JP2013232951A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus that prevents operations from becoming complicated even when both an image photographed by auto bracket photographing and other data are present in performing image correction.SOLUTION: It is determined whether input image data has been obtained by auto bracket photographing. When image correction is performed on image data photographed by auto bracket photographing, a photographing condition is compared with image correction processing, and when the photographing condition corresponds to the image correction processing, the image correction processing is performed on the basis of other image data photographed by auto bracket photographing.

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program, and more particularly, to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program for correcting image data obtained by auto bracket shooting.

  In recent years, with the spread of digital cameras and mobile terminals with an imaging function, it has become possible to easily acquire digitized image data. In addition, an opportunity to display and print these captured image data using an image processing apparatus is increasing. When displaying and printing these image data, the user may perform various correction processes, such as brightness adjustment, sharpness adjustment, and enlargement / reduction process, on the image processing apparatus as necessary.

  On the other hand, some conventional cameras have an auto-bracketing function capable of capturing a plurality of times by changing shooting conditions and acquiring a plurality of image data at a time. In this auto bracket shooting, for example, there is exposure bracket shooting in which the exposure amount is changed and shooting is performed a plurality of times at different exposure amounts as a shooting condition. In addition to focus state shooting at a certain position, there is focus bracket shooting in which shooting is also performed in a state of focusing in front and rear. In addition to the color temperature setting based on white balance, which is a function unique to digital cameras, there is white balance bracket shooting in which shooting is performed even when the magenta / green side is changed. In auto bracket shooting, a plurality of image data whose shooting conditions are changed is acquired, and the user selects an arbitrary image from the plurality of image data, thereby finally providing image data that seems to be appropriate. Is the purpose.

  For the purpose of improving the operability when displaying and printing on a series of a plurality of image data shot by such auto bracket shooting, the related image data is stored in association with shooting conditions. Keep it. In addition, it is disclosed that a plurality of related image data is displayed at the same time (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, in order to improve the operability during direct printing of image data shot with auto bracket shooting, it is also disclosed that a series of related image data is printed together with specified image data. (For example, Patent Document 2).

  In addition, an image correction process for image data shot by auto bracket shooting has also been proposed. Here, a technique is disclosed in which the shooting conditions changed at the time of shooting are associated with image correction processing, and image correction processing corresponding to the shooting conditions is not performed on image data shot by auto bracket shooting. (Patent Document 3).

  In recent years, an image data structure characterized by comprising a plurality of pieces of image data as one file has been proposed, and it is assumed that handling of a plurality of pieces of image data acquired by auto bracket shooting becomes easier.

JP 2004-229073 A JP-A-2005-176108 JP 2006-136026 A

  When image correction processing is performed on the acquired image data in the image processing apparatus, the processing result may actually be a result not intended by the user. For example, when brightness adjustment is performed, if the original image data is extremely bright or dark, it is difficult to obtain optimum image data only by correction by image processing. In auto bracket shooting, such a problem is assumed. For example, with respect to the brightness of an image, a plurality of image data are acquired by performing exposure bracket shooting. Next, when the user selects from a plurality of acquired image data, it is possible to finally provide image data with brightness more suitable for the user's intention.

  However, in the conventionally disclosed technology, when it is assumed that appropriate image data is acquired from a plurality of image data obtained by auto bracket shooting, the operation is not necessarily simple.

  In Patent Document 1, it is necessary to display a plurality of image data with different shooting conditions as a list and select the most appropriate image data. However, this is because, for example, when a digital camera is directly connected to an image forming apparatus such as a printer and printing is performed by directly transmitting data, image data is compared and selected due to restrictions on the display size and the like in the image forming apparatus. Was not easy.

  In Patent Document 2, a list of image data captured by auto bracketing is printed in the case of direct printing. Ultimately, the user must select optimal image data from the printed list. It was over.

  The same applies to Patent Document 3, and in order to acquire image data more suitable for the user's intention, it is necessary to compare a plurality of image data photographed by auto bracket photographing and select image data with optimal brightness. is there. Furthermore, it is necessary to perform image correction processing on the image data selected in accordance with the degree of image quality, and the setting work for processing has become complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can provide appropriate image data more easily and easily by the same operation without the user being aware of whether or not the image data was captured by auto bracket shooting. Is the purpose.

In order to solve the above problems, the information processing apparatus has the following configuration. That is, acquisition means for taking images with different exposure amounts in a plurality of stages, obtaining data taken with exposure plus, data taken with standard exposure, and data taken with exposure minus, and taken with the exposure plus Data, data taken with the standard exposure, and data taken with the exposure minus, the data taken with the exposure plus and the standard exposure are taken. One of the captured data and the data captured with the exposure minus is output to a printing apparatus, and at least two of the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data are combined. When it is instructed to print data, a small amount of the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data is selected. And an output means for outputting Kutomo two in synthesized printing device data.

