JP4746351B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for creating a so-called index print that lists photographed images.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when creating a photographic print from an image photographed by a camera or the like, a printer disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 is known as an index print that lists those photographed images. ing. In this product, photo prints are created from the captured images, and the images are listed and printed in an index print. When the print is ordered, the index print is printed to correspond to each image. By associating the frame number with the number of extra prints input by the operation input unit, the burden on the operator during the extra print operation is reduced.
JP 2005-25125 A

  By the way, the conventional index print displays a list of images taken by the user, and although it is possible to grasp all the captured images by looking at it, each image is displayed in the same size and small size. Therefore, as described in Patent Document 1, it is mainly used only at the time of reprinting a print, and other uses such as viewing and enjoying an index print itself like a photographic print have been hardly performed.

  In addition, with the spread of digital cameras in recent years, the number of images that can be shot has increased compared to conventional film shooting, and the number of images per order at the time of print acceptance has also increased. When printing on the index print with the same size, the size of each image will be smaller and difficult to see, and multiple index prints will be difficult to store, making it less convenient for the user. It was not good, and it was not highly useful.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to create an index print having high utility value in a printing apparatus for creating an index print in which photographed images are displayed as a list. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that can handle the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the representative image selected from the photographed images is enlarged and printed on the index print.

That is, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a printing apparatus provided with a print creating means for creating an index print listing a plurality of images. An image extracting unit for extracting a predetermined representative image from the image; and the size of the representative image extracted by the image extracting unit is made larger than that of the other image, and the index print is arranged side by side with the other image. A layout determining unit that determines a layout of the image, a print management unit that causes the print creating unit to create an index print based on the layout determined by the layout determining unit, and a plurality of images other than the representative image Similar image detection means for detecting at least one similar image group, and image selection means for selecting a predetermined image from the similar image group for each of the similar image groups detected by the similar image detection means, The layout determination means includes a class other than the image selected by the image selection means. It is assumed to be configured to determine the layout of the index print with the exception of the image.

  With this configuration, the representative image extracted from the plurality of images by the image extracting means is printed on the index print in a size larger than the other images, so that the representative image is easy to see for the user, and the index print You can enjoy watching it just like a photo print.

  Moreover, since the representative image is a representative image extracted from a plurality of images, it also serves as the title of the index print, and the user can select which other photographed images are printed on the index print. For example, it is possible to easily identify an index print on which an image to be reprinted is printed at the time of print reprinting. The convenience of index printing can be improved.

  That is, as described above, a representative image is selected from a plurality of images, and an index print having a high utility value is created by configuring the printing apparatus so that the representative image is enlarged and printed on the index print. Will be able to.

Furthermore, when there are similar images similar to each other among a plurality of images other than the representative image, only the representative image can be printed on the index print without printing all of them on the index print. The number of photographed images printed on the index print can be reduced, and the photographed image can be appropriately sized so that the photographed image can be easily viewed, and a plurality of index prints can be more reliably prevented.

  In the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the print creating unit is configured to create an index print using a paper having a size larger than that of a photographic print paper. This makes it possible to print multiple images in a suitable size that is easy to see on large paper without having to print small images on small photographic print paper as in the past. You can create prints.

On the other hand, the layout determination means is configured to change the layout according to the number of images, and the print management means changes the paper size of the index print according to the layout determined by the layout determination means. (Invention of claim 3). In this way, by changing the index print layout according to the number of images and changing the paper size according to the layout, each image can be printed on a single index print with an appropriate size for easy viewing. This makes it possible to create a convenient index print. In addition, since a sheet having an appropriate size is selected according to the number of images, it is possible to prevent the use of a sheet having a large size unnecessarily when the number of images is small, and to reduce the cost of creating an index print .

Also, the similar image detecting means, the continuous images taken in succession within the predetermined time may be configured to detect as the similar image (invention of claim 4). In general, continuous images taken continuously within a predetermined time are highly likely to be similar to each other. Therefore, by detecting such continuous images as similar images, it is relatively easy to detect similar images. Detection can be performed.

