JP3591575B2 - Image synthesizing apparatus and image synthesizing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image synthesizing method and apparatus for synthesizing a digital image of a subject with another digital image and outputting the digital image to an output medium such as a sticker, a postcard, or a floppy disk.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image printing apparatus installed in a street, a storefront, a game center, or the like, attaches a camera (frame image) to a frame image selected by a user from a plurality of frame images (heart mark, character, landscape image, etc.) prepared in advance. A digital camera) combines the subject images and prints them out and provides them to the user.
When using this image printing apparatus, the user first selects a desired frame image from a plurality of prepared frame images. When the frame image is selected, the selected frame image and the user who is the subject photographed by the camera are simultaneously displayed on the monitor screen. The user moves while looking at the monitor screen to determine his / her position in the frame image. After the position is determined, the subject is photographed, and the subject image and the frame image are combined and printed out.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-186473 discloses a method in which a plurality of different foreground frames and background frames are prepared in order to create a deep and interesting composite image, and an arbitrary foreground frame image selected by a user. The subject image is sandwiched between the image and the background frame image to synthesize the image.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional image printing apparatus, the subject image can be displayed only in front of or behind the selected frame image. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-186473, the prepared foreground frame and the background frame are images having different patterns. Therefore, there is a problem that a subject image cannot be synthesized at an arbitrary depth position in one background image.
Further, in the conventional image printing apparatus, the arrangement of the subject image in the frame image is determined by moving the user who is the subject while watching the monitor image.
[0004]
Therefore, the position of the subject image in the frame image can be moved only within a limited range, and the size of the subject image can be synthesized only in a predetermined size.
Further, in the conventional image printing apparatus, the subject image is synthesized with constant brightness and saturation regardless of the selected frame image. Therefore, in the synthesized image, the subject appears to have emerged from the background, and a natural synthesized image that blended into the background could not be obtained.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to compose a subject image at an arbitrary position including a depth in a background image selected by a user at an arbitrary angle and size according to the user's selection with the background image. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image composite image apparatus and method capable of obtaining a natural and interesting composite image.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a camera for photographing a subject, a background image storage unit storing a plurality of sets of background images, and each divided region obtained by dividing each set of background images into a plurality of regions. , Brightness and saturation data for compositing with the subject image For each set of background images The stored area-specific brightness / saturation storage means, a background image selection means for selecting an arbitrary background image from the background images stored in the background image storage means, and a subject image taken by the camera, Instruction means for instructing at least a position index among the position, angle, and size indices to be combined in the background image selected by the background image selection means, and an area corresponding to the position indicated by the instruction means The data of different lightness and saturation is read out from the area-specific lightness / saturation storage means, the lightness and saturation of the subject image photographed by the camera are corrected based on the lightness and saturation data, and the background image selection is performed. Image synthesis processing means for synthesizing a background image selected by a means at a position designated by the designating means according to a predetermined angle and size or an index designated by the designating means. When, characterized in that an output means for outputting the synthesis processing result of the image synthesis processing unit to a predetermined output medium.
[0007]
Further, each set of background images stored in the background image storage means is constituted by a plurality of background image groups obtained by separating background components present in the background image according to positions in the depth direction. Features.
[0008]
Further, the instruction means is for instructing a two-dimensional plane position and a position in a depth direction in a background image for synthesizing a subject image.
[0009]
The area-specific lightness / saturation storage means may further include: for each divided area obtained by further dividing each of a plurality of background image groups constituting each set of background images into a plurality of areas, a brightness for combining with a subject image; , Saturation data.
