JP4904798B2 - Multi-image retouching device, computer program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for collectively modifying a plurality of image data.

  In recent years, electronic still cameras, so-called digital cameras, have been developed and are in widespread use. Image data obtained with a digital camera can be easily corrected for brightness, contrast, and the like by using a retouching software by taking it into a personal computer (for example, Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2000-215306 A

By the way, since digital cameras have advantages such as ease of shooting and economy, many shots are often taken in the same scene. Since the plurality of image data obtained in this way are similar in image quality, there is a demand for the operator to modify the plurality of image data collectively. In such a case, the retouching software analyzes and corrects the image data one by one, and there is a problem that the image quality of the correction result varies greatly even if the original image is a plurality of images that look similar to the appearance. I did .

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to suppress a large variation in the image quality of the modification result even when a plurality of images having similar image quality are modified by shooting in the same scene.

  As means for solving at least a part of the problems described above, the following configuration is adopted.

The multiple image retouching device of the present invention,
A multi-image retouching device that retouches a plurality of image data expressed by gradation values of each pixel constituting an image,
Attribute designating means for designating in advance the attribute of interest of the image data;
Attribute intensity calculating means for calculating the intensity of the attribute of the entire image using the gradation value of each pixel for each image data;
Aligning means for aligning the plurality of image data according to each intensity calculated by the attribute intensity calculating means;
Representative image data selecting means for selecting one image data as representative image data from the plurality of arranged image data;
Modification parameter calculation means for calculating a modification parameter for changing the gradation value of each pixel of the representative image data based on the intensity of the representative image data calculated by the attribute intensity calculation means;
A plurality of image data changing means for changing the gradation value of each pixel based on the modification parameter calculated by the modification parameter calculating means for each of the plurality of image data.

  According to the multi-image modifying apparatus having the above-described configuration, a plurality of image data is aligned according to the strength of a predetermined attribute of the entire image, and one image data is represented by the representative image from the aligned plurality of image data. Selected as representative image data by the data selection means. Then, a modification parameter for changing the gradation value of each pixel of the representative image data is calculated based on the intensity of the representative image data by the modification parameter calculation means, and the plurality of image data Each of them is changed based on the modification parameter by a plurality of image data changing means.

  Therefore, based on the modification parameter for the representative image data selected from the plurality of image data arranged according to the strength of the attribute specified in advance, the plurality of image data is collectively processed with the modification parameter as the reference. Can be changed. For this reason, when a plurality of images having similar image quality are corrected by shooting in the same scene or the like, it is possible to suppress a large variation in the image quality of the correction result.

  In the multiple-image modifying apparatus having the above-described configuration, the attribute designating unit includes a plurality of items prepared in advance as the attribute, and means for designating one of the plurality of items based on an operation command from an operator It is good also as a structure provided with.

  According to this configuration, the attribute desired by the operator can be modified without varying the image quality of the modification result.

  The attribute may be color balance, brightness, saturation, or sharpness.

  The representative image data selecting means may comprise means for determining image data corresponding to an intermediate order of alignment by the aligning means as representative image data.

  According to this configuration, the modification parameter can be obtained according to the average attribute strength in the plurality of image data, and the plurality of image data can be modified based on the modification parameter. Therefore, the same modification as the modification of the representative image data having the average attribute strength among the plurality of image data can be performed on the plurality of image data.

  The multi-image modifying apparatus according to the present invention further includes list display means for displaying a list of a plurality of image data arranged by the aligning means on a display device, wherein the representative image data selecting means includes the plurality of images displayed in the list. An image data designating unit that designates one of the data as the representative image data based on an operation command from an operator may be provided.

  According to this configuration, image data having an attribute strength that is considered appropriate by the operator can be manually determined as representative image data. Therefore, it is possible to apply corrections to a plurality of image data according to the preference of the operator.

  The multiple image data changing unit is a process of displaying a processed image obtained by changing the gradation value of each pixel of the representative image data based on the modification parameter calculated by the modification parameter calculating unit on a display device. A processed image display unit, a processed image determination unit that determines whether or not to allow a processed image displayed on the display device based on an operation command from an operator, and the processed image determination unit. And a means for changing a gradation value of each pixel for each of the plurality of image data based on the value of the modification parameter when it is determined that the processed image is allowed. .

  According to this configuration, the operator can determine whether or not the modification result is suitable by viewing the processed image obtained by modifying the representative image data on the display device. Therefore, it is possible to easily modify a plurality of image data to an image quality that the operator prefers.

