JP2011188197A - Image processor and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a stamp image from being composed at a position other than a user desired position. <P>SOLUTION: When a stamp image is not composed on a picture, an image processor indicates the information of an overlapping-prohibited area of the stamp image to be composed on the picture. Then, based on the information of an overlapping-prohibited area on the picture, it is determined whether or not a next stamp image to be composed is overlapped on the prohibited area of the picture. When it is determined that it is overlapped on the prohibited area of the picture exceeding a specified ratio, a warning that the stamp image is overlapped on the prohibited area is notified, or the image processor exerts control so as to move the stamp image to be composed to a position at which it is not overlapped on the prohibited area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and more particularly to a technique suitable for use in synthesizing a stamp image with a photograph or the like.

  In recent years, a plurality of images such as a stamp image, a balloon, and a character string are combined and printed on a photograph taken by a user. However, the conventional method does not manage the overlap between the images to be synthesized.

  Therefore, a method is disclosed in which position information of a plurality of images to be combined with a photographed image is stored and arranged so that the images to be combined do not overlap based on the position information (for example, Patent Document 1). As another example, a method of adding mask data to photographed photograph data and recording position information of the synthesized image is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2). According to this method, when a new synthesis process is performed, the positions of previously synthesized images can be known by referring to the mask data, so that they do not overlap each other.

Japanese Patent No. 4076311 JP 2006-262232 A

  However, the methods described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have a problem that even when the user intentionally overlaps the stamp images, the stamp images are moved so as not to overlap. For example, when the stamp image shown in FIG. 3A and the stamp image shown in FIG. 3B are combined, a layout as shown in FIG. 4A is generally used. On the other hand, in the layout as shown in FIG. 4B, since the face of the stamp image shown in FIG. 3A is hidden, the user rarely places it intentionally.

  In recent years, spot color printing capable of printing in gold or silver has been actively performed. In such printing, if a part or all of the stamp image is a single color of gold or silver called spot color, and the stamp image already synthesized contains spot color, it is distinguished from individual stamp images. Will not be attached. For example, when the stamp images shown in FIG. 3A are all in a single color, if the two are arranged in an overlapping manner, the individual stamp images cannot be distinguished as shown in FIG. 4C.

  As described above, in the methods described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, since the overlap is determined using only the position information and the mask image, it is related to whether or not the spot color portion exists in the stamp image. It will move the stamp without. Therefore, it cannot be set to the layout intended by the user.

  Further, when a part of the stamp image is handled as transparent data, it may not be preferable for the user depending on the background color of the portion where the stamp image is to be combined. For example, when the stamp image shown in FIG. 3A is synthesized, if the background color to be synthesized is similar to the stamp image as shown in FIG. As shown, the stamp image blends into the background color after synthesis. However, in the methods described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, overlaps are compared using only position information and mask images. Therefore, even if the background color of the portion where the stamp image is to be combined is not similar to the color of the stamp image, it is moved and the layout intended by the user cannot be achieved.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent a stamp image from being combined at a position not intended by a user in view of the above-described problems.

  The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus that combines a composite image with one image, and the image data related to the plurality of composite images to be combined with the one image is combined with another composite image. Storage means for storing together with information on prohibited areas for prohibiting overlapping, reflecting means for reflecting information on prohibited areas of image data relating to a composite image stored in the storage means in the one image, and the reflecting means Based on the information on the prohibited area reflected by the above, the determination means for determining whether or not another composite image overlaps the prohibited area of the composite image to be combined with the one image, and the determination means overlap. And a control unit that controls to perform a warning or to move the other composite image to a position that does not overlap the prohibited area.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the stamp image from being combined at a position not intended by the user, and to combine the stamp image at an appropriate position.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of a printer according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure until print processing is performed. It is a figure which shows an example of the data which concern on a stamp image. It is a figure which shows an example of the overlap of a stamp image. It is a figure which shows an example of a photograph and overlapping prohibition data. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure which synthesize | combines a stamp image with a photograph. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure which reflects an overlap prohibition area | region. It is a figure explaining the parameter used for calculation. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the detailed procedure of overlap judgment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data which concern on the stamp image using a spot color. It is a figure which shows an example of the data concerning a stamp image and a background. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the detailed procedure of overlap judgment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between YUV and a threshold value. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure which reflects an overlap prohibition area | region. It is a figure which shows another example of overlapping prohibition data.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail. 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.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of a printer 100 according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, a power supply unit 101 is for supplying power to the entire printer 100. The card reader 102 is a reader for setting various memory cards, and can read image data (photo data) recorded on the memory card. The communication unit 103 is an interface for receiving photo data transmitted from the digital camera by connecting to the digital camera. In this embodiment, the photograph data to be handled is image data in JPEG format.