[0010]
Further, the image synthesizing method of the present invention includes a camera for photographing a subject, background image storage means for storing a plurality of sets of background images, and a subject for each divided region obtained by dividing each set of the background images into a plurality of regions. Brightness and saturation data for compositing with images For each set of background images The stored area-specific brightness / saturation storage means, a background image selection means for selecting an arbitrary background image from the background images stored in the background image storage means, and a subject image taken by the camera, Instructing means for instructing at least the position index among the position, angle, and size indices to be synthesized in the background image selected by the background image selecting means, and an image synthesizing process for synthesizing the subject image and the background image Means, and output means for outputting the synthesis processing result of the image synthesis processing means to a predetermined output medium, wherein the subject image photographed by the camera is included in the background image selected by the background image selection means. When synthesizing by the image synthesizing processing unit in accordance with the index indicated by the indicating unit, the brightness and saturation data for each area corresponding to the position indicated by the indicating unit is calculated. Read from the serial-region brightness and chroma memory means, the brightness and saturation of the lightness and photographed object image by chroma data by the camera is corrected, the background image selection unit selected during background image The instruction means Are synthesized in accordance with the indices indicated by.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of an image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a camera (digital camera) 2 for photographing a subject 1 and a plurality of sets prepared in advance Background image storage means 3 for storing the background image of each area, and brightness / saturation data for each area in which the optimal brightness and saturation data for synthesizing the subject image without discomfort in the background images of each set are stored for each area of the background image. Saturation storage means 4, background image selection means 5 operated when a user selects an arbitrary background image from background images stored in the background image storage means 3, and photographing by the camera 2 In order to combine the selected subject image at an arbitrary position, angle, and size in the background image selected by the background image selecting means 5, the user may select one of the indices of the subject image combining position, angle, and size. At least position finger And a subject image position / angle / size instructing means 6 for designating the subject image, and a subject image taken by the camera 2 in the background image selected by the background image selecting means 5 in the subject image position / angle / size. The position, angle, and size designated by the designation means (hereinafter abbreviated as designation means) 6 are corrected and combined with the brightness and saturation data stored in the area-specific brightness / saturation storage means 4 and output. An image processing control means 8 for outputting from the means 7 is provided.
[0012]
The background image of each set in the background image storage means 3 is composed of a plurality of background image groups obtained by separating background components present in each set of background images in accordance with the position in the depth direction. In addition to the position on the two-dimensional plane of the background image, the subject image synthesis position in the depth direction can be selected.
Further, the background image group is further divided into a plurality of regions, and when the subject images are arranged for each of the divided regions, brightness / saturation data such that the subject image adapts to the background image without a sense of incongruity is obtained by the region brightness / saturation. The brightness and saturation of the subject image are stored in advance in the storage means 4 and the brightness / saturation data stored in the area-specific brightness / saturation storage means 4 according to the arrangement position of the subject image designated by the user. Is corrected and combined with the background image.
Here, the background image stored in the background image storage means 3 and the brightness / saturation data stored in the area-specific brightness / saturation storage means 4 are prepared in a storage medium for storing these as one set. In addition, it is also possible to acquire from this storage medium, and it is also possible to directly input a background image and lightness / saturation data from an input device attached to the present apparatus. By employing a configuration using a recording medium, a background image according to the installation location or use environment of the apparatus can be used very easily, and updating can be facilitated. It should be noted that a configuration in which the information is acquired from the server computer using a communication line such as the Internet instead of the recording medium may be adopted.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of the image synthesizing apparatus. A space in which a plurality of subjects 22 can be accommodated is prepared inside a housing 21. On the front side of the subject 22, a camera 23 for photographing the subject 22, a monitor / touch panel 24 corresponding to the background image selecting means 5 and the instruction means 6 in FIG. 1, the image processing control means 8 in FIG. A control device 25 including the image storage unit 3 and the brightness / saturation storage unit 4 for each area, and a video printer 26 corresponding to the output unit 7 are arranged. As the camera 23, for example, a CCD camera is used, and its field of view is set so that an image of the whole body from the head to the feet of one or more subjects 22 who have entered the housing can be taken.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a functional portion of the image synthesizing apparatus of FIG. 2. The control device 25 includes a CPU 251, a memory 252, an I / O control unit 253, an image input unit 254, a pattern memory 255, an image A processing unit 256 and an image output unit 257 are provided, and a touch panel 242 is connected to the I / O control unit 253. The image output unit 257 is connected to a video printer 26 and a monitor (display) 241. The touch panel 242 is arranged on the screen surface of the monitor 241, and outputs a position signal indicating the position when touched or pressed on an arbitrary position on the display screen. In this embodiment, selection of various operation menus is performed. Is used to select a background image, and to specify the composition position, angle, and size of the subject image. As the camera 23, for example, a CCD camera is used.
The image input unit 254 converts the image data captured by the camera 23 from an analog signal to a digital signal using an A / D converter (not shown).
The CPU 251 extracts the contour of the subject image from the image captured by the camera 23, combines it with the background image stored in the pattern memory 255, and performs print output processing to the video printer 26.
The memory 252 stores the subject image data fetched from the image input unit 254, and also stores, as a program, a command issued to the CPU 251 and a command group serving as control means of the composite image creating apparatus. The processing data of the CPU 251 is also temporarily stored as a work memory.
