JP4323902B2 - Image layout device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image layout apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for displaying an image layout.

In recent years, the functions and performance of computer hardware and software have evolved, and the digitization of all documents is progressing. For example, electronically creating a file using document creation software such as a word processor is a routine scene. The user can also paste an image such as an illustration or a photo created by a certain application into the text of such a document file. As a result, the user can improve the appearance of the document or convey the contents to the other party more easily than expressing the document. However, selecting an image file suitable for the document from a large number of image files can take a considerable amount of time and effort. Also, after selecting an image file and inserting it into a document, it is often necessary to adjust the size.
Thus, a technique has been proposed in which an image size is automatically determined based on a margin and a character size when an image is pasted on a document (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-255574

  Here, as an application for pasting an image such as an arbitrary illustration or photograph into a document, there is software for creating a postcard layout. This software can create layouts by simple operations such as pasting illustrations of the four seasons and the zodiac or pasting template text on the postcard text. In addition to postcard layouts, it can be used to create business cards and greeting cards. Nowadays, personal computers have become widespread in a wide range of age groups, and they are widely used in many households regardless of age or gender.

  However, since it is used by a wide range of ages regardless of gender, there are many points that should be emphasized functionally. In other words, there are many users who are unfamiliar with computer operations such as command instructions and mouse operations, and the number of operations and simplification of operation procedures are the most important issues for such home software developers. It is no exaggeration to say that there is. In addition, a lot of similar software exists, and the realization of reducing the work burden on the user is regarded as the most important in order to differentiate from other companies' software.

  The inventor has made the present invention based on the above recognition, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image layout apparatus that reduces the burden on the user.

  One embodiment of the present invention is an image layout apparatus. The apparatus is an apparatus for editing a layout of a printed material, and includes an image information storage unit that stores a plurality of image parts that can be embedded in an editing area for editing the contents of the printed material, and at least one of the plurality of image parts. An image display area setting unit for setting a display area to be embedded, an instruction input unit for receiving an instruction from the user, and a plurality of image components based on the instruction from the user from the image information storage unit for a predetermined time An image reading selection unit that reads at intervals, and an image switching display unit that sequentially displays a plurality of read image components while switching to the display area at the time intervals. “Image part” refers to digital data for forming an image such as a photograph, a picture, or an illustration. According to this aspect, in the operation of creating a layout while replacing a plurality of image parts, it is not necessary to repeatedly select and embed image parts one by one. It can be replaced and confirmed. Therefore, the user's work of laying out while trying a large number of image parts is reduced.

  An image layout apparatus according to the present invention includes an image information storage unit that stores a plurality of image components in a classified state, and an image readout selection unit that reads out a plurality of image components belonging to a classification specified based on an instruction from a user. And an image switching display unit for sequentially displaying a plurality of image parts belonging to the designated classification. Thereby, since the image parts are classified, the image parts can be selected from the image parts group suitable for the user's purpose of use, and the image parts that are not selection candidates are removed, so that the work is reduced.

  An image layout apparatus according to the present invention belongs to an image display area setting unit that sets a plurality of areas as display areas, an image reading selection unit that reads out a plurality of image parts belonging to different classifications for each of the plurality of display areas, and a different classification And an image switching display unit for displaying each of the plurality of display areas while changing the combination of the plurality of image parts. As a result, the user can repeatedly see the switching of the combination of the image parts selected from among a large number of image parts by the first instruction, thereby reducing the user's work.

  The image layout apparatus of the present invention further includes a screen configuration setting unit that adjusts the range of the display area in accordance with a change in aspect ratio of a plurality of image components displayed while being switched by the image switching display unit. As a result, it is not necessary for the user to directly adjust the display area of the image parts that are sequentially displayed, and labor and labor can be saved. The “change in aspect ratio” may be a change in the size or shape of the image component, and the “display area range” is an image that changes such as the size of the display area, the shape of the display area, or the display position. It may be a section for accommodating parts.

  According to the present invention, a step of displaying an editing area for editing the contents of a printed matter, a step of setting a display area in which at least one of a plurality of image parts that can be embedded in the editing area is to be embedded, and A step of receiving an instruction from the user, a step of reading a plurality of image parts at a predetermined time interval based on the instruction from the user, and switching the read image parts to the display area at the time interval There is provided a program characterized by causing a computer to execute the step of sequentially displaying.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image layout apparatus that reduces the work burden on the user.