  The modification parameter calculation unit may include a unit that discontinuously changes the value of the modification parameter depending on whether the strength of the representative image data is larger or smaller than a predetermined threshold.

  According to the above configuration, when the attribute strengths of a plurality of image data are in the vicinity of a predetermined threshold, the value of the modification parameter changes discontinuously depending on whether the attribute strength is greater or smaller than the threshold. In some cases, however, the image quality varies greatly. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress variations in image quality even in such a case.

The multiple image correction method of the present invention is:
A multi-image retouching method for retouching a plurality of image data expressed by gradation values of each pixel constituting an image,
Specify in advance the attribute of interest of the image data,
For each image data, the intensity for the attribute of the entire image is calculated using the gradation value of each pixel,
Aligning the plurality of image data according to the calculated intensities;
One image data is selected as representative image data from the plurality of arranged image data,
A modification parameter for changing a gradation value of each pixel of the representative image data is calculated based on the intensity of the calculated representative image data,
For each of the plurality of image data, the gradation value of each pixel is changed based on the calculated modification parameter.

The computer program of the present invention is:
A computer program for collectively correcting a plurality of image data expressed by gradation values of each pixel constituting an image,
(A) a function of preliminarily designating the attribute of interest of the image data;
(B) a function for calculating the intensity of the attribute of the entire image using the gradation value of each pixel for each image data;
(C) a function of aligning the plurality of image data according to each intensity calculated by the function (b);
(D) a function of selecting one image data as representative image data from the plurality of arranged image data;
(E) a function of calculating a modification parameter for changing a gradation value of each pixel of the representative image data based on the intensity of the representative image data calculated by the function (b);
(F) For each of the plurality of image data, the computer is configured to realize a function of changing the gradation value of each pixel based on the modification parameter calculated by the function (e).

  Similar to the multi-image retouching apparatus of the present invention, the multi-image retouching method and computer program of the present invention, when retouching a plurality of images having similar image quality, such as by shooting in the same scene, There is an effect that it is possible to suppress a large variation in.

  The recording medium of the present invention is characterized by a computer-readable recording medium that records the computer program of the present invention. This recording medium has the same operations and effects as the computer program of the present invention.

  The present invention includes other aspects as follows. The 1st aspect is an aspect as a program supply apparatus which supplies the computer program of this invention via a communication path. In this first aspect, the above-described method and apparatus are realized by placing a computer program on a server or the like on a computer network, downloading a necessary program to a computer via a communication path, and executing the program. Can do.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples. This embodiment will be described in the following order.
A. Device configuration:
B. Computer processing:
C. Action / Effect Other embodiments:

A. Device configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The computer system of this embodiment mainly includes a personal computer 10 constituting the multi-image retouching device of the present invention, and includes a display 20, a keyboard 22, and a mouse 24 as peripheral devices. Furthermore, a digital camera 26 and a printer 28 are connected to the personal computer 10.

  The personal computer 10 includes a memory 13, a hard disk drive 14, an input control unit 15, a display control unit 16, and the like connected to each other by a bus 12 around a CPU 11 as a central processing unit. The memory 13 stores various data and becomes a work area of the CPU 11. The hard disk drive 14 stores a computer program Pr as software for the multiple image modification device. The hard disk drive 14 stores a large number of image data Dp of photographic images (color photographic images) taken by the digital camera 26. The image data Dp is RGB data.

  The input control unit 15 is a control unit that captures input operations from the keyboard 22 and the mouse 24 and captures image data from the digital camera 26. The display control unit 16 is a control unit that controls signal output to the display 20.

  The computer program Pr is originally stored in a CD-ROM (not shown) as a recording medium, and is installed in the hard disk drive 14 from the CD-ROM by starting a predetermined installation program. is there. By executing the computer program Pr by the CPU 11, various constituent requirements of the multiple image retouching device of the present invention are realized.

  In FIG. 1, various constituent requirements are indicated by functional blocks implemented in the CPU 11. That is, the CPU 11 executes a computer program Pr to thereby read a plurality of images read from the hard disk drive 14. Predetermined attribute strengths for the data Dp are calculated by the attribute strength calculation unit 30, and the plurality of image data Dp are sorted (sorted) by the sorting unit 32 in accordance with each attribute strength. Here, the “attribute” is an attribute for image data, and in this embodiment, is “color balance”, “brightness”, “saturation”, or “sharpness”.