The pattern memory 255 stores background image data to be superimposed on the subject image, brightness / saturation data for each region for correcting the brightness and saturation of the subject, and guide data such as an operation menu displayed on the monitor 241. I have. The background image data and the brightness / saturation data for each area will be described later.
[0015]
The image processing unit 256 executes a contour extraction process of the subject image from the subject image data fetched from the image input unit 254 under the control of the CPU 251. Then, the user (subject) selects the selected background image selected by the user (subject) by the touch panel operation from the background image stored in the pattern memory 255 and the subject image from which the contour is extracted by the touch panel operation. The image is superimposed on a specified position in the background image at a specified angle and a specified size.
[0016]
The image output unit 257 displays the image synthesized by the image processing unit 256 on a monitor screen and causes the video printer 26 to print out the image.
[0017]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of one set of background image data stored in the pattern memory 255. FIGS. 5 and 6 show the configuration of area-specific brightness / saturation data stored for one set of background images. In the pattern memory 255, a plurality of sets of background image data configured in this way and area-specific brightness / saturation data corresponding to the sets are stored in advance.
In the case where there is one background image 401 as shown in FIG. 4, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, a background component in one background image is changed according to the distance from the front in the depth direction. Is divided (separated) into a plurality of images while determining. That is, in the example of FIG. 4, the first background components 402 and 403 are separated as the first separated background image 411, and the background component 404 located immediately behind the second background component 404 is separated into the second separated background image. In the same manner, the background component 405 is the third separated background image 413, the background component 406 is the fourth separated background image 414, and the background component 407 is the fifth separated background. The image is separated as an image 415. In this case, the number of separations is arbitrary. Pattern memory 255 , The data of one background image 401 is stored as a background image group including the separated background images 411 to 415.
When synthesizing the subject image 410 with the background image, the subject image is sandwiched between any two consecutive separated background images in the plurality of separated background images by a user's touch panel instruction operation as the subject 22. Thus, the subject image is synthesized at an arbitrary position in the depth direction.
As described above, when synthesizing the subject image at an arbitrary position in the depth direction of the background image, when creating a natural synthesized image that is familiar with the background at the synthesis position, the brightness of the subject image is adjusted to match the background at the synthesis position. Saturation needs to be corrected. The brightness / saturation data for each area is necessary for that purpose. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the separated background images shown in FIG. 4 is further divided into a plurality of areas (9 in the example of FIG. 6). The human is divided into regions. Hereinafter, each of the divided areas is referred to as a divided area. The number of divisions is arbitrary, and the sizes of the regions to be divided may not be uniform.
[0018]
FIG. 6 shows an example in which each of the separated background images is equally divided into nine rectangular regions.
[0019]
For each of the divided areas, a human determines in advance the optimal brightness / saturation data when the subject image is placed in the divided area, and indicates the number of separated background images as shown in FIG. Are stored as the lightness 601 and the saturation 602 of each of the divided areas (a to i) for each position. The brightness 601 and the saturation 602 of each divided area to be stored are determined as follows.
A model image is placed in a divided area of the separated background image, and the brightness and saturation of the model image are synthesized by the human while adjusting the brightness and saturation of the model image, and the brightness and saturation of the model image determined that the model image adapts to the background image Is the brightness / saturation of the divided area. The brightness 601 and the saturation 602 of all the divided areas of the all separated background image are determined by performing this for all the divided areas of the all separated background image.
For all of the plurality of background images prepared in advance, the separated background image of the background image is divided into divided areas, and the brightness and saturation are determined for each divided area and stored in the pattern memory 255 as described above.
When the arrangement position of the subject image is designated by the user, the data of the lightness 601 and the saturation 602 at the arrangement position is referred to and applied as the lightness and the saturation of the subject image.
[0020]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment. This will be described with reference to FIG.
The subject (user) 22 selects a desired background image from a plurality of background images displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 (step 701).
Next, video shooting of the subject 22 is performed by the camera 23 (step 702).
[0021]
Video shooting is continued as a monitor image until the arrangement position of the subject image is determined in the next step 703.
Next, the background image selected in step 701 and the monitor image of the subject photographed in step 702 are superimposed and displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 on the screen. The subject (user) 22 instructs the position (including depth), rotation angle, and size of the subject image using the touch panel 24 while viewing the image displayed on the monitor (step 703).
[0022]
Details of the method of instructing the position (including depth), rotation angle, and size of the subject image will be described later with reference to FIGS.
Next, the subject (user) 22 determines a pose, and shoots the subject 22 with the camera 23 at the shutter timing directly specified by the subject (user) 22 or the shutter timing determined by the apparatus (step 704).