  The image layout apparatus according to the present embodiment reads a list of image parts, and automatically embeds the read image parts in an area designated by the user and displays the list. As a result, it is not necessary to repeat the trial work of selecting and embedding a large number of image parts one by one, and it is possible to perform continuous replacement of image parts and the confirmation work only by giving one instruction. It is reduced.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an image layout apparatus operation screen 100 in the present embodiment.
The image layout apparatus operation screen 100 of FIG. 1 is an operation screen of an application for creating a layout of postcards, business cards and cards, for example. The image layout apparatus operation screen 100 includes an edit area section 10, a list area section 20, a folder selection button 30, and an image automatic confirmation mode 200 column. The image automatic confirmation mode 200 column has an input section for various setting functions related to displaying image parts in sequence. The functions include a display area mode 210 column, a display speed mode 220 column, and an automatic confirmation start. A button 230, an automatic confirmation stop button 232, and a composition edit button 234 are configured.

The list area unit 20 displays a list of image parts under the folder selected by the folder selection button 30. Further, there may be a child folder under the folder selected by the user, and an image component stored in the child folder may also be displayed.
Various image components may be classified for each folder. Classification criteria include, for example, classification according to the purpose of use such as New Year's cards and greetings, and classification according to the type of image such as illustrations, character images, or photographs.

  As an example of the image component list display method in the list area unit 20, the content 22 of the image component and the image component name 24 are set as one set. In another example, only the content 22 of the image component or only the image component name 24 may be displayed as a list.

The editing area unit 10 switches and displays the image parts displayed in a list in the list area unit 20 in order at certain time intervals. The editing area unit 10 can have a plurality of areas for displaying image parts, and the display area 12 is added or deleted by the user. Further, when there are a plurality of display areas 12 on the editing area unit 10, the user can select the display area 12.
The user may adjust the range of the display area 12. As a result, the user can select from the image parts displayed in order within the fixed range after the range of the display area 12 is determined first. Alternatively, the image layout apparatus may adjust the range of the display area 12 in accordance with the aspect ratio of the image component and display it in order to the user. Thereby, it is possible to save time and labor for the user to adjust the range of the display area 12 for each image component.

The automatic image confirmation mode 200 column includes various settings relating to functions to be displayed in the display area 12 of the editing area section 10 in order from the image parts that are designated to start from the list of image parts displayed in the list area section 20. It has a function. Thus, the user can easily confirm the layout without opening the image component each time, and the burden on the user to select the image component is reduced. Two examples are given below as the order of displaying the image parts.
First, when the image components displayed in a list on the list area unit 20 are composed of a plurality of columns, the focus can be moved sequentially from the focused image component in the right direction, and further to the right. If not, it moves to the left end of the line immediately below and similarly moves the focus to the right. In this way, the focus is moved until the last image part is reached. The image layout apparatus may display the focused image components in the display area 12 of the editing area unit 10 in order.
Next, when the list-displayed image parts are arranged in a line on the list area unit 20, the focus is sequentially moved downward from the focused image parts.
In the above two examples, when the image component to start focusing is the final file, the focus may be jumped to the first image component.

The user operates the display area mode 210 column to add the display area 12 for displaying image parts or to select the display area 12 for automatically displaying image parts. The user can select either the “display as background” column 212a or the “display in the designated display area” 212b column, and a check is written in the selected box. In FIG. 1, the former is selected.
When the “display as background” field 212 a is selected, the image parts on the list area 20 are displayed as the entire back in the display area 12 of the maximum range on the editing area 10. When the “display in the designated display area” field 212b is selected, the image component is displayed in the display area 12 designated by the user.

The user adds the display area 12 by pressing a display area addition button 214. Further, the user can adjust the range of the added display area 12.
By having a plurality of display areas 12, a plurality of image parts belonging to different classifications for each display area 12 can be displayed, and the display combination can be changed. As a result, the user can repeatedly switch the combination of image components selected from among a large number of image components according to the first one-time instruction, so that the user's work is reduced.

The user can switch the display area 12 to be displayed by pressing the display area switching button 216. Further, the display area 12 displayed on the editing area section 10 can be automatically switched one after another by continuously pressing.
The most recently added display area 12 may be a display area 12 for displaying image parts. Further, the user may additionally set another display area 12 on the back of a certain display area 12, select the display area 12 with the display area switching button 216, and display the image components in order.

  The user uses the display speed mode field 220 to set an interval for switching image components displayed in order in the predetermined display area 12 on the editing area unit 10. The speed setting button 222 includes, for example, “fast”, “slightly fast”, “normal”, “slightly slow”, “slow”, and the like. The speed of can be adjusted. Further, the speed of the switching display interval may be specified by a number in seconds.