  The IO control unit 104 is for determining which one of the communication unit 103 and the card reader 102 is valid and performing exclusive control so that it is not valid at the same time. A non-volatile memory (ROM) 105 stores a plurality of programs for controlling the printer 100, image data of a menu screen for operating the printer 100, and composite image data of objects such as stamp images and balloons. .

  The system control unit 106 is a control unit for controlling the entire printer 100, and controls the entire printer 100 according to a program stored in the ROM 105. The volatile memory (RAM) 107 holds photographic data read from the communication unit 103 or the card reader 102 through the IO control unit 104, or is used as a temporary storage area for data used in system control or composition processing. To do.

  The image processing unit 108 is for performing decompression processing, resizing, and arranging a layout for JPEG format image data read from the RAM 107 or the ROM 105. In the decompression process according to the present embodiment, the image data is converted from the JPEG format to the YUV format. A VRAM area 109 in the RAM 107 is an area for holding image data to be displayed as an image on the image display unit 110. When image processing such as decompression processing or resizing of image data held in the RAM 107 or the ROM 105 is performed by the image processing unit 108, the image data subjected to the image processing is held in the VRAM area 109. Thereby, an arbitrary image can be displayed on the image display unit 110.

  The image display unit 110 reads the image data held in the VRAM area 109 and displays a print image or displays a menu screen image. The UI operation unit 111 includes a power button, a print button, various operation buttons for operating a menu screen displayed on the image display unit 110, and the like. The UI operation unit 111 is also used when determining the position of an image to be synthesized. The image correction unit 112 performs various correction processes such as brightness, contrast, and color in the YUV format photo data created by the image processing unit 108 according to the printing conditions determined by the user. The print image generation unit 113 converts the YUV format photo data corrected by the image correction unit 112 into the YMC format.

  The printing unit 114 of this embodiment employs a sublimation type thermal transfer recording method, and uses an ink cartridge in which an ink sheet and paper are integrated. The ink sheet covers the print area of the paper and is provided with a yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) ink layer and an overcoat (OP) layer arranged in a size substantially equal to the size. . When thermal transfer is performed on each layer in the printing unit 114, the paper is returned to the recording start position, and is sequentially transferred onto the paper. Therefore, the print image generation unit 113 performs conversion from the YUV format to the YMC format. The print image generation unit 113 also performs a process of combining a stamp image, a balloon, a character string, and the like with the YMC converted image (photograph). The printing unit 114 sequentially heat-transfers the Y, M, and C ink layers to the paper using the Y, M, and C color data generated by the print image generation unit 113, returns the paper to the recording start position, and completes the printing. Print colors. When performing spot color printing, the print image generation unit 113 generates four types of data, with the ink sheet having four types of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and special color (S). In the printing unit 114, the Y, M, C, and S ink layers are sequentially thermally transferred to the paper, and the paper is returned to the recording start position to print all colors.

  The auxiliary storage unit 115 is a storage device configured by a hard disk drive, a flash memory, or the like, and stores image data in YUV format after image correction, data in JPEG format, information on printing conditions, and the like.

  Next, the overall operation of the printer 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure until print processing is performed by the printer 100 according to the present embodiment. 2 is performed under the control of the system control unit 106. The process of FIG. 2 shows an operation after the printer 100 is turned on when image data (photo data) is read from a memory card attached to the card reader 102 and a stamp image is added to the image for printing. ing.

  First, in step S201, the power supply unit 101 determines whether the printer 100 has been turned off. As a result of this determination, if the power is not turned off, the process proceeds to step S202. If the power is turned off, the process is ended as it is. Next, in step S202, it is detected whether or not an ink cartridge is set in the printing unit 114. If the ink cartridge is not set as a result of the detection, the process returns to step S201. If the ink cartridge is set, the process proceeds to step S203.

  Next, in step S203, it is detected whether or not recording paper remains in the ink cartridge. As a result of the detection, if recording paper remains, the process proceeds to step S204. If no recording paper remains, the process returns to step S201. Next, in step S <b> 204, it is determined whether a memory card is inserted into the card reader 102 via the IO control unit 104. As a result of the determination, if a memory card is inserted, the process proceeds to step S205, and if a memory card is not inserted, the process returns to step S201.