  As described above, according to the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the representative image selected from a plurality of images is enlarged and printed on the index print. Index prints with high utility value that can be used as titles can be created.

  Also, by changing the index print paper size according to the number of images, it is possible to print on the index print with an appropriate size that makes it easy to see the images, and even when the number of images is small, use a large paper size. This eliminates the need to reduce the index print creation cost.

  Furthermore, when a similar image is included in a plurality of images other than the representative image, an image other than the representative image is not displayed on the index print, and the index print is printed. By reducing the number of images to be printed, it is possible to create a highly useful index print in which a plurality of images are displayed in a list with an appropriate size that is easy to view. In particular, if a continuous image taken continuously within a predetermined time is detected as the similar image, the similar image can be easily detected.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its use.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire photographic printing apparatus A employing a print processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This photographic printing apparatus A is also referred to as a digital minilab, and is a print station 2 (print creating means) as a photographic printer that performs exposure processing and development processing on photographic papers P and P ′, and developed photographic film. 3, a memory card 4, and an operation station 1 that processes captured image data fetched from the hard disk 22 to generate and transfer print data used in the print station 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the print station 2 pulls out one of the roll-shaped photographic papers P and P ′ stored in the two photographic paper magazines 11a and 11b, and uses the sheet cutter 12 to make a predetermined print size. The back print unit 13 prints print processing information such as a frame number on the back side of the cut photographic papers P and P ′, and the exposure unit 14 takes a photographed image on the front side of the photographic papers P and P ′. The exposed photographic papers P and P ′ are sent to a processing tank unit 15 having a plurality of development processing tanks for development processing.

  Here, the exposure unit 14 applies R (red), G (for the photographic papers P and P ′ conveyed in the sub-scanning direction based on the print data from the operation station 1 along the main scanning direction. A line exposure head for irradiating laser beams of three primary colors of green and B (blue) is provided. The processing tank unit 15 includes a color developing tank 15a for storing a color developing processing liquid, a bleach-fixing tank 15b for storing a bleach-fixing processing liquid, and a stabilizing tank 15c for storing a stable processing liquid.

  The print station 2 is provided with a photographic paper transport mechanism 18 composed of a plurality of nipping and transporting roller pairs including a chucker type photographic paper transport unit 18a disposed before and after the exposure section 14 in the photographic paper transport direction. The photographic paper transport mechanism 18 transports the photographic papers P and P ′ at a transport speed corresponding to the various processes described above.

  The photographic paper P that has been subjected to various processes as described above, that is, the photographic prints P, is dried and then sent from the lateral feed conveyor 16 at the top of the apparatus to the sorter 17 and is transferred to a plurality of trays 17a of the sorter 17. Accumulated in a state of being sorted in order units (see FIG. 1).

  Here, the photographic paper P is mainly for photographic printing, and the photographic paper P 'has a larger size (for example, A4 size), and is used for printing a calendar, an index print PX, which will be described later, and the like. Switching between these photographic papers P and P ′ is performed based on a signal transmitted from the controller of the operation station 1 to the print station 2. When the photographic paper is switched, the photographic papers P and P ′ are switched. The respective photographic paper magazines 11a and 11b temporarily take up the photographic papers P and P ′, and the photographic papers P and P ′ having a required size are drawn out. In this embodiment, two types of photographic paper are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more sizes may be supported. In that case, the photographic printing apparatus A may be provided with three or more photographic paper magazines.

  In the print station 2, not only the photographic print P as described above but also a so-called index print PX displaying a list of a plurality of reduced photographic images is exposed as described above. Then, it is developed and accumulated in the tray 17a.