  According to the present invention, when displaying and printing image data, the correction process is performed without making the user aware of whether the target image is image data included in an image file composed of a plurality of image data. A higher quality image than the corrected image can be obtained.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the format of the image file input in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the several image data image | photographed using exposure bracket imaging | photography. It is a flowchart of the brightness adjustment process in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows conversion of the signal value of the image correction by a gamma ((gamma)) correction process. It is a flowchart of the brightness adjustment process in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the concept of the process in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the brightness adjustment process in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the concept of the process in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the red eye correction process in Embodiment 4 of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the classification information of the separate image in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the auto bracket imaging | photography function corresponding to the correction process in embodiment of this invention.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The case of printing with a color printer will be described below as the best mode for carrying out the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the display on the display and the like are within the scope not departing from the gist thereof. The present invention can be applied to an image processing apparatus such as printing on an arbitrary multifunction machine.

<First embodiment>
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an image forming apparatus such as an MFP or a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes a CPU 1101, ROM 1102, RAM 1103, external storage device 1104, display unit 1105, operation unit 1106, engine I / F (interface) 1107, network I / F 1108, external I / F 1109, and system bus 1110.

  In detail, the CPU 1101 is a central processing unit that controls the entire apparatus, performs arithmetic processing, and the like, and executes each process described below based on a program stored in the ROM 1102. A ROM 1102 is a read-only memory and is a storage area for a system activation program and a program for controlling the printer engine. A RAM 1103 is a random access memory, and a program and data are loaded and executed for each of various processes. The RAM 1103 can also be used as a data storage area for received image data. The external storage device 1104 is composed of, for example, a hard disk or the like, and spools data, stores programs, image data, photographing conditions, etc., and is used as a work area. A display unit 1105 performs display using, for example, a liquid crystal display, and is used to display a setting state of the apparatus, a current process inside the apparatus, an error state, and the like. The operation unit 1106 is used for changing or resetting the settings, and can display an operation screen for image correction, which will be described later, together with the display unit 1105. The engine I / F 1107 is a part that actually controls the printer engine, exchanges toner commands, and the like. A network I / F 1108 is used to connect this apparatus to a network via the network I / F 1108. The external I / F 1109 is connected to an external device via a parallel (or serial) interface. The system bus 1110 should serve as a data path between the above-described components.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a part that performs each process of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image file input unit 101 is an image file composed of shooting information including image data shot by an imaging device (not shown) and shooting conditions when shooting the image data (for example, exposure amount, white balance correction amount, etc.). Enter.

  Note that the image pickup apparatus that records the image file input in the present embodiment has at least an auto bracket shooting function in addition to a normal shooting function. Here, the auto bracket shooting function is a function capable of shooting a plurality of pieces of image data in which shooting conditions are converted by a single shooting operation. In particular, auto bracket shooting that changes the exposure amount as a shooting condition is called exposure bracket shooting. Specifically, the exposure amount is changed to three levels of standard, plus one step correction, minus one step correction by one shooting operation. Three images are taken simultaneously. The number of steps of the exposure amount and the amount of change per step of the exposure amount can be changed from the imaging device.

  Examples of the image file input method include a case where the image file is sent from the host PC via the network I / F 1108, and a case where the image file is input via the external I / F 1109 by directly connecting the imaging device and the image processing device. . In addition, depending on the image processing apparatus, it is possible to designate and output an image file stored in advance in the external storage device 1104, and the input method of the image file is not particularly limited. It is assumed that the image file input here includes a single or a plurality of series of image data.

  The print setting input unit 102 receives various setting information related to printing such as brightness adjustment, sharpness adjustment, and enlargement / reduction. Various settings can be input by the operation unit 1106 via the display unit 1105 of the image processing apparatus, or input as a control command together with an image file from the host PC. The image file analysis unit 103 analyzes image data based on the print settings input by the print setting input unit 102. The correction processing determination unit 104 determines a correction method corresponding to the setting item input from the print setting input unit 102 based on the analysis result of the image file analysis unit 103. An input print setting and a specific image file analysis and determination method at that time will be described later. The image processing unit 105 performs image correction processing such as brightness adjustment and sharpness adjustment on the image data in the input image file based on the determination result of the correction processing determination unit 104 as necessary.