  Next, in step S205, stamp combination position determination processing is performed in accordance with instructions on the UI screen displayed on the image display unit 110. Details of this stamp composition position determination process will be described later. In step S206, it is determined whether or not the user has pressed a print setting button on the UI operation unit 111. As a result of the determination, if the print setting button is pressed by the user, the process proceeds to step S207, and if not, the process proceeds to step S208.

  In step S207, the menu operation button of the UI operation unit 111 is operated by the user according to the print condition menu displayed on the image display unit 110, and various correction processes such as brightness, contrast, and color conversion of the print image, layout configuration, and the like. Set the printing conditions. In step S208, it is determined whether or not the user has pressed the print button of the UI operation unit 111. As a result of the determination, if the print button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S209, and if the print button is not pressed, the process returns to step S201.

  Next, in step S209, the image data is read from the memory card to the RAM 107 via the card reader 102. Then, the image processing unit 108 converts the read image data (photo data) from the JPEG format to the YUV format based on the initial printing conditions stored in the ROM 105 or the printing conditions set in step S207. Further, the image correction unit 112 performs various image correction processes such as brightness, contrast, and color.

  Next, in step S210, the print image generation unit 113 converts the corrected photographic data from the YUV format to the YMC format. In step S211, a stamp image is combined with the photograph converted into the YMC format at the combination position determined in step S205. In step S212, the printing unit 114 prints the print image generated in steps S210 and S211. Then, the process returns to step S201.

  In this embodiment, as shown in (a), the composite image data to be combined with the photograph is composed of three data: image data of the stamp image itself, mask data as accompanying information, and overlap prohibition data. The image data is in bitmap format, YUV format, etc., and the image data itself is described. The mask data has 1-bit data per pixel describing the transmission of the image, and a portion where this value is 0 indicates a transparent transparent portion. In the mask data of FIG. 3, the place where the value is 0 is indicated by a black portion. The overlap prohibition data is data having 1-bit information per pixel describing the overlap prohibition area of the stamp image. When this value is 1, it indicates an overlap prohibition area that prohibits overlap with other stamp images, and when it is 0, it indicates an overlap permission area that permits overlap with other stamp images. In the non-overlapping area data in FIG. 3, a part having a value of 0 is shown in black, and a part to be an overlapping prohibited area having a value of 1 is shown in white. As described above, these composite image data are stored in the ROM 105 in advance.

  Next, stamp image overlap determination will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure when a stamp image is combined with a photograph, and illustrates the processing performed in step S205 of FIG. Each process shown in FIG. 6 is performed under the control of the system control unit 106. At this time, a photograph and a stamp image are displayed on the image display unit 110, and the stamp position is determined by the user operating the UI operation unit 111 to move the stamp image. The information on the combination position determined here is temporarily stored in the RAM 107, and in step S211 in FIG. 2, the information on the combination position is read from the RAM 107 and actually combined.

  First, in step S <b> 601, display photo data to be displayed on the image display unit 110 is created from the photo data stored in the memory card and stored in the RAM 107. This display photograph data is used to determine the composite position of the stamp image. Next, in step S <b> 602, overlap prohibition data in the photographic data is created and stored in the RAM 107. This overlap prohibition data indicates in which position the overlap prohibition area of the stamp image to be combined with the photograph exists. In the initial state, as shown in FIG. Is an overlapping allowed area.

  In step S603, a variable N indicating the number of stamp images to be combined with the photograph is initialized to 0, and the process proceeds to step S604. In step S604, the user operates the UI operation unit 111 to select a stamp image to be combined with the photograph to be printed. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the stamp image shown in FIG. 3A is selected by the user as the stamp image to be combined.

  Next, in step S605, a position where the stamp image is to be combined is provisionally determined by the user operating the UI operation unit 111, and temporarily stored in the RAM 107 as temporary combination position information. In step S606, it is determined whether or not the number N of stamp images to be combined is zero. As a result of this determination, if N is 0, the process proceeds to step S609, and if N is not 0, the process proceeds to step S607. Note that processing in the case of proceeding to step S607 will be described later.

