JP2012085191A - Photo book data creation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photo book data creation device which creates, by a simple method, page data for a photo book in which panoramic photographs of a proper image quality and aspect ratio are arranged.SOLUTION: A photo book data creation device 10 of this invention which creates the page data for the photo book using plural pieces of input image data input from outside is provided with: a panorama composition part 14 which composes a panoramic image from the pieces of input image data; and a page data creation part 20 which creates the page data using the input image data which is not composed yet or the panoramic image.

Description

  The present invention relates to a photobook data creation apparatus that creates page data of a photobook created using a recording sheet in which a digital image is output by a printer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in addition to panoramic photographs taken using a panoramic photography mode of a camera, a panoramic composition technique that combines a plurality of photographs photographed so as to have overlapping portions to compose a single photograph (see Patent Document 1). Advances have made it possible to create panoramic photos that can be enlarged and immersive with images that are difficult to capture with ordinary cameras using internal camera functions or commercially available software. The number of lovers is increasing.

  In addition to providing a service for specifying a photograph taken in a panorama shooting mode at a photo shop and receiving a panorama size print order using a silver salt method, a heat sublimation type as shown in Patent Document 2 is provided. Even with printers, it has become possible to print a long size, such as twice the size of a normal L size print.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of digital cameras, diversification of photographic prints has progressed, and in addition to conventional prints such as conventional L and E sizes, image data is printed in a form that allows album pages to be formed on recording paper. So-called photobooks that have been bound and made into albums with covers are rapidly spreading. With the system shown in Patent Document 3, photobooks can be ordered easily at self-service at photo shops and other stores. Is becoming possible.

Japanese Patent No. 3947290 JP 2004-82610 A JP 2010-66894 A

  When a panoramic photograph synthesized using the technique shown in Patent Document 1 is printed out using the technique shown in Patent Document 2, a realistic photograph can be obtained. It requires a space to be put in and decorated on the wall, etc. In addition, when storing it, it is difficult to fit in a normal size album, so there is a problem that a dedicated album must be prepared and it is inconvenient to store.

  On the other hand, a photo book ordered by a self-service at a store as shown in Patent Document 3 can be easily viewed, portable, and stored conveniently, but there is no one that can handle panoramic photographs.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a photo book data creation apparatus that creates page data of a photo book in which panoramic photographs having appropriate image quality and aspect ratio are arranged by a simple method.

  A photobook data creation device of the present invention is a photobook data creation device that creates page data of a photobook using a plurality of input image data input from the outside, and a panoramic image from the plurality of input image data And a page data creating unit that creates the page data using either the unsynthesized input image data or the panoramic image.

  The photobook data creation device of the present invention includes a panorama composition unit that composes a panoramic image from a plurality of input image data, and a page data creation unit that creates page data of a photobook using a panorama image or the like. With the photo book composed of the page data created by the photo book data creation device of the invention, it is possible to easily view realistic panoramic photographs in a small space.

It is a block diagram of the photobook data creation apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the photobook data creation apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the preparation procedure of photobook data. It is a figure which shows extraction of a panoramic composite image. It is a figure which shows the structure of a photo book. It is a figure which shows the preparation process of page data. It is a figure which shows the structure of a photo book. It is a figure which shows the preparation process of middle page data. It is a figure which shows the preparation process of middle page data.

<Configuration>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a photo book. The photo book 23 includes pages that are a front cover 24a and a back cover 24b, and a plurality of middle pages 25. The front / back cover pages 24a and 24b and the middle page 25 are folded at the center so that the print surfaces are inward, and the back surfaces of the print surfaces are bonded with an adhesive or the like between the adjacent middle pages 25. Further, the photo book 23 is completed by adhering the cover page 24a to the first printed back surface of the middle page 25 and the back cover page 24b to the printed back surface of the last page of the middle page 25 with an adhesive or the like.

  The present invention is a photobook data creation device that creates each page data of the cover page 24a, the back cover page 24b, and the middle page 25 of the photobook 23 illustrated in FIG. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a photobook data creation apparatus according to the present invention. The photo book data creation device 10 creates the page data of the cover page, back cover page, and middle page of the photo book from the image data (input image data) input from the host device 1.

  The photobook data creation device 10 includes a size selection unit 11 that selects a size of a photobook to be created, a background image selection unit 12 that selects a background image of each page of the photobook, and a plurality of images input from the host device 1. A panorama image synthesis selection unit 13 that selects whether to synthesize a panorama image from an input image, and a panorama synthesis unit 14 that synthesizes a panorama image based on the selection are provided.