  Next, the representative image data selection unit 34 selects one image data Dp from among the plurality of image data Dp as the representative image data RDp, and sets the attribute strength for the representative image data RDp calculated by the attribute strength calculation unit 30. Based on the modification parameter, the modification parameter calculation unit 36 calculates the modification parameter, and the multiple image data change unit 38 changes the plurality of image data Dp (including the representative image data RDp) based on the modification parameter.

  This computer program Pr is actually an application program for photo retouching, and the attribute intensity calculation unit 30, the alignment unit 32, the representative image data selection unit 34, the modification parameter calculation unit 36 described above, depending on some of the modules therein. Each function of the multiple image data changing unit 38 is realized in the personal computer 10.

  The computer program Pr is provided as a configuration stored in another portable recording medium (portable recording medium) such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, and an IC card in place of the CD-ROM. It can be. Further, the computer program Pr can be provided via a network from a specific server connected to an external network. The network may be the Internet or a computer program obtained by downloading from a specific homepage. Alternatively, it may be a computer program supplied in the form of an email attachment.

B. Computer processing:
2 to 3 are flowcharts showing a multiple image modification routine for realizing the above-described units 30 to 38. FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, when the process is started, the CPU 11 of the personal computer 10 first executes a process of displaying a list of thumbnails of the plurality of image data Dp on the display 20 (step S100). Specifically, the list is displayed in an application window which is a display area displayed on the display 20.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the application window WD. The application window WD constitutes a graphical user interface (GUI). As shown in the figure, the application window WD is provided with a toolbar FL1, a file designation field FL2, and a work field FL3. . The file designation field FL2 is a field for designating the storage location of the image data Dp using “folder” or “film”. This designation follows the input operation of the mouse 24 by the operator. In addition to the hard disk drive 14, the storage location on other recording media such as a CD-ROM can be specified, and the recording medium of the digital camera 26 can also be specified directly.

  The work field FL3 displays a list of a plurality of image data Dp stored in the file or folder designated in the file selection field FL2 as thumbnails, and receives a click operation of the mouse 24 by the operator to display the list. This is a field for rearranging (sorting) displayed image data. In the work field FL3, a modification target area A1 shown in the figure and a non-target area not shown in the figure can be selectively displayed.

  The modification target area A1 is an area for displaying a list of image data (hereinafter referred to as modification target image data) Dp to be modified by the multiple image modification routine. The non-target area is an area for displaying a list of image data (hereinafter referred to as non-target image data) that is temporarily displayed in the modification target area A1 and then changed to a non-target by work described later. The operator can display the modification target area A1 in the work field FL3 by clicking on the tab TB1 of the “modification target” with the mouse 24 as illustrated. In addition, the operator can switch the display of the work field FL3 from the modification target area A1 to the non-target area by clicking the tab TB2 of “non-target” with the mouse 24.

  In the modification target area A1, as shown in the figure, thumbnails of the modification target image data are displayed. When the process proceeds to step S100, the thumbnail is stored in the file or folder specified in the file selection field FL2. All the image data being displayed are displayed in the modification target area A1 as the modification target image data Dp.

  An “out of target” button switch BT1 is provided in the upper part of the area for correction A1. This button switch BT1 is for instructing to switch (change) the modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1 to the non-target image data. The operator uses the mouse 24 to click and select one or more of the plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1 that are determined to be unnecessary. Then, by clicking the “out of target” button switch BT1, the one or more modification target image data Dp instructed to be selected can be switched to the non-target image data. Through this work, the operator can leave image data Dp having similar image quality as a target for image modification by shooting in the same scene.

  A “sort” button switch BT2 is provided to the right of the “out of target” button switch BT1. The “sort” button switch BT2 is used to instruct the rearrangement of a plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1.

  Returning to FIG. 2, after executing step S100, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the “sort” button switch BT2 has been clicked (turned on) by the operator (step S110). Here, if a negative determination is made, the determination process of step S110 is repeatedly executed to wait for the operator to click the “sort” button switch BT2. If it is determined in step S110 that the button has been clicked, the CPU 11 performs processing for displaying the [sort item setting] dialog box DB1 on the display 20 (step S120).