  In step S609, the temporary combining position information is read from the RAM 107, the temporarily determined combined position of the stamp image is determined as the actual combining position, and the combined position information is stored in the RAM 107. When performing the composition processing in step S211 in FIG. 2, the composition position determined in step S609 is employed as it is. Further, the display photo data stored in the RAM 107 is read out, a stamp image is combined with the display photo, and the combined image is displayed on the image display unit 110. In step S610, the system control unit 106 functions as a reflecting unit, and reflects the overlap prohibition area of the stamp image to be combined in the overlap prohibition data of the photographic data stored in the RAM 107 in step S602.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for reflecting the stamp image overlap prohibition region in step S610 in the present embodiment. 7 is performed under the control of the system control unit 106.
First, in step S701, the variable j is initialized to 0, and in step S702, the variable i is initialized to 0. Here, the variables i and j indicate the horizontal direction and vertical direction of the pixels in the stamp image, respectively. Next, in step S703, the following equation (1) is calculated. This calculation is 1 for pixels that are non-overlapping regions, and 0 for pixels that are not. In step S704, 1 is added to the variable i.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 8, Yoffset and Xoffset are vertical and horizontal offsets of the image to be printed and the stamp image, and ImgWidth is the horizontal width of the display photograph. Further, Img_Overlap indicates the start address of the overlap prohibition data of the photo data stored in the RAM 107, and Stamp_Overlap indicates the start address of the overlap prohibition data of the stamp image stored in the ROM 105. Furthermore, “OR” represents a logical sum. Here, Yoffset and Xoffset are the synthesis positions provisionally determined in step S605 of FIG.

  In step S705, it is determined whether or not the variable i is less than the lateral width StampWidth of the stamp image. If it is determined that the width of the stamp image is less than the width of the stamp image, the process returns to step S703. If the variable i has reached the width of StampWidth, 1 is added to the variable j in step S706. In step S707, it is determined whether or not the variable j is less than the vertical width StampHeight of the stamp image. As a result of the determination, if the stamp image is less than the vertical width of the stamp image, the process returns to step S702. If the variable j reaches the vertical width StampHeight, the process ends. In this way, one is added until the variables i and j become the horizontal and vertical widths of the stamp image, respectively, and the calculation of Expression (1) is performed for each pixel.

  Thus, the stamp image overlap prohibition area is reflected in the photographic data overlap prohibition data. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the photographic data overlap prohibition area reflected by the processing of FIG. 7, and the stamp image overlap prohibition area shown in FIG. 3A is reflected.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 6, in the next step S611, 1 is added to the number N of stamp images to be combined, and the process proceeds to step S612. In step S612, guidance is displayed on the image display unit 110 as to whether or not to add a stamp image to the user. As a result, if it is selected to add from the UI operation unit 111 by the user's operation, the process returns to step S604, and if it is selected not to add, the process ends.

  Next, a case where a stamp image shown in FIG. 3B is added will be described. When adding a stamp image, it returns to step S604 from step S612, and the stamp image shown in FIG.3 (b) shall be selected by the user. In step S605, the temporary combining position of the stamp image is determined and the temporary combining position information is held in the RAM 107. In step S606, since N ≠ 0, the process proceeds to step S607. In step S <b> 607, the system control unit 106 functions as a determination unit, and performs overlap determination using the temporary composite position information of the stamp image held in the RAM 107.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed procedure of the overlap determination in step S607 in the present embodiment. Each process shown in FIG. 9 is performed under the control of the system control unit 106. In the process shown in FIG. 9, for the region of the stamp image to be added, the photographic data overlap prohibition data and the mask data of the stamp image to be added are compared using Equation (2) shown below. Then, how many pixels the stamp image to be added overlaps with the photographic data overlap prohibition area is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the amount is equal to or more than a threshold value.

  Here, Stamp_Mask is the start address of the mask data of the stamp image shown in FIG. 3B stored in the ROM 105, and Img_Overlap indicates a non-overlapping area of photographic data stored in the RAM 107. “AND” represents a logical product. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, Yoffset and Xoffset indicate the respective offsets between the image to be printed and the stamp image to be added, and ImgWidth indicates the horizontal width of the display photo data. Here, Yoffset and Xoffset are temporary synthesis positions of the stamp image to be added, determined in step S605 in FIG.