That is, when the index information for creating the index print PX is transmitted from the controller of the operation station 1, the print station 2 starts from one of the photographic paper magazines 11a and 11b based on the index information. The photographic papers P and P ′ are pulled out and cut into an appropriate size by the sheet cutter 12, and the index prints PX are created by performing the above-described various processes on the cut photographic papers P and P ′. ing. In the present embodiment, the created index print PX is stacked on the tray 17a together with the photographic print P. However, the index print PX may be stacked on another larger tray.
In the index print PX, as shown in FIG. 3, only the representative image Q1 (predetermined representative image) among the displayed images is enlarged, and the other captured images Q2, Q2,. The paper size is changed according to the number of captured images so as to be the size. Specifically, when the number of captured images is small, the photographic paper P having the same size as the photographic print drawn from the photographic paper magazine 11a has a larger size (for example, when the number of captured images is large). The photographic paper P ′ drawn out from the photographic paper magazine 11b in (A4 size) is used.

  Thus, by enlarging and printing the representative image Q1, it can be enjoyed like a photographic print, and the contents of the photographed image printed on the index print PX can be easily grasped. The utility value of the print PX can be increased. Further, by changing the paper size of the index print PX according to the number of photographed images, it becomes possible to make the images Q2, Q2,. It is easy to see for the person.

  In addition, when the index print PX includes images that are continuously captured (continuous images) in the captured image, a continuous image other than one image (predetermined image) extracted from the continuous images is displayed. It is not printed. Thereby, since it is possible to prevent a plurality of continuous images similar to the index print PX from being printed unnecessarily, the number of photographed images printed on the index print PX can be reduced. It is possible to reliably prevent the size of the index print PX from becoming unnecessarily large and the images Q2, Q2,.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the representative image Q1 selected from the captured images, another image Q3 is selected, and the image Q3 is smaller than the representative image Q1 and displayed as a list. You may make it display larger than image Q2, Q2, .... In the present embodiment, only the case where the representative image Q1 is selected from the captured images will be described. However, when the image Q3 is further selected, the selected image is selected from the captured images as in the case of the image Q1. You can do it.

  As shown in FIG. 1, there is a film scanner 20 for obtaining photographed image data from the developed photographic film 3 and an image storage medium mounted on a digital camera or the like at the upper position of the desk-like console of the operation station 1. A media drive 21 that acquires photographed image data from various semiconductor memories 4 (data storage media, hereinafter also referred to as memory cards) and CD-R 5 and writes data to the memory card 4 and CD-R 5; A hard disk 22 for storing photographed image data captured through the film scanner 20 and the media drive 21 is disposed. In this embodiment, the film scanner 20, the media drive 21, and the hard disk 22 constitute an image input unit of the photographic printing apparatus A together with a communication unit (not shown) that receives image data transmitted through the network. ing.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the media drive 21 and the hard disk 22 are incorporated in a general-purpose computer (for example, a personal computer) that functions as a controller of the photographic printing apparatus A. A monitor 23 for displaying information, a keyboard 24, a mouse 25, a flatbed scanner 26, and the like used as an operation input unit when performing various settings and adjustments are also connected. The media drive 21 and the hard disk 22 may be provided separately from the computer without being incorporated in the computer.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the controller includes a CPU 30 that performs various processes in accordance with instructions input by an operator. The CPU 30 receives an operation input unit or an image input unit connected to the computer. In response to the signal, data, etc., the signal is output to the monitor 23 or the print station 2 and the image data input from the image input unit is temporarily stored in the working memory 31. .

  Specifically, the CPU 30 generates an operation screen generating unit 30a that generates an operation screen to be displayed on the monitor 23 according to various operations of the operator, various image data constituting the operation screen, and image data of other display items. Is converted into a video signal by a video controller (not shown) and sent to the monitor 23, and the image data stored in the working memory 31 is subjected to various corrections such as color correction, filtering (such as blurring and sharpness), and trimming. An image processing unit 30c that performs image processing and a command related to the specified color correction and the number of prints are generated, and the image processing unit 30c processes the image data, and then prints the processed data as print data. A print management unit 30d to be transferred to the exposure unit 14 of the station 2. There. That is, the CPU 30 is configured to cause the above-described print station 2 to create a photo print P of image data in accordance with various operations of the operator.