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the [Sort Item Settings] dialog box DB1. This dialog box DB1 is used to set items for sorting keys (sort keys) (hereinafter referred to as sort items) when sorting the modification target image data Dp. As options, four items of “color balance”, “brightness”, “saturation”, and “sharpness” are prepared in the form of radio buttons RB. These four items indicate the attributes of the image data, and any attribute other than the above four items (for example, “contrast”) can be used as long as it is an attribute for the image data. In addition, all the four items are not necessarily required, and one or a plurality selected from the four items may be used. The operator selects one item from the four items by clicking the radio button RB displayed in the [sort item setting] dialog box DB1 with the mouse 24.

  Returning to FIG. 2, when the [Set Sort Item] dialog box DB1 is displayed in step S120, the CPU 11 then clicks from the mouse 24 operated on the [Set Sort Item] dialog box DB1. A signal is received, and an item corresponding to the clicked radio button RB is set (stored) as a sort item (step S130). Thereafter, the CPU 11 executes a sorting process for rearranging the plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1 according to the sort item set in step S130 (step S140).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the sort process executed in step S140. As shown in the figure, when the process shifts to this sort process, the CPU 11 first simply selects one image data (hereinafter referred to as the modification target image data) from the plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1. A process of selecting Dp (also referred to as “image data”) is performed (step S141). Next, the CPU 11 performs a process of calculating the intensity Cpx of a predetermined attribute for each pixel constituting the selected image data Dp (step S142). The predetermined attribute here corresponds to the sort item set in step S130. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the “brightness” item is selected by the operator from the [sort item setting] dialog box DB1, brightness is selected as an attribute. That is, in this case, in step S142, the brightness of each pixel constituting the image data Dp is calculated. The specific pixel brightness Y is calculated based on the following equation.

Y = 0.2990R + 0.5870G + 0.1140B (1)
Here, R, G, and B are gradation values of each color of the pixel.

  After the calculation of Expression (1), when the RGB value of each pixel constituting the image data Dp is 8 bits (0 to 255), Y obtained in Expression (1) is a gradation value of 0 or more and 255 or less. Is converted to an integer. In this embodiment, Y is obtained from the equation (1). However, an approximation equation such as the following equation (2) may be used for speeding up or the like.

  Y = (3R + 6G + B) / 10 (2)

  Note that the brightness Y may not be calculated for all the pixels of the image data Dp according to the expression (1), but the brightness may be calculated for pixels that are appropriately sampled by the thinning process. Alternatively, the image data Dp may be appropriately reduced, and the brightness may be calculated by applying Expression (1) to all the pixels of the reduced image. In any case, instead of extracting a partial area of the image represented by the image data Dp, the brightness can be calculated using pixels uniformly extracted from the entire image.

  Next, the CPU 11 performs a process of calculating the average value Cav of the attribute strength Cpx for each pixel calculated in step S142 (step S143). This average value Cav corresponds to the strength of the specified attribute of the entire image of the modification target image data Dp. Note that, in steps S142 and S143, the case where the designated attribute is “brightness” has been described as an example. However, when the designated attribute is “color balance”, for each pixel, as in step S142. Rather than calculating the intensity of the specified attribute, a statistical value of the entire image (for example, a histogram for each of Y, R, G, and B) is obtained in advance, and then the color balance of the entire image is calculated from the statistical value. The average value of intensity is obtained. As for the designated attributes “saturation” and “sharpness”, as with “brightness”, the intensity for each pixel is obtained and the average value of the intensity is obtained. After execution of step S143, the CPU 11 performs processing for storing the calculated average value Cav in association with the image data Dp selected in step S141 (step S144). Specifically, the average value Cav is stored in the average value table in a pair with the file name of the image data Dp.

  After execution of step S144, the CPU 11 determines whether the image data Dp selected in step S141 is the last one of the plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1 ( Step S145). If it is determined that it is not the last, the CPU 11 returns the process to step S141, and selects the next image data Dp from among the plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1. Select and execute the processing of steps S142 to S145 again.

  If it is determined in step S145 that it is the last image data Dp, the CPU 11 determines the plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1 based on the average value Cav stored in step S144. A rearrangement process is performed (step S146). Specifically, the average value table corresponding to each modification target image data Dp is read by searching the above-described average value table, and the modification target image data Dp is rearranged based on the average value Cav. Here, this rearrangement is performed in descending order of the average value Cav. Thereafter, the process returns to “Return” to end this sort processing once.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the application window WD after execution of the sort process. In the illustrated example, since the sort item is “brightness”, the plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the work field FL3 are arranged in the order of lightness (from bright to dark). It will be. Note that, in step S146, processing may be performed in which the average value Cav is changed in descending order, and the average value Cav is changed in ascending order, that is, in dark order (from dark to bright).