  First, in step S901, a variable Overlap indicating the number of pixels overlapping the overlap prohibition area is initialized to zero. In step S902, the variable j is initialized to 0. In step S903, the variable i is initialized to 0. Here, the variables i and j indicate the horizontal direction and vertical direction of the pixels in the stamp image, respectively. In subsequent steps S904 to S909, one is added until the variables i and j become the horizontal width StampWidth and the vertical width StampHeight of the stamp image, respectively, and the comparison processing of Expression (2) is performed on each pixel.

  In step S904, it is determined whether or not the formula (2) is 1. Here, as a result of the calculation of the expression (2), the overlap prohibition area of the photo data is 1 indicating that overlap is prohibited, and the mask data of the stamp image to be added indicates that the image exists as the stamp image. Only when it is 1, Equation (2) becomes 1. That is, it is possible to detect that an overlap occurs at that pixel. As described above, when the expression (2) is 1 and the pixel is overlapped, the process proceeds to step S905, and 1 is added to the variable Overlap indicating the number of overlapping pixels. On the other hand, if the formula (2) is not 1, the process proceeds to step S906 and 1 is added to the variable i.

  Next, in step S907, it is determined whether or not the variable i is less than the lateral width StampWidth of the stamp image. If it is determined that the width of the stamp image is less than the width of the stamp image, the process returns to step S904. If the variable i has reached the width of StampWidth, 1 is added to the variable j in step S908. In step S909, it is determined whether or not the variable j is less than the vertical width StampHeight of the stamp image. As a result of the determination, if the stamp image is less than the vertical width, the process returns to step S903. If the variable j reaches the vertical width StampHeight, the process proceeds to step S910.

  As described above, when all the regions of the stamp image to be added are compared, the process proceeds to step S910. In step S910, it is determined whether or not the value of Overlap is less than a predetermined threshold value TH_Overlap. That is, the magnitude relationship between the value of Overlap and the threshold value TH_Overlap is determined. Here, the threshold value TH_Overlap is the number of pixels indicating how much overlap with an overlap prohibition area determined in advance for each stamp image is allowed. As a result of this determination, if it is less than the threshold value, in step S912, a flag fOverlap indicating that the overlapping pixels of the stamp images are less than the threshold value is set to FALSE, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S910 is greater than or equal to the threshold value, in step S911, the flag fOverlap is set to TURE, and the process ends.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 6, in the next step S608, it is determined whether or not the fOverlap set in the process of FIG. 9 is TRUE. If the result of this determination is TRUE, the process proceeds to step S613, and if it is FALSE, the process proceeds to step S609, and the same processing as described above is performed.

  In the case of TRUE, the stamp image to be added overlaps the overlap prohibition area of other stamp images. Therefore, in step S613, the system control unit 106 functions as a control unit and displays a warning that the stamp images overlap on the UI screen displayed on the image display unit 110 to notify the user. In step S614, an inquiry is made as to whether or not the position of the stamp image to be added is to be corrected, and it is determined whether or not the user has instructed the UI operation unit 111 to correct the position of the stamp image to be added. If the result of this determination is that the user has instructed to correct the position, the process returns to step S605. If the user has not instructed to correct the position, the process proceeds to step S609, and the same processing as described above is performed. Note that instead of performing the processing of step S613 and step S614, the stamp image to be added may be automatically moved so as not to overlap the overlap prohibition region of the stamp image of FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, data describing an overlap prohibition area is added to the stamp image. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the stamp image is synthesized at a position not intended by the user by moving the stamp image or notifying the user about the unintended overlap. Can be prevented.

  On the other hand, in the case of spot color printing using a specific color, spot color mask data may be used instead of the overlap prohibition data. The spot color mask data is 1-bit data as shown in FIG. 10, and when this value is 1 (white area in the figure), the spot color is used for the pixel. This special color mask data is used as overlapping prohibition data. In other words, by using the color data of the spot color as the overlap prohibition data, when the spot color portions of the stamp image are overlapped as shown in FIG. Warning.

In this embodiment, composite image data, mask data, and overlap prohibition data as shown in FIG. 3 are used. However, overlap prohibition may be determined using data as shown in FIG.
The composite image data in FIG. 15 is the same as the composite image data in FIG. 3A, but the overlap-prohibited area data is different. In FIG. 3 (a), the entire bear face is a non-overlapping region. However, the non-overlapping region of FIG. This is because the eyes and nose are surrounded by the composite image data, and if the same color composite image overlaps the eyes and nose, the bear's eyes and nose disappear. The area surrounded by the composite image data often shows an important role in the composite image. Therefore, in FIG. 15, only the portion surrounded by the composite image data is set as an overlapping prohibited area.