  The panorama composition unit 14 includes a panorama image composition unit 15, a panorama image presentation unit 16, a panorama image cutout unit 17, and a composition end determination unit 18. The panorama image synthesis unit 15 synthesizes a panorama image using a plurality of input image data input from the host device 1. The panorama image presentation unit 16 presents the panorama image synthesized by the panorama image synthesis unit 15 to the user. The panorama image cutout unit 17 cuts out the panorama image into an image size based on the size of the photo book.

  The photobook data creation apparatus 10 creates each page data using an image data selection unit 19 that selects image data used for each page data of the photobook, and either an unsynthesized input image or a panoramic image. And a page data creation unit 20.

<Operation>
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of creating the page data of the photo book 23 by the photo book data creating apparatus 10 of the present invention. First, in the size selection unit 11, the user selects the size of a photobook to be created (step S1). Depending on the size of the selected photobook, the size of the image used for the photobook is also set. Next, in the background image selection unit 12, the user performs cover type selection for selecting an image to be used for the background of the cover page, back cover page, and middle page of the photo book (step S2).

  Next, the panorama image composition selection unit 13 selects whether to synthesize a panorama image for a photo book from a plurality of input image data input from the host device 1 (step S3). This selection may be performed by the user himself or, for example, if there are a plurality of images that can be combined with a panoramic image, the user may select to automatically combine the panoramic image.

  When the panorama image synthesis selection unit 13 selects to synthesize a panorama image (Yes in step S3), the panorama synthesis unit 14 synthesizes the panorama image using a plurality of input image data from the host device 1. .

  In the panorama synthesizing unit 14, the panorama image synthesizing unit 15 synthesizes a panoramic image (step S4). Here, a method for synthesizing a panoramic image will be exemplified. The panoramic image synthesis unit 15 analyzes information such as whether or not there is a correlation between the shooting date and time, the file name, and the image content for a plurality of input image data from the host device 1, for example. Create a set of image data used to create a panoramic image. In this set of image data, overlapping portions of the images are connected to compose a single panoramic image. The panoramic image synthesized in this way often has a jagged shape like the panoramic composite image 21 shown in FIG. .

  Therefore, the panoramic image presenting unit 16 presents the panoramic image to the user to confirm the contents (step S5). A panoramic image 21 with a jagged periphery and a rectangular cutout frame 22a as shown in FIG. 4 are displayed on the screen as an initial state. The cutout frame 22a has an image size and an aspect ratio based on the size of the photobook selected by the size selection unit 11, but the user can change the cutout frame in accordance with a desired image range to be cut out. For example, the cutout frame 22b is set with a narrow range while keeping the aspect ratio constant.

  However, if the size of the cutout frame 22b is small, enlargement processing is required when creating image data to be used for a photobook from the cutout image data. When it is determined that the size of the cutout frame 22b becomes too small and the image quality deteriorates when the enlargement process is performed, the user is notified by a method such as displaying a warning on the screen.

  Based on the cutout frame 22b set in this way, the panorama image cutout unit 17 cuts out the panorama image (step S6). The panoramic image cut out is stored as image data used for creating a photo book. If the panorama image presented by the panorama image presentation unit 16 is not a good image that can be used to create a photo book, the process may proceed to the next process without cutting out the panorama image.

  Next, the composition end determination unit 18 determines whether or not panorama image composition processing has been performed for all sets of image data used to create a panorama image (step S7). The panoramic image synthesis, presentation, and clipping processes described above are repeated until all the synthesis processes are completed (if No in step S7, the process returns to step S4). In this way, the panorama image is synthesized in the panorama synthesis unit 14.

  Next, the image data selection unit 19 selects image data to be used for each page of the photo book (step S8). When the panorama image synthesis selection unit 13 selects to synthesize the panorama image, the panorama image data used for the middle page of the photo book is selected from the panorama image data cut out and saved by the panorama image cutout unit 17. In addition, image data used to create a cover page and a back cover page is selected from a plurality of input image data itself input from the host apparatus 1.

  On the other hand, when the panoramic image synthesis selection unit 13 selects not to synthesize a panoramic image (No in step S3), the image data selection unit 19 uses a plurality of image data input from the host device 1 as a middle page, Select the image data used to create the front cover page and back cover page.