  Further, image processing such as color conversion processing and pseudo halftone processing is performed, and the image data output unit 106 converts the image format into an image format that can be output. Here, the input to the image data output unit 106 is image data corresponding to the four colors of CMYK developers, and the image data acquired in the image data input unit 101 is a YCbCr color space image or RGB color space image data. Suppose there is. In this case, the image processing unit 105 performs conversion processing for converting the image data into CMYK color space image data using a look-up table (LUT), matrix operation, or the like. In general, the image data output unit 106 can often output only low gradations such as 2, 4 and 16 gradations. Accordingly, the image processing unit 105 performs pseudo halftone processing so that stable halftone expression is possible even in the image data output unit 106 that can output only a small number of gradations. The output image data is transferred to the image data output unit 106 as a video signal via the engine I / F 1107, and printing processing is performed.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the format of the image file input in this embodiment. The image file in FIG. 2 includes a plurality of image data and shooting information, and these are associated with one file.

  The individual images constituting the image file are image data existing in an area between an SOI marker (201, 206, 210) indicating the start of a set of images and an EOI marker (205, 209, 213) indicating the end of the image. It becomes. Here, among the individual images constituting the image data, the individual image recorded at the head of the file is called the head image 204, and the area where the head image is recorded is called the head image area. When displaying or printing, the head image is usually the target.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the format of the image file is such that the head image area is recorded at the head of the data, and then single or plural individual images are recorded. Here, tags defined by Exif (EXchangeable Image File format) are recorded in the header (202, 207, 211) of each individual image. Exif defines a file format in which shooting information at the time of shooting is added together with captured image data. Exif is adopted in digital cameras of various companies together with a file system standard DCF (Design rule for Camera File system). In the header 202, an image unique ID 214 for specifying an image, shooting information 215 holding shooting conditions of each image data, and a thumbnail 216 are recorded.

  Attached information 203 related to the image file is recorded in the head image area separately from the header corresponding to the head image. First, in the attached information, an identification code 221 as to whether the image file is composed of a plurality of image data, and an offset 222 to the head IFD (Image File Directory) are recorded. Here, the IFD link structure is followed by one index IFD 217 and then one or more individual information IFD (219, 220) from the offset 222 to the head IFD. The IFD is pointed by the Next IFD (226, 229, 231) in the link source IFD.

  In the image data format, an index IFD 217 is defined as a collection of tags indicating the overall configuration of individual images. The index IFD 217 includes an image file recording pixel number 223, an entry number 224 that is the number of recorded images, and an entry 225. The entry itself has one data structure for storing an individual image type 232, an image size 234, and an offset 235 to the image data (this structure is called an entry element), and the number represented by the number of entries in the data portion 218. Only (227, 228) minutes are recorded.

  The individual image type 232 included in the entry element stores information for managing the type of the individual image. FIG. 12 shows an example of individual image type information managed.

  In this embodiment, the target individual image holds type information such as a monitor display image, a multi-view image, a continuous image, a bracket image, and a panorama image, and further subdivisions of functions within the type. For example, when the image type is a bracket image, the subdivision indicates the type of bracket shooting function. Specifically, exposure at the time of shooting, focus, white balance, flash emission amount, red-eye reduction and the like can be mentioned. For the input image file having the above-described format, the image file analysis unit 103 analyzes the input image file. In particular, by paying attention to the type 232 of the individual image included in the entry element, it is determined whether or not the input image has been shot using the auto bracket shooting function. Furthermore, when it is determined that the image data is captured by auto bracket shooting, it is also determined which auto bracket shooting function is used for shooting. As described above, the determination for performing the correction process is performed using the attached information included in the image file as a predetermined condition.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, a plurality of image data and shooting information are associated with each other and managed as one image file is used as an input image file. However, each image data is a separate file. It may be recorded as. In this case, a method for separately managing the relationship between the multiple image data and the shooting conditions, for example, a method of writing together the file names of the image data related to the respective image data, creating another management file, The present invention is applicable.

<Processing Flow in Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, an example will be described in which an image file composed of image data photographed using exposure bracket photographing is used as an input image file, and brightness adjustment is performed as image correction processing for printing. First, FIG. 3 shows an example of a plurality of pieces of image data photographed using exposure bracket photography. 302 in FIG. 3 is image data photographed with standard exposure, and 301 and 303 in FIG. 3 are image data photographed with exposure minus correction and exposure plus correction, respectively. With respect to these image data, an image file managed as one file is input with the image data taken at the standard exposure as the first image and the image data subjected to minus correction and plus correction as individual images. In addition, information indicating that the image is captured by exposure bracket shooting is held in the type of individual image described with reference to FIG.