  Further, in FIG. 15, overlap prohibition area data is prepared for specifying a transparent area surrounded by the composite image data in the composite image as an overlap prohibition area. However, a transparent area surrounded by the composite image data may be determined as the overlap prohibition area by analyzing the composite image data without preparing the overlap prohibition area data separately from the composite image data. . In addition, when the composite image data of the same color as the composite image data overlaps the transparent region surrounded by the composite image data in the composite image data, it becomes impossible to distinguish between the transparent region and the other region. Therefore, this is particularly effective when the composite image data of the same color overlap. Therefore, overlapping may be prohibited only when the same color overlaps.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, a part of the stamp image for which the position to be combined has been determined is notified so that the stamp image to be added will not overlap. However, in this embodiment, the background color of the transparent portion of the stamp image to be added from now on Notify that there is no overlap.

  First, the difference between the overlap prohibited area in the first embodiment and the overlap prohibited area in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, for example, the stamp image (first composite image) as shown in FIG. 3A does not become a composite image in which another stamp image (second composite image) overlaps the face portion. In addition, only the face portion is set as the overlap prohibition area. In the present embodiment, a portion where a predetermined color is not desired to be the background color is also designated. For example, as in the stamp image shown in FIG. 11A, the periphery of the body, the eyes, the nose, and the like are set as the overlapping prohibited area.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure in the present embodiment will be described. Note that the printer according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. Further, the procedure until the printing process and the processing procedure for determining the position where the stamp image is to be combined are the same as those in FIGS. In this embodiment, the detailed processing procedure in step S607 in FIG. 6 is different from the procedure shown in FIG. 9, and the detailed processing procedure in step S610 in FIG. 6 is different from the procedure shown in FIG. .

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed procedure for determining overlap in step S607 in the present embodiment. Each process illustrated in FIG. 12 is performed under the control of the system control unit 106.
First, in step S1201, a variable Overlap indicating the number of pixels overlapping the overlap prohibition area is initialized to zero. Next, in step S1202, a variable Underlap indicating the number of pixels whose background color of the stamp image is other than a predetermined color is initialized to zero. In step S1203, the variable j is initialized to 0. In step S1204, the variable i is initialized to 0. Here, the variables i and j indicate the horizontal direction and vertical direction of the pixels in the stamp image, respectively.

  In subsequent steps S1205 to S1213, the variables i and j are respectively added one by one until the horizontal width StampWidth and the vertical width StampHeight of the stamp image are obtained. Then, in each pixel, the logical operation of Equation (2) described above and the logical operation of Equation (3) shown in Equation 3 below are performed.

  In the present embodiment, Stamp_Mask indicates the head address of the mask data of the stamp image shown in FIG. Stamp_Overlap indicates the top address of the overlap prohibition data of the stamp image, and “XOR” indicates exclusive logic. In step S1205, it is determined whether Equation (2) is 1. Similar to the first embodiment, as a result of the calculation of Expression (2), the overlap prohibition area of the print image is 1 indicating that overlap is prohibited, and the mask data of the stamp image to be added is used as the stamp image. Equation (2) becomes 1 only when it is 1 indicating that an image exists. That is, it can be detected that an overlap occurs at that location. Thus, when Formula (2) becomes 1, it progresses to step S1206, 1 is added to Overlap, and it progresses to step S1207. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S1205 is that expression (2) is not 1, the process proceeds directly to step S1207.

  In step S1207, it is determined whether or not the expression (3) is 1. Here, as a result of the calculation of Expression (3), when the overlap prohibition area of the stamp image to be added is 1 indicating that overlap is prohibited and the mask data is 0 indicating that it is transparent data Only, formula (3) becomes 1. That is, only the transparent part (difference area) set as the overlap prohibition area can be detected at that place. As described above, when the expression (3) is 1, the process proceeds to step S1208, and when the expression (3) is not 1, the process proceeds to step S1210.

  In step S1208, information on the color space (color information) of the combined photographic data in the transparent portion of the overlap prohibited region is acquired, and the background color of the transparent portion of the overlap prohibited region is expressed by the following equation (4): ) To check.