When the automatic confirmation start button 230 is pressed, the image layout apparatus displays images in the editing area unit 10 in order from the image parts specified by the user from the list of image parts displayed in the list area unit 20.
When the automatic confirmation stop button 232 is pressed, the image layout apparatus interrupts the operation of automatically displaying the image parts. In addition, after the automatic confirmation start button 230 is pressed, the image layout apparatus may interrupt the operation of automatically displaying the image components at the timing when another button is pressed by the user.

  When the composite editing button 234 is pressed, the image layout apparatus determines the image parts displayed in the plurality of display areas 12, and combines the determined image parts into one image file.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the image layout apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image layout apparatus 300 can be realized by a hardware configuration such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a memory of a computer, and can be realized by a program having an image layout display function in terms of software. Describes functional blocks realized by collaboration. Therefore, these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

  The instruction input unit 102 is an input device such as a keyboard, a button, a touch panel, or a mouse, for example, and receives various requests and instructions for the image layout apparatus operation screen 100 in FIG. 1 from the user. The instruction input unit 102 provides a request or instruction received from the user to the image display area processing unit 108, the screen display control unit 112, the image switching interval storage unit 118, or the image composition editing unit 122. Specifically, the instruction input unit 102 sends an instruction to the image display region processing unit 108 when the user presses the display region addition button 214 or the display region switching button 216. Similarly, when the folder selection button 30, the automatic confirmation start button 230, or the automatic confirmation stop button 232 is pressed, an instruction is sent to the screen display control unit 112. When the composite editing button 234 is pressed, an instruction is sent to the image composite editing unit 122.

The image display area processing unit 108 includes an image display area setting unit 104 for adding the display area 12 and an image display area switching unit 106 for switching the display area 12 in accordance with an instruction from the user.
In addition, the image display area processing unit 108 instructs the screen configuration setting unit 110 having information configuring the screens of the editing region unit 10 and the list region unit 20 to change the screen configuration definition information 150. The screen configuration definition information 150 is information relating to the number of display areas in the editing area unit 10, the location of the display target area, the list display method of image parts in the list area unit 20, and the like.

  The screen configuration setting unit 110 refers to the screen configuration definition information 150 and configures the image layout apparatus operation screen 100. In addition, the screen configuration setting unit 110 receives an update instruction for the screen configuration definition information 150 from the image display area processing unit 108 and updates it. Further, the screen configuration setting unit 110 has a function of adjusting the range of the display area 12 according to the aspect ratio of the image parts and displaying the image parts to the user in order. Thereby, it is possible to save time and labor for the user to adjust the range of the display area 12 for each image component.

  The screen display control unit 112 is a unit that performs control to select whether to display a list of image parts in the list area unit 20 or to display image parts in the editing area unit 10 according to an instruction from the instruction input unit 102. . When the folder selection button 30 is pressed and a request for acquisition of a list of image parts is made from the user to the instruction input unit 102, the screen display control unit 112 causes the image list acquisition unit 114 to relate to the designated folder. Information and screen configuration definition information 150 are provided, and an image list display is requested. On the other hand, when the automatic confirmation start button 230 is pressed by the user, the screen display control unit 112 instructs the image readout selection unit 124 to read out image components.

  The image list acquisition unit 114 acquires from the image information storage unit 152 a list of image components under the folder designated by the folder selection button 30 from the user, and stores it in the image information storage unit 154. The image information storage unit 152 stores image components classified by the user. The image list display unit 116 displays a list of image parts stored in the image information storage unit 154 in the list area unit 20.

  The image switching interval storage unit 118 has various speeds for automatically switching image parts, and the display speed for switching the image parts is selected by the speed setting button 222.

The image reading selection unit 124 receives an image component display instruction from the screen display control unit 112, and selects the image component stored in the image information storage unit 154 for each time interval set in the image switching interval storage unit 118. The images are read in order, and the image switching display unit 120 is instructed to display the read image components.
Further, the image reading selection unit 124 refers to the screen configuration definition information 150 and acquires information about the range of the display area 12 in which the image parts are stored. As a result, information such as the position of the display area 12 to be displayed of the image parts and whether to display the image parts according to the aspect ratio can be obtained.

  The image switching display unit 120 displays the image parts on the editing area unit 10 in accordance with the display instruction of the image parts from the image reading selection unit 124.

  The image composition editing unit 122 combines the image parts displayed in the plurality of display areas determined by the user to compose one image part. Thus, the user can save the trouble of opening the image component each time and confirming the layout. In addition, the image file subjected to synthesis editing is stored in the image synthesis file storage unit 156.

