subject from the captured image;
Determining whether the detected subject overlaps a predetermined area of the designated frame based on the detected subject and the designated frame;
And a step of notifying a warning when the detected subject overlaps the predetermined area as a result of the determination.

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