  Next, in the print setting input unit 102, information regarding brightness adjustment among the image correction processes is input from the user.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of brightness adjustment processing in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The following adjustment processing is executed by the CPU 1101 based on a program stored in the ROM 1102. When an instruction to execute brightness adjustment is received from the print setting input unit 102, first, the image file analysis unit 103 performs analysis processing of the input image file (S401). Specifically, the type information of the image is analyzed, and whether or not the input image data is an image shot by auto bracket shooting is identified and held. Further, when it is identified as an image file composed of a plurality of image data photographed by auto bracket photographing, it is identified and held by which auto bracket photographing function among the subdivisions shown in FIG. To do. Note that multiple bracket images are included in one file. However, if any image is shot with the auto bracket shooting function, the subdivision should be the same, so the subdivision information of which data is used. May be. When it is determined that the input image file is not composed of image data captured by auto bracket shooting (No in S402), correction processing by image processing is performed as brightness adjustment processing. The brightness correction processing by image processing in this embodiment is gamma (γ) correction processing (S408).

  On the other hand, if it is analyzed that the input image file is composed of a plurality of image data obtained by auto bracket shooting (Yes in S402), the process proceeds to S403. In S403, the correspondence between the type of correction processing designated from the print setting input unit 102 and the type of auto bracket shooting function used for the correction processing is identified.

  FIG. 13 is a correspondence table between the correction process and the auto bracket shooting function. As shown in FIG. 13, in the embodiment of the present invention, an auto bracket shooting function is associated with each correction process. As shown in FIG. 13, the brightness adjustment is associated with exposure bracket shooting in auto bracket shooting. Here, the handling of the correspondence between the correction process and the photographing function shown in FIG. 13 will also be mentioned. The table of FIG. 13 may be fixed in correspondence, or may be held as data that can be changed or expanded. In the present embodiment, the correspondence relationship is fixed, and it is determined whether the correspondence relationship exists in the processing procedure. That is, in S403, it is determined whether the subdivision of the bracket shooting function determined in S401 is an exposure bracket. Thereafter, the process branches at S404 according to the determination result. When the correspondence table in FIG. 13 is held as data, in S403, the designated correction (brightness adjustment in this case) is retrieved from the correspondence table, and the corresponding bracket photographing function is read. After the correspondence is read, it is determined whether or not the auto bracket shooting function of the input image data corresponds to the correction process. That is, it is determined whether the subdivision read in S401 matches the bracket function read in S403. In this embodiment, it is determined whether the image is an exposure bracket image (S404). If it is determined by this determination that the image data is not an exposed bracket image even if it is a plurality of image data shot by auto bracket shooting (No in S404), correction processing is performed by image processing (S408).

  On the other hand, if the input image file is composed of image data shot by exposure bracket shooting associated with brightness adjustment (Yes in S404), the process proceeds to S405. In step S405, it is assumed that the defined correspondence is matched, and another individual image that is different from the first image that is the standard exposure is selected as the brightness adjustment processing result. Specifically, if it is set to adjust brightly, image data captured by positive correction is selected (S407), and if it is set to adjust darkly, image data of negative correction is selected (S406).

  FIG. 5 shows conversion of signal values for image correction by gamma (γ) correction processing. The signal conversion shown in FIG. 5 is performed by the gamma (γ) correction processing for the input signal, and the brightness of the image is adjusted. In FIG. 5, a solid line 501 indicates signal conversion when setting is performed so that brightness is adjusted by brightness adjustment, and a dotted line 502 indicates signal conversion when setting is performed when dark adjustment is performed.

  Note that the brightness adjustment stage in the above embodiment is one stage before and after “brighter” and “darker”, but if the exposure correction can be handled by two stages before and after the imaging device, the stage of brightness adjustment is also the same. The number of stages that can be handled may be increased accordingly.

  In this embodiment, the correspondence between brightness adjustment and exposure bracket shooting is taken as an example. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and other correction processing and auto bracket shooting are possible as shown in the correspondence table of FIG. Of course, the combination of functions is also applicable. In addition, as described above, the correspondence table may be changed or expanded depending on the function.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when performing correction processing on image data, the user is not conscious of whether or not the input image data is a plurality of pieces of image data shot by auto bracket shooting. In both cases, correction processing can be performed by the same operation procedure.

  Further, for example, in the brightness adjustment, when the input image data is extremely dark, the image quality may be impaired by the brightness adjustment by image processing. However, in the present embodiment, a high-quality image can be easily obtained by selecting a plus image of the exposure bracket image according to the conditions.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, when the input image file is a plurality of pieces of image data obtained by auto bracket shooting, one piece of image data corresponding to the correction process is selected from the plurality of pieces of image data, and the result of the correction process As output. Accordingly, when only one-step shooting is performed for exposure bracket shooting or the like, the adjustment processing adjustment step is also corresponding to one step. In the second embodiment, a finer correction is realized by using a plurality of image data in the image file during the correction process.