  Next, the flow of processing is shown. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow for sequentially displaying the image components in the present embodiment. The image layout apparatus 300 displays a list of image components under the folder designated by the user in the list area unit 20 (S10). Then, the user determines an image component for starting automatic confirmation from the list of image components (S12). Whether the display area 12 of the image part needs to be added is selected by the user (S14). If the display area 12 needs to be added (S14Y), the image layout apparatus 300 adds the display area 12 (S16). If not (S14N), the display area 12 is not added. Further, whether or not the display area 12 of the image part needs to be switched is selected by the user (S18). If it is necessary to switch (S18Y), the display area 12 is switched (S20), otherwise (S18N). The display area 12 is not switched. Through the steps so far, preparations are made to display image parts at a display speed designated by the user (S22). After the above setting is completed, the image layout apparatus 300 automatically displays the image component at the designated display speed in the designated display area 12 on the editing area unit 10 (S24).

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. . Hereinafter, modifications will be described.

  In the embodiment, the image components displayed in order in the editing area unit 10 are the entire image components under the folder designated by the user. However, it is sometimes difficult for a user to determine a favorite image component at a time when viewing the image component. Therefore, as a modification, the image layout apparatus 300 may have a function for a user to mark a favorite image part with a mark or the like and display the image part that is marked later. In addition, the marked image parts may be accumulated by moving or copying to another folder, or a function of displaying a list of a plurality of such marked image parts may be provided. Thereby, the user can narrow down the candidate of the favorite image parts.

  In the embodiments, the layout creation software for household printed matter such as postcards, business cards, greeting cards and the like has been described as an example. In the modification, the image layout apparatus 300 of the present invention may be applied to so-called presentation software. In this case, the image layout device 300 can be used to perform a trial operation for pasting a plurality of image parts such as illustrations, figures, decorative characters, and the like on a material distributed or slide-displayed at a conference or presentation with a single instruction. It can be carried out. Therefore, the work burden on the presentation material creator is reduced.

It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen of the image layout apparatus in this Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the image layout apparatus in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow which displays the image components in this Embodiment in order.

Explanation of symbols

  12 display area, 100 image layout device operation screen, 108 image display area processing section, 110 image configuration setting section, 116 image list display section, 120 image switching display section, 122 image composition editing section, 124 image readout selection section, 300 image Layout device.

Claims (4)

A device for editing the layout of printed matter,
An image information storage unit that stores a plurality of image parts that can be embedded in an editing area for editing the content of the printed matter;
An image display area setting unit for setting a display area in which at least one of the plurality of image parts is to be embedded;
An instruction input unit for receiving an instruction from the user;
An image read selection unit that reads the plurality of image components from the image information storage unit at predetermined time intervals based on an instruction from the user;
See containing and an image switching display unit which displays in order while switching at said time interval a plurality of image objects the read in the display area,
The image display area setting unit sets a plurality of areas as the display area,
The image readout selection unit reads out a plurality of image components belonging to different classifications for each of the plurality of display areas,
The image layout display device, wherein the image switching display unit displays each of the plurality of display areas while changing a combination of the plurality of image parts belonging to the different classifications . The image information storage unit stores the plurality of image parts in a classified state,
The image readout selection unit reads out a plurality of image components belonging to a classification designated based on an instruction from the user,
The image layout apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image switching display unit sequentially displays a plurality of image components belonging to the designated classification.   2. The screen configuration setting unit according to claim 1, further comprising a screen configuration setting unit that adjusts a range of the display area in accordance with a change in aspect ratio of the plurality of image parts displayed while being switched by the image switching display unit. Image layout device. Image display area setting unit realized by the computer, out of the plurality of image objects stored in the image information storing unit for storing a plurality of image objects can be embedded in the editing area for editing the contents of the printed matter Setting a display area in which at least one of them is to be embedded;
An instruction input unit realized by a computer receives an instruction from a user;
An image readout selection unit realized by a computer, reading out the plurality of image components at a predetermined time interval based on an instruction from the user;
An image switching display unit realized by a computer, sequentially displaying the plurality of read image components while switching to the display area at the time interval;
The image display area setting unit sets a plurality of areas as the display area,
The image readout selection unit reads out a plurality of image components belonging to different classifications for each of the plurality of display areas,
The image switching display unit causes a computer to execute an image layout method in which a combination of a plurality of image parts belonging to the different classifications is changed and displayed in each of the plurality of display areas. program.

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