The contour of the subject 22 is extracted from the captured image (step 705), and the extracted subject image is corrected according to the instruction of the subject (user) 22 in step 703 (step 706).
Details of the correction of the subject image will be described later with reference to FIG.
The corrected subject image and background image are combined (step 707), printed and output by the video printer 26 (step 708).
[0023]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure for instructing the position, angle, and size of the subject image in step 703. If the subject monitor image is displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 (step 801), the image is displayed in the background image. The position on the two-dimensional plane to be superimposed, the rotation angle of the subject image, the size, and the position in the depth direction are sequentially designated (steps 802 to 805). Note that the order from step 802 to step 805 is arbitrary.
[0024]
FIG. 9 shows the flow of operations from the position specification on the plane in the background image to the insertion position specification in the depth direction of the subject image, and the display contents of the monitor and touch panel 24. Hereinafter, the details of the method of designating the position, angle, and size will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 in accordance with the step sequence of FIG.
Here, the selected background image and the subject monitor image captured by the camera 23 are combined, moved, rotated, enlarged (or reduced) and displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 in accordance with the designation of the subject (user) 22. An example will be described.
First, the control device 25 displays a subject monitor image captured by the camera 23 in the foreground on the background image selected by the subject (user) 22 in a predetermined rectangular area (step 901).
Next, the control device 25 displays guidance on the monitor screen of the monitor / touch panel 24 so as to specify the position on the two-dimensional plane of the subject image, and the subject (user) 22 moves the position of the subject image. (Step 902).
Then, the subject (user) 22 moves the subject monitor image on the screen while touching it with a finger by operating the touch panel, and designates a position on a two-dimensional plane (step 903). That is, the subject monitor image 9031 indicated by the broken line is moved in the direction of the arrow on the screen, and stopped at the desired combination position. Reference numeral 9032 denotes a subject monitor image stopped at a desired combination position.
Next, when the position on the two-dimensional plane has been specified, the subject (user) 22 presses a “position determination button” displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 (step 904).
Next, the control device 25 displays guidance to specify the rotation angle of the subject monitor image (Step 905).
The subject (user) 22 rotates his / her finger while touching the subject monitor image 9032 on the monitor / touch panel 24 so that the subject can be monitored in accordance with the amount of movement of the finger around a predetermined fulcrum such as the center point of the subject monitor image. By rotating the image 9032, the rotation angle of the subject monitor image 9032 is specified (step 906). The control device 25 rotates the subject monitor image 9032 according to the designation from the subject (user) 22. Reference numeral 9033 denotes a subject monitor image whose rotation angle is specified.
[0025]
When the rotation angle of the subject image has been specified, the subject (user) 22 presses the “angle determination button” displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 (step 907).
Next, the control device 25 displays guidance to specify the size of the subject image (step 908).
The subject (user) 22 touches the subject monitor image 9033 and moves his or her finger in a direction away from or near the center line of the subject monitor image area displayed as a rectangular area. When the finger moves away from the center line, it is determined that the image is enlarged, and when the finger moves toward the center line, it is determined that the image is reduced. The subject (user) 22 moves the finger to specify the size of the subject monitor image (step 909). The control device 25 changes the size of the subject monitor image 9033 according to the designation from the subject (user) 22. Reference numeral 9034 denotes an enlarged monitor image.
[0026]
When the size of the subject image has been specified, the subject (user) 22 presses the “size determination button” displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 (step 910).
Next, the control device 25 displays guidance to specify the insertion position of the subject monitor image in the depth direction (step 911).
The subject (user) 22 specifies the insertion position in the depth direction on the monitor / touch panel 24 (step 912). The control device 25 changes the insertion position of the subject monitor image 9034 in the depth direction according to the designation from the subject (user) 22. Details will be described later with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 9035 denotes a subject monitor image in which the insertion position in the depth direction has been determined.
When the insertion position in the depth direction has been designated, the "depth insertion position determination button" displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 is pressed (step 913).
[0027]
FIG. 11 shows a method of specifying a subject image insertion position in the depth direction and a display on the monitor / touch panel 24.
First, the position of the subject (user) 22 on the plane designated by the steps 903 to 910 is placed in front of the first separated background image 411 which is the foreground on the background image selected by the subject (user) 22. A subject monitor image 9034 deformed to an angle and size is displayed.
A button for designating the insertion position in the depth direction is displayed on the monitor together with the subject monitor image 9034.