  Finally, in the page data creation unit 20, the background image of the cover page, back cover page and middle page of the photo book selected by the background image selection unit 12, and the image data used for photo book creation by the image data selection unit 19 Using the selected image data, cover page data, back cover page data, and middle page data of the photo book are created (step S9).

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the order of creating each page data of the photo book. The page data creation unit 20 first creates front / back cover page data (step S9a), and then creates middle page data (step S9b).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the page data creation unit 20 uses the image data 26 a selected as the image data for the front cover / back cover page by the image data selection unit 19 and the cover / back cover page selected by the background image selection unit 12. It is arranged at the center on the front cover side of the background image 26b and is combined to create front / back cover page data 26c.

  Next, the image data 27a selected as the image data for the middle page by the image data selection unit 19 is the center (here, the entire surface) of the background image 27b (here, the white plain image) of the middle page selected by the background image selection unit 12. The middle page data 27c is generated by combining the data and combining them.

  Here, the middle page data 27c composed of panoramic images can be viewed in a space-saving panoramic image easily by creating data so as to be arranged on a spread page of a photo book.

  In addition, each page data of the front cover / back cover page and the middle page is created in the form of long print data. That is, for example, in the case of performing 2L size printing using an ink ribbon for L size printing with a thermal sublimation printer, 2L size image data is composed of two L size image data, and the print data is configured. In order to prevent deterioration in image quality at the overlapping portion of two images during printing, predetermined image processing is performed in advance on the image data.

  Although it has been described that the middle page data 27c is created after creating the front / back cover page data 26c, the order of creation may be reversed.

  FIG. 7 shows each page data of the photo book created by the photo book data creation device of the present invention described above. The page data of the photo book shown in FIG. 7 is created from a cover image and N panoramic images. One image selected as the cover is arranged on the cover page 28a, and panoramic images are arranged on the spread pages on the N middle pages 29, respectively. The back cover page 28b remains plain. These pages are bonded together by the method described above with reference to FIG. 5 to form a photo book.

  In the above description, the case where the page data of the photo book is created using the synthesized panorama image has been described. However, when the panorama image synthesis selection unit 13 selects not to synthesize the panorama image, a plurality of input image data is used as they are. Use it to create photobook data. In this case, the data for the middle page is configured so that two images are arranged side by side on the spread page, a long print output is performed in a state where the two images are arranged, and the above-described panorama composite image is used. Create a photo book in the same way as when creating a photo book. At this time, if the selected image is an odd number, the data for half the screen of the long print output will be insufficient, so prepare an image for the insert page with a design that is consistent with the cover type. In addition, it is assumed that the shortage of image data for the middle page is compensated for by the inserted page image.

  The inserted page image may be either a plain white image or a ruled notepad-like image, and this page has the added value of being able to add comments and headings to the created photobook. To do.

  As described above, according to the photobook data creation device of the present invention, a panorama synthesized image is presented, and a panoramic image is cut out based on a rectangular frame having an image size and an aspect ratio based on the size of the photobook. Therefore, the user can create a panoramic image having an appropriate image quality and aspect ratio by a simple adjustment method while checking the content of the image. Furthermore, the created panorama composite image is printed in a long length and arranged on a spread page of the photo book, so that a photo book with a good-looking and realistic panoramic image can be created.

  In addition, by making a panoramic image into a photo book, it is possible to easily view the output of the panoramic photo in a space-saving manner, and this can be a new added value of the photo book.

<Modification>
In FIG. 6, the background image 27b of the middle page is a white plain image and the panorama image 27a is spread across the entire screen for the purpose of giving a sense of realism of the panoramic image. / The same design as the background image 26b of the back cover page may be used to give the design a sense of unity. This improves the design of the photo book.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, if the image data 30a is arranged and synthesized at the center of the middle page background image 30b designed on the top and bottom of the screen to create the middle page data 30c, the panoramic image You can get a sense of realism and enjoy the photo book design. When the background image 30b of the middle page is designed as described above, the size and aspect ratio of the cutout frame 22a (see FIG. 4) presented as the initial setting by the panoramic image presentation unit 16 are as follows. And the design area of the background image selected by the background image selection unit 12 are considered.

  In addition, the panorama image cutout shape in the panorama image cutout unit 17 is not limited to a rectangle. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the middle page image data 31a is composed of a panoramic image 32a cut out so that the outer periphery is jagged and a dummy data area 32b having a rectangular outer periphery supplemented around the panorama image 32a. You may do it. The image data 31a is arranged on the entire surface of the middle page, and the background image 31b is replaced with the dummy data area 32b of the image data 31a to obtain the middle page data 31c. Thereby, it is possible to create a photo book having a feature in the shape of the image.