  Here, Img_Y, Img_U, and Img_V represent addresses of luminance and color difference information of the display photo data stored in the RAM 107. Further, TH_Y_1, TH_U_1, TH_V_1, TH_Y_2, TH_U_2, and TH_V_2 represent YUV threshold values that are determined in advance for each stamp image and are not preferable as background colors. Note that YUV threshold information for each stamp image is stored in the ROM 105 in advance.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between YUV and threshold. Formula (4) is used to determine whether or not the background color of the transparent portion does not exist within the range of the color space surrounded by the block 1301. As a result of the check in step S1208, if all the expressions (4) satisfy the conditions, the process proceeds to step S1209, 1 is added to Underlap, and the process proceeds to step S1210. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1208 that at least one of the conditions does not satisfy the condition and is outside the color space range, the process proceeds to step S1210 and 1 is added to the variable i.

  In step S1211, it is determined whether the variable i is less than the stamp image width StampWidth. If it is determined that the width of the stamp image is less than the width of the stamp image, the process returns to step S1205. If the variable i reaches the width of stamp StampWidth, 1 is added to the variable j in step S1212. In step S1213, it is determined whether or not the variable j is less than the vertical width StampHeight of the stamp image. If the result of this determination is that the stamp image is less than the vertical width of the stamp image, the process returns to step S1204, and if the variable j has reached the vertical width StampHeight, the process proceeds to step S1214.

  As described above, when two comparisons are made for all regions of the stamp image to be added, the process proceeds to step S1214. In step S1214, it is confirmed whether Underlap is less than the threshold value TH_Underlap and whether Overlap is less than the threshold value TH_Overlap. If at least one of the results is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the flag fOverlap is set to TURE in step S1215, and the process ends. On the other hand, as a result of the confirmation in step S1214, if both are less than the threshold value, in step S1216, the flag fOverlap is set to FALSE, and the process ends.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for reflecting the stamp image overlap prohibition region in step S610 of FIG. 6 in the present embodiment. Each process illustrated in FIG. 14 is performed under the control of the system control unit 106. The difference from FIG. 7 described in the first embodiment is that, in step S1403, the calculation is performed using the following equation (5) instead of equation (1). Therefore, step S1401, step S1402, and steps S1404 to S1407 are the same as step S701, step S702, and steps S704 to S707 in FIG.

  Thus, the stamp image overlap prohibition data is reflected in the photo data overlap prohibition data. As described above, when an unfavorable color exists in the transparent portion of the stamp image, or when another stamp image overlaps the overlap prohibited area, the user is notified. Alternatively, the stamp image is moved so that there is no unfavorable color in the stamp image in the transparent portion of the stamp image, and another stamp image does not overlap the overlap prohibited area.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can also be 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 (8)

An image processing apparatus for combining a plurality of composite images with one image,
Storage means for storing image data related to a plurality of composite images to be combined with the image, and a part of the composite image together with image data related to the composite image and overlapping with another composite image Storage means for storing information on prohibited areas to be prohibited;
Determining means for determining whether or not another composite image overlaps the prohibited area of the composite image to be combined with the image based on the information of the prohibited area of the composite image stored in the storage means;
An image having control means for performing a warning when it is determined by the determination means to overlap, or controlling the other composite image to move to a position that does not overlap the prohibited area. Processing equipment. The storage means stores image data relating to the composite image, information on the prohibited area, and color information related to colors prohibited in the periphery of the composite image,
When a part of the first composite image and the second composite image overlaps the image, the color of the second composite image is determined based on the color information of the first composite image. Determining means for determining whether the color is prohibited in one composite image;
The control means issues a warning when the determination means determines that the color of the second composite image is a color prohibited by the first composite image, or the first composite image The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is controlled to move to a position where the synthesized image and the second synthesized image do not overlap.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prohibited area is a specific color area.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prohibited area is an area that has no color and is transparent in the composite image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the prohibited area is an area surrounded by color data.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information on the prohibited area is embedded in image data relating to the composite image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein information on a specific color in the image data is used as information on the prohibited area. An image processing method for combining a plurality of composite images with one image,
Storage means for storing image data related to a plurality of composite images to be combined with the image, and a part of the composite image together with image data related to the composite image and overlapping with another composite image A reading step of reading out image data related to the composite image and information on the prohibited area from storage means for storing information on the prohibited area to be prohibited;
A determination step of determining whether or not another composite image overlaps the prohibited region of the composite image to be combined with the image based on the information of the prohibited region of the composite image read in the read step;
And a control step of controlling to perform a warning when the judgment step determines that the images overlap each other, or to move the other composite image to a position that does not overlap the prohibited area. Processing method.

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