  Returning to FIG. 2, when the sorting process of step S140 is exited, the CPU 11 then determines whether or not the “fully automatic” button switch BT3 provided on the toolbar FL1 of the application window WD has been clicked (turned on) by the mouse 24. Determination is made (step S150). Here, if a negative determination is made, the determination processing in step S150 is repeatedly executed to wait for the operator to click the “fully automatic” button switch BT3. If it is determined in step S150 that the button has been clicked, the CPU 11 moves the process to step S160.

  In step S160, the CPU 11 selects, as representative image data RDp, image data corresponding to an intermediate order of alignment from among a plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1 of the application window WD. Perform processing. That is, the CPU 11 selects image data having a predetermined attribute strength (for example, brightness) in the middle of the entire image from the plurality of modification target image data Dp. In the example of FIG. 7, since there are 11 pieces of modification target image data Dp, the sixth modification target image data Dp in the middle is selected as the representative image data RDp. When the modification target image data Dp is an even number, the modification target image data Dp having a rank corresponding to the quotient obtained by dividing the number of the modification target image data by the value 2 may be used as the representative image data RDp.

  In this embodiment, the representative image data RDp is automatically determined by the calculation of the CPU 11 as described above, but instead of this, a desired image to be modified by the operator who viewed the work field FL3. The representative image data RDp may be manually determined by designating the data Dp. Since the plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the work field FL3 are arranged according to the intensity for the designated attribute, the operator modifies the attribute intensity (for example, brightness) that he considers appropriate. The image data Dp can be easily selected. Therefore, the CPU 11 may determine the clicked modification target image data Dp as the representative image data RDp in response to an operation by which the operator clicks on the modification target image data Dp having the appropriate attribute strength.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 executes representative image data modification processing for modifying the representative image data RDp (step S170). FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the representative image data modification processing executed in step S170. As shown in the figure, when the processing shifts to the representative image data modification processing, the CPU 11 first calculates the attribute strength Cpx for each pixel constituting the representative image data RDp determined in step S160 (step S171). Processing for calculating the average value Cav of the calculated attribute strength Cpx is performed (step S172). The processes in steps S171 and S172 are the same as those in steps S142 and S143 described above. The only difference is that the processing target is representative image data RDp.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 performs a process of calculating a correction coefficient H1 for a predetermined attribute based on the average value Cav calculated in step S172 (step S173). Here, the predetermined attribute corresponds to the sort item set by the processing of step S130 from the [sort item setting] dialog box DB1. The method of calculating the correction coefficient H1 in step S173 differs depending on which item the attribute is. A method for calculating the correction coefficient (hereinafter referred to as “brightness correction coefficient”) H1 when the attribute is “brightness” will be described in detail below. This correction coefficient corresponds to the “modification parameter” in the present invention.

  FIG. 9 is a graph showing a correspondence relationship between the average value Cav and the brightness correction coefficient H1. As shown in the figure, the horizontal axis represents the average brightness Cav, and the vertical axis represents the brightness correction coefficient H1. The brightness correction coefficient H1 takes a value from −1.0 to +1.0. When the brightness correction coefficient H1 is a negative value, it means that the brightness of the pixel is increased, that is, the brightness is increased. In the case of taking, it is a parameter that means reducing the brightness of the pixel, that is, making it dark. When the average value Cav takes a value equal to or less than the first threshold value C1 (for example, 50) or the second threshold value C2 (for example, 205), the brightness correction coefficient H1 becomes a value of 0, and the average value Cav becomes the first threshold value C1 to the first threshold value C1. When taking a value between two threshold values C2, the brightness correction coefficient H1 takes a value from 1.0 to -1.0, and the brightness correction coefficient H1 decreases as the average value Cav increases. It has become. When the average value Cav is 128, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is 1.0.

  That is, according to the graph shown in FIG. 9, when the average brightness value Cav is 128 in the middle, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is not corrected as 0, and the brightness correction is performed as the average value Cav becomes smaller than 128. The coefficient H1 is increased on the plus side to correct the brightness. When the average value Cav is smaller than the first threshold C1, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is set to 0 and brightness correction is not performed. This is because the image data determined to be smaller than the first threshold C1 is interpreted as “a photograph taken intentionally in the dark or a black one”, and it is determined that the brightness correction is unnecessary. On the other hand, as the average value Cav becomes larger than 128, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is increased on the minus side to perform correction for reducing the brightness. When the average value Cav is greater than the second threshold C2, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is set to 0 and brightness correction is not performed. This is because the image data determined to be larger than the second threshold C2 is interpreted as “a photograph taken intentionally brightly or taken white” and it is determined that the brightness correction is unnecessary.