  Hereinafter, an example will be described in which an image file composed of image data photographed using exposure bracket photographing is used as an input image file, and brightness adjustment is performed as image correction processing for printing. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, whether or not the image data included in the input image file has been subjected to auto bracket shooting is identified. Then, when image correction is performed on image data shot by auto bracket shooting, shooting conditions are compared with image correction processing. When the correspondence between the photographing conditions and the image correction processing is obtained based on the predefined correspondence table, the image correction processing is performed based on other image data photographed by auto bracket photographing.

  FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of brightness adjustment processing in the second embodiment of the present invention. The following adjustment processing is executed by the CPU 1101 based on a program stored in the ROM 1102. The schematic configuration of the image processing apparatus in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. When execution of brightness adjustment is received from the print setting input unit 102, first, the image file analysis unit 103 performs an analysis process of the input image file (S601). Specifically, the type information of the image is analyzed, and it is identified whether or not the input image data is an image shot by auto bracket shooting. Further, when it is determined that the image file is composed of a plurality of image data photographed by auto bracket photographing, it is identified which auto bracket photographing function is photographed among the subdivisions of the functions shown in FIG. .

  If it is determined that the input image file is not composed of image data captured by auto bracket shooting (No in S602), correction processing by image processing is performed as brightness adjustment processing. Brightness correction processing by image processing in this embodiment is gamma (γ) correction processing (S608).

  On the other hand, when it is identified that the input image file is composed of a plurality of image data shot by auto bracket shooting (Yes in S602), the correspondence between the specified type of correction processing and the type of auto bracket shooting function Is identified (S603). The identification of the correspondence here is the same as in the first embodiment of the present invention. After the association is identified, it is determined whether or not the auto bracket shooting function of the input image data corresponds to the correction process. In this embodiment, it is determined whether the image is an exposure bracket image (S604). If it is determined by this determination that the image data is not an exposure bracket image even if it is a plurality of image data shot by auto bracket shooting (No in S604), correction processing is performed by image processing (S608).

  On the other hand, when the input image file is composed of image data obtained by exposure bracket shooting associated with brightness adjustment (Yes in S604), the brightness adjustment processing result is another individual different from the first image that is the standard exposure. Outputs the result of image composition processing with the image. Specifically, if it is set to be brightly adjusted, an image composition process is performed between the image data captured by the plus correction and the standard exposure image data (S607). If it is set to darken, image composition processing of minus-correction image data and standard exposure image data is performed (S606).

  Hereinafter, the image composition processing in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 shows the concept of this embodiment. In the second embodiment, it is possible to realize nine levels of brightness adjustment from +4 to correct the brightness adjustment level to +4 to -4 to correct the darkest level.

Here, when it is set that the brightness is adjusted in the brightness adjustment, a process of combining the standard exposure image data and the image data photographed by correcting the exposure is performed (S607). Hereinafter, the image composition processing will be specifically described using a calculation formula and a pixel value. When combining two image data, the pixel values at the position (x, y) of each image data are I0 (x, y) and I1 (x, y), respectively, and the combined value is Ic. Further, assuming that the composition ratio is t: 1−t (0 ≦ t ≦ 1), the pixel values at the position (x, y) of the image data generated by the image composition processing are as follows.
Ic (x, y) = t × I 0 (x, y) + (1−t) × I 1 (x, y)
(T: 1-t (0 ≦ t ≦ 1))
In the present embodiment shown in FIG. 7, when the pixel value of the standard exposure image data is I0 (x, y) and the pixel value of the exposure correction image data is I1 (x, y), the brightness adjustment is adjusted. The ratio of steps and synthesis is as follows:
Brightly +1 is t = 0.75
Bright +2 is t = 0.50
Bright +3 is t = 0.25
Bright +4 is t = 0.00
Similarly, when it is set that the brightness is adjusted to be dark, the composition processing of the standard exposure image data and the image data photographed by negative exposure correction is performed. In this case, the brightness adjustment stage and the composition ratio are as follows.
Dark +1 is t = 0.75
Dark +2 is t = 0.50
Dark +3 is t = 0.25
Dark +4 is t = 0.00
By using these correction values, the image composition result is output as the result of the correction process. When attention is paid to only “brighter +4” and “darker −4” processing, the output result of the second embodiment of the present invention is equivalent to the output result of the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, when it is determined that the image data is captured by auto bracket shooting, correction is performed by image synthesis processing. However, even when the determination in S602 indicates that the image is a bracket image, it is suggested to the user. Good. In that case, it may be possible to have a function of presenting a selection of whether to perform correction by image processing or to perform correction by image composition processing.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when performing correction processing on image data, the user is not conscious of whether or not the input image data is a plurality of pieces of image data shot by auto bracket shooting. In both cases, correction processing can be performed by the same operation procedure. Furthermore, it is possible to easily obtain a high-quality image by performing appropriate image composition processing on a plurality of pieces of image data and performing more detailed adjustment.