When the subject (user) 22 presses a button 1101 indicating a backward direction (a direction toward the back), the subject monitor image 9034 is moved to the back of one of the separated background images 411 to 415 previously separated for each element in the depth direction. I do. If the subject monitor image 9034 is in front of the n-th separated background image before pressing the backward button 1101, pressing the backward button 1101 causes the subject image to be divided into the n-th separated background image and the (n + 1) -th separated background image. It will be located between the image. That is, the subject image in front of the n-th separated background image is present in front of the (n + 1) -th separated background image.
[0028]
In this state, the control device 25 combines the entire separated background image and the subject image, that is, sandwiches and combines them, and displays them on the monitor screen. Further, when the rearward button 1101 is pressed, the subject monitor image 9034 is further moved backward by one and synthesized and displayed on the monitor. When the forward button 1102 is pressed, the subject monitor image 9034 is moved forward by one. 9034 is moved and synthesized, and displayed on a monitor. In this way, the subject (user) 22 can select the insertion position of the subject monitor image 9034 with respect to the separated background images 411 to 415 by sequentially shifting the insertion position of the subject monitor image and synthesizing the monitor display. .
[0029]
FIG. 12 shows a procedure for correcting a subject image.
First, the position of the subject image designated by the subject (user) 22 in step 703 of FIG. 7 on the background image plane (1), the rotation angle (2), the enlargement / reduction magnification (3), The four information at the insertion position in the depth direction (4) is extracted (step 1201).
Next, the object contour image extracted in step 705 of FIG. 7 is deformed and moved based on the above information (1), (2) and (3) (step 1202).
Next, the number of the separated background image in which the deformed or moved subject image is present and which divided area in the area of the separated background image is fetched. Here, when the subject image extends over a plurality of divided areas, the divided area occupying the largest area is adopted (step 1203).
Next, the brightness / saturation data for each divided area corresponding to the insertion position in the depth direction (4) and the divided area occupied by the extracted subject image is extracted from the pattern memory 255 in FIG. The subject image is corrected using the degree data as the brightness and saturation of the subject image (step 1204).
For example, if there is a subject image between the (n-1) -th separated background image and the n-th separated background image and the divided area occupied by the subject image in the n-th separated background image is i, The “depth direction insertion position” in the brightness / saturation data corrects the brightness / saturation of the subject image based on the brightness / saturation data of the n-th divided area i.
The method of correcting the lightness and the saturation can be realized by the method shown in FIGS. 15 to 18 of Japanese Patent Application No. 10-245879 previously filed by the present applicant. The detailed description of is omitted.
The subject image corrected as described above is combined with the background image and printed out.
[0030]
In the above embodiment, after the subject image and the background image are combined, the combined image is displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 so that the subject (user) 22 can fine-tune the arrangement position of the subject image again. can do.
FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the operation.
Steps 1301 to 1307 and steps 1309 and 1310 are the same as steps 701 to 708 in FIG. 7 except that step 1308 is inserted. In this procedure, the image synthesized in step 1307 is displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24, and the subject (user) 22 finely adjusts the position, angle, and size of the subject image (step 1308). As for the fine adjustment, the fine adjustment range of the position, the angle, and the size may be set to the same range as in step 1303, or a limit may be set to the adjustable range. The subject monitor image displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 in step 1308 uses the subject outline image corrected in step 1306.
[0031]
Also, the subject monitor image displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 displays a video image captured by the camera 23 in a rectangular area of a predetermined size, but displays the video image in a rectangular area of a predetermined size. Instead, an image obtained by extracting an outline from a captured subject monitor image may be displayed. FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of the operation. The difference from FIG. 7 is that a step 1403 for extracting the contour of the subject is inserted before designating the position, angle, and size of the subject, and the other steps are the same as those in FIG.
As shown in step 1403, the contour is extracted from the photographed subject image, and the contour image extracted here is used as the subject monitor image displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 in step 1404. In this manner, the subject image can be arranged at a desired position hidden by the rectangular frame.
[0032]
When the subject (user) 22 specifies the position of the subject image on the background image plane, the subject monitor image and the background image are combined and displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24 each time. When the person 22 determines the position on the plane, the subject image and the background image are not synthesized on the spot and displayed on the monitor / touch panel 24, but the subject image and the background image are alternately arranged at regular intervals. 24 may be used to make it look as if the subject image is synthesized on the background image by using the afterimage effect. In this way, the time required for image synthesis is reduced, and the processing speed can be increased.