  Here, the print management unit 30d generates not only data relating to photo print creation but also print data for creating an index print PX having a predetermined layout from one-order captured image data stored in the working memory 31. It also has a function of commanding the image processing unit 30c to generate. That is, the print management unit 30d also has a function as print management means for causing the print station 2 to create an index print.

  Further, the CPU 30 detects a representative image extraction unit 30e (image extraction means) that extracts the representative image Q1 from the input captured image data, and continuously captured images other than the representative image Q1. A continuous image selection unit 30f (continuous image detection means, image selection means) for selecting one image from among them, and the representative image Q1 is made larger than the other images and selected from the continuous images. And an index layout determining unit 30g (layout determining unit) that determines the layout of the index print PX by omitting continuous images other than the images.

  An example of print-related processing in the photographic printing apparatus A configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, when accepting a print of a photographed image, the photographed image is captured as data by an image input unit such as the film scanner 20 or the media drive 21. This captured image data is stored in the working memory 31.

  When the print is accepted, the operation screen generation unit 30a generates a pre-judge print screen (PJP screen) on which the number of prints and color tone correction can be performed while viewing the photographed image, and the video control unit 30b monitors the monitor. 23. On this PJP screen, color tone correction of the three primary colors of each image data, the number of prints, and the like are set according to input to the operation input unit such as the keyboard 24 and the mouse 25.

  Further, the operation screen generation unit 30a is configured so that an image Q1 to be enlarged and printed when creating the index print PX can be selected on the PJP screen from the photographed images by operating the operation input unit. Yes.

  When these settings are completed, the print management unit 30d generates a command (image processing command) relating to color correction, the number of prints, and the like, and the image processing unit 30c performs various processing on each image data based on the command. Processing is performed and the print data is transferred to the exposure unit 14 of the print station 2 to create a photo print P.

  On the other hand, when the selection operation of the representative image Q1 of the index print PX is performed by the operation screen generation unit 30a, the information is transmitted to the representative image extraction unit 30e to extract only the selected image data (for example, the image) The file name of the data is stored in the working memory 31). When the representative image selection operation by the operation input unit is not performed in the operation screen generation unit 30a, the representative image extraction unit 30e extracts the first image from the photographed images. . Here, since the photographed image is input as image data by the image input unit, each of the photographed image data is assigned a file name in advance or when the image is input. The first image at this time corresponds to the first image.

  When the extraction of the representative image Q1 as described above is completed, it is next determined by the continuous image selection unit 30f whether or not there are continuously captured images (continuous images) among the remaining captured images. If there is an image, a representative image is selected from a group of continuous images. Here, for example, in the case of an image taken with a digital camera, whether or not it is a group of continuous images is determined based on whether or not the shooting time interval is within a predetermined time based on the shooting time recorded accompanying the image. Alternatively, when the photographing time interval is unknown, the determination may be made based on whether similar photographed images are continuous by general image recognition processing. In addition, selection of a representative image from the continuous images may be performed by an input operation from the operation input unit in the operation screen generation unit 30a, as in the case of the above-described representative image Q1. The first image arranged in the order of file names may be automatically selected.

  When the continuous image selection unit 30f finishes selecting the representative image from the continuous images, a command signal is transmitted to the layout determination unit 30g so as not to print the continuous image other than that image on the index print PX. . At this time, the data related to the representative image Q1 selected by the representative image extracting unit 30e is also transmitted to the layout determining unit 30g together with the command signal. In the layout determining unit 30g, the representative image Q1 extracted by the representative image extracting unit 30e has a size larger than that of other images, and the continuous image selecting unit 30f is instructed not to print on the index print PX. The layout information is generated so that the captured images Q2, Q2,.

  Thereafter, the index information is generated by the print management unit 30d according to the layout information of the index print PX generated by the index layout determination unit 30g, and the index information is transmitted to the image processing unit 30c. Print data of the index print PX including data of the captured images Q1 and Q2 is generated. Then, the print data is transmitted to the print station 2, whereby the index print PX is created at the print station 2.