<Third embodiment>
In the second embodiment, at the time of correction processing, a plurality of image data in an image file is selected, and a finer correction is realized by performing synthesis processing of the image data. However, for example, when brightness adjustment is considered, it has been impossible to correct an image captured with the auto bracket function to an image brighter than the image data of the plus correction. In the third embodiment of the present invention, at the time of correction processing, finer correction is realized by combining image synthesis processing of image data in an image file and correction processing by image processing.

  Hereinafter, an example will be described in which an image file composed of image data photographed using exposure bracket photographing is used as an input image file, and brightness adjustment is performed as image correction processing for printing. In the third embodiment as well, as in the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not the image data included in the input image file has been subjected to auto bracket shooting. Then, when image correction is performed on image data shot by auto bracket shooting, shooting conditions are compared with image correction processing. Next, when the shooting conditions correspond to the image correction process based on the predefined correspondence table, the image correction process is performed based on other image data shot by auto bracket shooting.

  FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of brightness adjustment processing in the third embodiment of the present invention. The following adjustment processing is executed by the CPU 1101 based on a program stored in the ROM 1102. The schematic configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. When the execution of brightness adjustment is received from the print setting input unit 102, first, the image file analysis unit 103 performs an analysis process of the input image file (S801). Specifically, the type information of the image is analyzed, and it is identified whether or not the input image data is an image shot by auto bracket shooting. Further, when it is identified as an image file composed of a plurality of image data photographed by auto bracket photographing, it is identified by which auto bracket photographing function it is photographed (S803). When it is analyzed that the input image file is not composed of image data captured by auto bracket shooting (No in S802), correction processing by image processing is performed as brightness adjustment processing. Brightness correction processing by image processing in this embodiment is gamma (γ) correction processing (S810).

  On the other hand, if it is analyzed that the input image file is composed of a series of a plurality of image data obtained by auto bracket shooting (Yes in S802), the correspondence between the specified type of correction processing and the type of auto bracket shooting function is determined. Identification is performed (S803). The identification of the correspondence here is the same as in the first embodiment of the present invention. After the association is identified, it is determined whether or not the auto bracket shooting function of the input image data corresponds to the correction process. In this example, it is determined whether the image is an exposure bracket image (S804). If it is determined by this determination that the image data is not an exposed bracket image even if it is a plurality of image data shot by auto bracket shooting (No in S804), correction processing is performed by image processing (S810).

  On the other hand, when the input image file is composed of image data shot by exposure bracket shooting associated with brightness adjustment (Yes in S804), the setting of the brightness adjustment stage is determined (S805). If the brightness adjustment stage is not brighter than the image data captured by the plus correction (No in S807), the image composition processing of the image data captured by the plus correction and the standard exposure image data is performed as in the second embodiment. (S809). On the other hand, when the brightness adjustment stage is brighter than the image data shot by the plus correction (S807 Yes), the image data shot by the plus correction is subjected to the brightness correction process by the image processing (S810).

  Similarly, in the case of dark adjustment, if the brightness adjustment stage is not dark compared with the image data captured by the minus correction (No in S806), the image data photographed by the minus correction and the standard exposure image data as in the second embodiment. (S808). On the other hand, when the brightness adjustment stage is dark with respect to the image data photographed by the minus correction (S806 Yes), the brightness correction process by the image processing is performed on the image data photographed by the minus correction (S810).

  Hereinafter, a comparison between the brightness adjustment stage and the brightness of the image data will be described. According to the format of the image file shown in FIG. 2, shooting information 215 defined by Exif is held in each image data. Here, the exposure amount as a photographing condition is also recorded. As an example, let us consider a case in which one stage of adjustment in brightness adjustment corresponds to an EV value of 0.5 of the exposure amount. In this case, when exposure bracketing shooting is performed with the exposure amount changed by ± EV1.0, the image data shot by the plus correction corresponds to the brightness adjustment of +2. The brightness adjustment stage and the brightness of the image data are compared in this way. Similarly, in the image data photographed by the minus correction, the brightness adjustment corresponds to darker -2.