  The memory 13 stores map data indicating the graph shown in FIG. 9 described above in advance. In step S173, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is obtained by comparing the average value Cav calculated in step S172 with the map data. The graph shown in FIG. 9 is for the case where the sort item is “brightness”, but for the attributes of the other items, graphs specific to each item are stored in advance as map data. A correction coefficient according to the average value Cav is calculated using the map data. Note that, in the graphs for these other attributes, the correction coefficient changes discontinuously depending on whether the average value Cav is larger or smaller than the predetermined value, as in the brightness graph of FIG. The threshold value to be provided is provided.

  FIG. 10 is a graph showing a correspondence relationship between the average value Cav and the brightness correction coefficient H1 as a modified example. In the graph shown in FIG. 9, when it is determined that the average value Cav is smaller than the first threshold value C1, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is set to 0 and brightness correction is not performed. As shown in FIG. 10, when it is determined that the average value Cav is smaller than the first threshold C1, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is darkened by setting the value to a value that decreases from the value 0 as the average value Cav decreases. It is good also as a structure which correct | amends so much darker. When it is determined that the average value Cav is larger than the first threshold C1, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is set to a value that increases as the average value Cav increases from the value 0, and the brightness is corrected to become brighter as it becomes brighter. It is good also as a structure. In the example of FIG. 10, the dark side or the bright side is configured to be darker or brighter. However, as in FIG. 9, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is set to 0, and brightness correction is not performed. It can also be configured.

  Furthermore, when it is determined that the average value Cav is smaller than the first threshold value C1, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is set to a value that increases as the average value Cav decreases from the value 0, and the average value Cav is the first threshold value. If it is determined that the brightness correction coefficient H1 is larger than C1, the brightness correction coefficient H1 can be set to a value that decreases as the average value Cav increases from the value 0. In short, whether the brightness correction coefficient H1 is larger or smaller than the threshold value. Therefore, any map data that discontinuously changes the value of the correction coefficient can be used.

  In step S173, the brightness correction coefficient H1 is obtained using the map data as described above. Instead, the calculation formula is switched between the first threshold value C1 and the second threshold value C2, and the calculation is performed. Thus, the brightness correction coefficient H1 can be obtained from the average value Cav.

  Returning to FIG. 8, the CPU 11 performs a process of calculating correction coefficients H2 to H5 of attributes other than the correction coefficient H1 calculated in step S173 (step S174). Here, a value obtained by removing the correction coefficient H1 described above from the correction coefficients H1 to H5 for the attribute to be subjected to the full automatic correction executed when the “fully automatic” button switch BT3 is clicked is calculated. Attributes for the correction coefficients H2 to H5 are “color balance”, “saturation”, “sharpness”, and “contrast”. In other words, in this embodiment, corrections for “color balance”, “brightness”, “saturation”, “sharpness”, and “contrast” are made by full automatic correction, and sort items among them are adjusted. Is calculated in step S173, and other types are calculated in step S174. Note that the detailed calculation method of step S174 is similar to steps S171 to S173, in which the attribute intensity for the corresponding type for each pixel is calculated to obtain an average value of the attribute intensity, or the entire image is preliminarily obtained. Is obtained, and an average value of attribute strength (for example, color balance strength) of the entire image is obtained from the statistical value, and a correction coefficient is obtained from the average value using a map or the like.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 performs a process of changing the gradation value of each pixel constituting the representative image data RDp based on the correction coefficients H1 to H5 obtained in steps S173 and S174 (step S175). Since the specific change method is a well-known configuration, a detailed description is omitted here. For example, the brightness is calculated by calculating the brightness Y of each pixel from the gradation value of each pixel. Y is changed based on the brightness correction coefficient H1 (correction by gun marker), and then the gradation value is changed by inversely converting the changed brightness Y ′ into RGB gradation values. Yes. In step S175, the representative image data RDp, which is the original image data, is not changed, and the changed image data is stored as separate image data. After execution of step S175, the process returns to “return”, and the representative pixel data modification process is temporarily terminated.