  Here, based on the layout information generated by the index layout determination unit 30g, the print management unit 30 sets the images displayed in a list on the index print PX to an appropriate size that is easy for the user to see. The paper size of the index print PX is selected, and information regarding the paper size is transmitted to the print station 2 as print information. In the print station 2, when the number of images displayed on the index print PX is small according to the print information, the photographic paper P having almost the same size as the photo print P is selected and displayed in a list. When the number of images to be printed is large, for example, A4 size photographic paper P ′ is selected.

  As described above, since the representative image Q1 of the photographed image is enlarged and printed on the index print PX, the representative image becomes easy to see. Therefore, the index print PX can be used for viewing like a photographic print, It is possible to easily recognize what kind of images are listed in the index print PX, and the utility value of the index print PX can be improved.

  In addition, as described above, when there are continuous images in the captured image, images other than the representative image are not printed on the index print PX, so that many similar continuous images can be obtained. Since the index print PX is not wastefully printed, there is no need to wastefully increase the paper size of the index print PX or reduce the size of the image displayed in the list so that it is difficult to see. As a result, the cost of creating the index print PX can be reduced, and can be easily viewed by the user.

(Other embodiments)
The configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but includes various other configurations. That is, in the embodiment, the representative image extraction unit 30e that extracts the representative image Q1, the continuous image selection unit 30f that detects a continuous image and selects the representative image from the continuous image, and the index layout determination that determines the layout of the index print PX. Although the section 30g is described as a configuration different from the print management section 30d, the present invention is not limited to this, and the print management section 30d has the functions of the representative image extraction section 30e, the continuous image selection section 30f, and the index layout determination section 30g. You may make it have.

  In the embodiment, the representative image Q1 is selected from the captured images and the representative image Q2 is selected from the continuous images one by one. However, the present invention is not limited to this. An image may be selected.

  As described above, the printing apparatus according to the present invention enlarges and prints the representative image selected from the captured images, and omits the continuous images other than the representative images from the remaining captured images. Since index prints with high utility value can be created by selecting photographic paper so that each image is printed at an appropriate size, for example, an index can be created from images taken in large quantities with a digital camera or the like. It is particularly useful for printing devices that produce prints.

1 is a perspective view showing a photographic printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic internal structure of a print station. It is a figure which shows the index print produced by the photo printing apparatus. It is a block diagram regarding the control part of a photographic printing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically operation | movement of a photo printing apparatus.

A Photo printing device (printing system)
P photographic paper (photo print)
PX Index print Q1 Representative image Q2 List of captured images 1 Operation station 2 Print station (print creation means)
30 CPU
30d Print management unit (print management means)
30e Representative image extraction unit (image extraction means)
30f Continuous image selection unit (similar image detection means, image selection means)
30g Index layout determining unit (layout determining means)

Claims (4)

A printing apparatus provided with a print creation means for creating an index print listing a plurality of images,
Image extracting means for extracting a predetermined representative image from the image;
Layout determining means for making the size of the representative image extracted by the image extracting means larger than that of the other images and determining the layout of the index print by arranging together with the other images;
Print management means for causing the print creation means to create an index print based on the layout determined by the layout determination means ;
A similar image detecting means for detecting at least one similar image group similar to each other from a plurality of images other than the representative image;
Image selection means for selecting a predetermined image from the similar image group for each of the similar image groups detected by the similar image detection means,
The layout determining unit is configured to determine the layout of the index print by excluding similar images other than the image selected by the image selecting unit . In claim 1,
The printing apparatus, wherein the print creating means is configured to create an index print using a paper having a size larger than that of the photo print paper. In claim 1,
The layout determining means is configured to change the layout according to the number of images,
The printing apparatus, wherein the print management means is configured to change the paper size of the index print according to the layout determined by the layout determination means. In any one of Claims 1-3 ,
The printing apparatus is characterized in that the similar image detecting means is configured to detect a continuous image photographed continuously within a predetermined time as a similar image.

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