FIG. 9 shows the concept of the present embodiment. In the third embodiment, it is possible to realize nine levels of brightness adjustment from +4, which is the brightest correction step, to -4, which is the darkest. Here, when it is set that the brightness is adjusted in the brightness adjustment, the brightness adjustment stage is first compared with the brightness of the image data. As described above, when one step of the adjustment in the brightness adjustment corresponds to 0.5 of the EV value of the exposure amount, and the change amount of the exposure amount per step in the exposure bracket shooting is set to EV 1.0, the brightness is corrected. The brightness of the image data photographed by +2 and the plus correction corresponds. Therefore, when the brightness adjustment is changed in the direction of bright adjustment, the following occurs.
Brightness +1 is image composition brightness of standard exposure image data 0.5 and exposure plus correction image data 0.5. Brightness +2 is exposure plus correction image data brightness +3 is gamma (γ) processing brightening with respect to exposure plus correction image data. +4 is as follows when the exposure plus correction image data is set to be darkly adjusted in the brightness adjustment similarly to the gamma (γ) processing.
Dark +1 is standard exposure image data 0.5 and exposure minus corrected image data 0.5 image composite dark +2 is exposure minus corrected image data dark +3 is gamma (γ) processing for exposure minus corrected image data Dark +4 is a gamma (γ) process for exposure minus corrected image data. In exposure bracket shooting, the exposure amount change range can be adjusted. Therefore, in the case of exposure bracket shooting where one level of brightness adjustment corresponds to an exposure value EV value of 0.5 and the exposure value is changed by ± 0.5 EV, the image is shot with plus correction. The image data corresponds to the brightness adjustment brightness of +1. As described above, the image synthesis result for the image and the correction processing result by the image processing are output as the result of the image correction processing.

  Note that the correction processing by image processing may deteriorate in quality depending on image data conditions. Therefore, when the setting such as giving priority to the image quality is made, it is conceivable to limit the range that can be corrected only by the image composition processing, that is, the range of brightness adjustment within ± 2 in the above example.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, when performing correction processing on image data, the user is unaware of whether or not the input image data is a plurality of pieces of image data captured by auto bracket shooting. Correction processing can be performed by the same operation procedure.

  Further, in the case of a plurality of image data, it is possible to easily obtain a high-quality image by performing image composition processing of image data and correction processing by image processing and performing more detailed adjustment.

<Fourth embodiment>
In the first, second, and third embodiments, the brightness adjustment is described as an example of the correction process. However, the present invention is applicable as long as the correction processing and the auto bracket shooting function are associated with each other as shown in FIG.

  In the fourth embodiment, an example of red-eye correction processing will be described as an application of other correction processing. Note that, in order to reduce the so-called red-eye phenomenon in strobe shooting in an imaging apparatus, shooting a plurality of image data by pre-flashing the strobe immediately before shooting with main flash emission is called red-eye reduction bracket shooting. In the present embodiment, two pieces of image data are shot by red-eye reduction bracket shooting, and an image file having one of them as the head image is input.

  In the fourth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, whether or not the image data included in the input image file has been subjected to auto bracket shooting is identified. Then, when image correction is performed on image data shot by auto bracket shooting, shooting conditions are compared with image correction processing. Next, when the shooting conditions correspond to the image correction process based on the predefined correspondence table, the image correction process is performed based on other image data shot by auto bracket shooting. The schematic configuration of the image processing apparatus in the first embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of red-eye correction processing according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The following adjustment processing is executed by the CPU 1101 based on a program stored in the ROM 1102. When execution of red-eye correction is received from the print setting input unit 102, first, the image file analysis unit 103 performs input image file analysis processing (S1001). Specifically, the type information of the image is analyzed, and it is identified whether or not the input image data is an image shot by auto bracket shooting. Further, when it is determined that the image file is composed of a plurality of image data photographed by auto bracket photographing, it is identified which auto bracket photographing function is photographed among the subdivisions of the functions shown in FIG. . When it is analyzed that the input image file is not composed of image data captured by auto bracket shooting (No in S1002), correction processing by image processing is performed as red-eye correction processing (S1006). Various red-eye correction processes using image processing have been proposed in the past, and any method can be used here.

  On the other hand, when it is analyzed that the input image file is composed of a plurality of image data obtained by auto bracket shooting (S1002 Yes), the correspondence between the specified type of correction processing and the type of auto bracket shooting function is identified. It is performed (S1003). That is, from the correspondence between the correction processing and the auto bracket shooting function shown in FIG. 13, red-eye reduction bracket shooting is associated with red-eye correction. After the association is identified, it is determined whether or not the auto bracket shooting function of the input image data corresponds to the correction process. In this example, it is determined whether the image is a red-eye reduction bracket image (S1004). If it is determined by this determination that the image data is not a red-eye reduction bracket image even if it is a plurality of image data shot by auto bracket shooting (S1004 No), correction processing is performed by image processing (S1006).