[0033]
Also, a case has been described in which all three indices of the position, angle, and size of the subject image are indicated, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which at least the position index is indicated, and the other indices are indicated as necessary. is there.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a background image is separated into elements in the depth direction in advance, and a subject image is deformed, moved, and synthesized at an arbitrary position and an arbitrary angle and size in the background image. With such a configuration, the subject image can be synthesized at an arbitrary angle and size at an arbitrary position including the depth on the background image, and a natural synthesized image as if it exists in the background image can be obtained.
[0035]
Further, the brightness and saturation are determined in advance according to the position including the depth on the background image, and the image is synthesized by correcting the brightness and saturation of the subject image according to the arrangement position of the subject image at the time of image synthesis. In addition, the subject image can be blended with the background image.
[0036]
As described above, it is possible to create a natural composite image that is interesting and blends with the background image.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image composition device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of the image synthesizing apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a functional portion of the image synthesizing apparatus of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration and a storage method of a background image.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration and a storage method of data for lightness / chroma correction.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a continuation of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an image synthesis processing procedure.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for designating the position, angle, and size of a subject image.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for specifying a position, angle, and size of a subject image and a display example of a monitor screen.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a continuation of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a designation procedure of a depth direction insertion position of a subject image and a display example of a monitor image.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for correcting a subject image.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the procedure of the image synthesis processing.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the image synthesis processing procedure.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 22 subject, 2, 23 camera, 3 background image storage means 4, area brightness / saturation storage means 5, background image selection means 6, subject image position / angle / size instructing means, 7 output unit, 24 monitor and touch panel, 25 control device, 26 video printer, 251 CPU, 252 memory, 255 pattern memory, 256 image processing unit, 257 image output unit, 242 touch panel, Reference numeral 401: background image, 402 to 407: background component, 411 to 415: separated background image.

Claims (5)

An image synthesizing device that synthesizes and outputs a subject image and a background image,
A camera for photographing a subject, background image storage means for storing a plurality of sets of background images, and brightness and color for combining with the subject image for each divided area obtained by dividing each set of the background images into a plurality of areas. Area-specific brightness / saturation storage means storing degree data for each set of background images ,
A background image selecting unit for selecting an arbitrary background image from the background images stored in the background image storing unit; and a subject image photographed by the camera, the background image selected by the background image selecting unit. Instruction means for instructing at least the position index of the position, angle, and size indices for combining into
The brightness and saturation data for each area corresponding to the position designated by the designation means is read out from the brightness / saturation storage means for each area, and the brightness and saturation data of the subject image captured by the camera is read using the brightness and saturation data. An image in which the brightness and the saturation are corrected and synthesized at a position designated by the instruction means in the background image selected by the background image selection means according to a predetermined angle and size or an index designated by the instruction means. Synthesis processing means;
An output unit that outputs a result of the combining process by the image combining unit to a predetermined output medium. Each set of background images stored in the background image storage means is constituted by a plurality of background image groups obtained by separating background components present in the background image according to positions in the depth direction. The image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. The image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the instructing unit is configured to instruct a two-dimensional plane position and a position in a depth direction in the background image for synthesizing the subject image. The area-specific brightness / saturation storage unit is configured to separately divide the plurality of background image groups constituting each set of background images into a plurality of areas, and further divide the brightness and saturation for synthesis with a subject image. 3. The image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the degree data is stored. What is claimed is: 1. An image combining method for combining and outputting a subject image and a background image, comprising: a camera for photographing a subject; background image storage means storing a plurality of sets of background images; For each of the divided regions, the brightness and saturation data for combination with the subject image are stored in the region-by-region brightness / saturation storage means for storing each set of background images, and the background image storage means. A background image selecting means for selecting an arbitrary background image from among the background images, and a position and an angle for synthesizing a subject image taken by the camera into the background image selected by the background image selecting means. An instructing means for instructing at least a position index among the size indices; an image synthesizing processing means for synthesizing the subject image and the background image; and a predetermined output of the synthesizing processing result of the image synthesizing processing means. Output means for outputting to the body, when the subject image captured by the camera is synthesized by the image synthesis processing means into the background image selected by the background image selection means according to the index specified by the instruction means. The brightness and saturation data for each area corresponding to the position designated by the indication means is read from the brightness and saturation storage means for each area, and the subject image captured by the camera based on the brightness and saturation data. An image synthesizing method, wherein the brightness and the saturation of the image are corrected and the background image selected by the background image selecting means is synthesized in accordance with the index specified by the specifying means.

Images