  Further, in the above description, the case has been described in which the image data for the middle page is all composed of panoramic composite images or all are composed of normal images. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the panorama created by the panorama compositing unit 14 is used. Both a composite image and a normal image may be mixed. In this case, if the number of selected normal images is an odd number, the screen data for half of the long print output is insufficient, as in the case where all the middle page data is composed of normal images. The shortage will be compensated by the page image.

  In the above description, the image data is arranged on the cover page of the photo book. However, depending on the background image of the cover page, it may be better not to arrange the image data. Further, since the user may not like to place the image data on the cover page, the user may be able to select whether or not to place the image data on the cover page.

  The arrangement of the image data in each page data is not limited to the center of the background image, and the user may be able to select an appropriate arrangement.

<Effect>
A photobook data creation device of the present invention is a photobook data creation device that creates page data of a photobook using a plurality of input image data input from the outside, and creates a panoramic image from the plurality of input image data. Since the panorama composition unit 14 for composition and the page data creation unit 20 for creating page data using either uncombined input image data or panorama image are provided, page data is created using a panorama image. Allows users to easily view realistic panoramic images in a small space.

  In the photobook data creation device of the present invention, the panorama synthesis unit 14 includes a panorama image cutout unit 17 that cuts out the synthesized panorama image into an image size based on the size of the photobook, and the page data creation unit 20 includes an unsynthesized panorama image. Since the page data is created using either the input image data or the panorama image cut out by the panorama image cutout unit 17, the panorama image conforms to the size of the photo book even when the page data is created using the panorama image. Can be adjusted to an appropriate size.

  In the photobook data creation apparatus of the present invention, when creating page data using a panorama image, the page data creation unit 20 arranges the panorama image cut out by the panorama image cutout unit 17 on the background image and synthesizes it. The panorama image cutout unit 17 cuts out the panorama image synthesized by the panorama synthesis unit 14 into an image size based on the background image, so that the panorama image cutout unit 17 creates an appropriate area corresponding to the design area of the background image. It is possible to create page data by arranging panoramic images.

  In the photobook data creation device of the present invention, the page data creation unit 20 arranges the panorama image cut out by the panorama image cutout unit 17 in a spread of the middle page between the cover page and the back cover page of the photobook. Since the page data is created as described above, a realistic panoramic image can be easily viewed in a small space.

  The photobook data creation apparatus of the present invention can be used when a high-value-added photobook ordering service is provided at a photo shop or the like.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 High-order apparatus, 10 Photobook data creation apparatus, 11 Size selection part, 12 Background image selection part, 13 Panorama image composition selection part, 14 Panorama composition part, 15 Panorama image composition part, 16 Panorama image presentation part, 17 Panorama image clipping , 18 Composition end determination unit, 19 Image data selection unit, 20 page data creation unit, 21 panorama composite image, 22a, 22b clipping frame, 23 photo book, 24a, 28a cover, 24b, 28b back cover, 25, 29 Page, 26a, 27a, 30a Image data, 26b, 27b, 30b Background image, 26c Front / back cover page data, 27c, 30c Medium page data.

Claims (4)

A photobook data creation device that creates page data of a photobook using a plurality of input image data input from the outside,
A panorama composition unit that composes a panorama image from a plurality of the input image data;
A photobook data creation apparatus comprising: a page data creation unit that creates the page data using either the unsynthesized input image data or the panoramic image. The panorama synthesis unit includes a panorama image cutout unit that cuts out the synthesized panorama image into an image size based on the size of a photo book,
2. The photobook data creation device according to claim 1, wherein the page data creation unit creates the page data using either the unsynthesized input image data or the panorama image cut out by the panorama image cutout unit. . When creating the page data using the panorama image, the page data creation unit creates the page data by arranging and synthesizing the panorama image cut out by the panorama image cut-out unit on the background image. And
The photobook data creation device according to claim 2, wherein the panorama image cutout unit cuts out the panorama image synthesized by the panorama synthesis unit into an image size based also on the background image.   The page data creation unit creates the page data so that the panorama image cut out by the panorama image cutout unit is arranged in a spread of a middle page between a cover page and a back cover page of the photo book. The photobook data creation device according to claim 2 or 3.