  On the other hand, if the input image data is image data composed of a plurality of images taken by red-eye reduction bracket shooting associated with red-eye correction (S1004 Yes), the red-eye correction processing result is different from the first image. Output individual images.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, when performing correction processing on image data, the user is unaware of whether or not the input image data is a plurality of image data shot by auto bracket shooting. Correction processing can be performed by the same operation procedure. In the technique for correcting the red-eye phenomenon by image processing, the color of the pupil, the degree of red-eye, etc. vary greatly among individuals and are often not corrected as desired by the user. Therefore, the red-eye phenomenon itself does not occur or the image data that has been reduced is of higher quality, and in this embodiment, a high-quality image can be easily obtained by selecting the red-eye reduction bracket image according to the conditions. Is possible.

<Remarks>
Note that the present invention can be applied to an apparatus (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even if it is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (eg, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.) May be.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium recording a program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and for the computer of the system or apparatus to read and execute the program stored in the storage medium. Is also achieved. In this case, the executable program itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program itself and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

  In addition, according to the present invention, an operating system (OS) or the like running on a computer performs part or all of actual processing based on a program instruction, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. This is also included. Furthermore, the present invention is also applied to a case where a program read from a storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. In that case, the CPU of the function expansion card or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the written program instruction, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the embodiments of the invention describe an apparatus or a method configured with the present invention as a core. For this reason, in this embodiment, additional constituent elements are described in addition to the essential part of the present invention. That is, providing the constituent elements of the apparatus or method described in the embodiment of the present invention is not a necessary condition, although it is a sufficient condition for establishing the present invention.

Claims (6)

An acquisition means for performing shooting at different exposures in a plurality of stages, and acquiring data shot with exposure plus, data shot with standard exposure, and data shot with exposure minus,
When it is instructed to print any one of the data photographed with the exposure plus, the data photographed with the standard exposure, and the data photographed with the exposure minus, the data photographed with the exposure plus And one of the data photographed at the standard exposure and the data photographed at the exposure minus is output to a printing device, and the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data are output. Output means for outputting, to a printing apparatus, data obtained by combining at least two of the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data when it is instructed to print data obtained by combining at least two.
An information processing apparatus comprising: An acquisition means for performing continuous shooting at three different exposure amounts, and acquiring data shot with exposure plus, data shot with standard exposure, and data shot with exposure minus;
When it is instructed to print the data photographed at the standard exposure, the data photographed at the standard exposure is output to a printing apparatus, and at least two of the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data are output. Output means for outputting, to a printing apparatus, data obtained by combining at least two of the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data when it is instructed to print the combined data.
An information processing apparatus comprising: An acquisition step of shooting with different exposure amounts in a plurality of stages and acquiring data shot with exposure plus, data shot with standard exposure, and data shot with exposure minus,
When it is instructed to print any one of the data photographed with the exposure plus, the data photographed with the standard exposure, and the data photographed with the exposure minus, the data photographed with the exposure plus And one of the data photographed at the standard exposure and the data photographed at the exposure minus is output to a printing device, and the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data are output. An output step of outputting, to a printing apparatus, data obtained by combining at least two of the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data when it is instructed to print data obtained by combining at least two.
An information processing method characterized by comprising: An acquisition process of continuously shooting with three different exposure amounts, and acquiring data shot with exposure plus, data shot with standard exposure, and data shot with exposure minus,
When it is instructed to print the data photographed at the standard exposure, the data photographed at the standard exposure is output to a printing apparatus, and at least two of the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data are output. An output step of outputting, to a printing apparatus, data obtained by combining at least two of the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data when it is instructed to print the combined data.
An information processing method characterized by comprising: Computer
An acquisition means for performing shooting at different exposure amounts in a plurality of stages, and acquiring data shot with exposure plus, data shot with standard exposure, and data shot with exposure minus,
When it is instructed to print any one of the data photographed with the exposure plus, the data photographed with the standard exposure, and the data photographed with the exposure minus, the data photographed with the exposure plus And one of the data photographed at the standard exposure and the data photographed at the exposure minus is output to a printing device, and the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data are output. Output means for outputting, to a printing apparatus, data obtained by combining at least two of the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data when it is instructed to print data obtained by combining at least two.
Program to function as. Computer
An acquisition means for performing continuous shooting at three different exposure amounts, and acquiring data shot with exposure plus, data shot with standard exposure, and data shot with exposure minus,
When it is instructed to print the data photographed at the standard exposure, the data photographed at the standard exposure is output to a printing apparatus, and at least two of the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data are output. Output means for outputting, to a printing apparatus, data obtained by combining at least two of the exposure plus data, the standard exposure data, and the exposure minus data when it is instructed to print the combined data
Program to function as.