  After exiting the representative pixel data modification processing routine, the CPU 11 advances the processing to step S180 in FIG. In step S180, the CPU 11 performs a process of displaying the processed image display dialog box DB2 on the display 20.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the processed image display dialog box DB2. As shown in the figure, the dialog box DB2 includes an original image display field FD1, a processed image display field FD2, and an operation field FD3. The representative image data RDp is displayed in the original image display field FD1, and the image after the modification of the representative image data RDP (that is, the image data obtained in step S175) is displayed in the processed image display field FD2. Is displayed.

  The operation field FD3 is provided with a [change set value] button switch BT11 and a [modify parameter registration] button switch BT12. When the [Change Set Value] button switch BT11 is clicked by the operator, another dialog box (not shown) is displayed, and the correction coefficients H1 to H5 obtained by the representative image data modification processing are manually set. (That is, by an operation command from the operator). When the “modify parameter registration” button switch BT12 is clicked by the operator, the correction coefficients H1 to H5 obtained by the representative image data modification process can be registered with names. For the registered contents, click the “automatic correction (preset)” button switch BT4 provided on the toolbar FL1 of the application window WD, and input the registered name from another dialog box (not shown). The correction coefficients H1 to H5 can be used again.

  Returning to FIG. 2, when the processed image display dialog box DB2 is displayed in step S180, the CPU 11 then determines whether or not the processed image obtained in step S170 is acceptable. A process of determining based on the operation instruction is performed (step S190). Specifically, the above determination is made based on which of the [execute] button BT13 and the [cancel] button BT14 provided in the processed image display dialog box DB2 is clicked by the operator.

  If the [execute] button BT13 is clicked and the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S200 of FIG. Note that if the [Cancel] button BT14 is clicked and a negative determination is made in step S190, the multiple image modification routine is terminated. In step S200 of FIG. 3, the CPU 11 performs a process of selecting one image data Dp from the plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1 of the application window WD. Next, the CPU 11 performs a process of calculating correction coefficients XH2 to XH5 for the selected modification target image data Dp (step S210). The correction coefficients XH2 to XH5 have the same attributes as the correction coefficients H2 to H5 calculated in step S174 described above, and are “color balance”, “saturation”, “sharpness”, “ This attribute is obtained by subtracting the attribute of the sort item specified from the [Sort Item Settings] dialog box DB1 from the “contrast” attribute. Note that the detailed calculation method of step S210 calculates the attribute strength for the corresponding type for each pixel, obtains the average value of the attribute strength, and calculates a map or the like from the average value Cav, as in step S174. It is used to obtain the correction coefficient. Note that the “each pixel” at this time is each pixel constituting the image data Dp to be modified selected in step S200.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 configures the modification target image data Dp selected in step S200 based on the correction coefficient H1 for the representative image data RDp obtained in step S173 and the correction coefficients XH2 to XH5 obtained in step S220. A process of changing the gradation value of the pixel is performed (step S220). The specific change method is the same as that in step S175.

  After executing step S220, the CPU 11 determines whether the modification target image data Dp selected in step S200 is the last of the plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1. (Step S230). If it is determined that it is not the last, the CPU 11 returns the process to step S200, and the next modification target image data among the plurality of modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1. Dp is selected and the processing of steps S210 to S230 is executed again.

  If it is determined in step S230 that the image data Dp is the last modification target image data Dp, the CPU 11 determines that the modification processing has been completed for all the modification target image data Dp displayed in the modification target area A1. The multiple image modification routine is terminated.

  In the multi-image modification routine configured as described above, steps S141 to S145 are performed in the attribute strength calculation unit 30 (FIG. 1), step S146 is performed in the alignment unit 32 (FIG. 1), and step S160 is performed in the representative image data selection unit 34 ( In FIG. 1, steps S171 to S173 correspond to the modification parameter calculation unit 36 (FIG. 1), and steps S200 to S230 correspond to the multiple image data changing unit 38 (FIG. 1).

C. According to the present embodiment configured as described above, a plurality of modification target image data Dp are arranged according to the strength of the attribute corresponding to the sort item specified in the [sort item setting] dialog box DB1. Then, the modification target image data Dp corresponding to the middle of the alignment order is selected as the representative image data RDp from among the plurality of arranged modification target image data Dp. Then, a correction coefficient H1 as a modification parameter for changing the gradation value of each pixel of the representative image data RDp is calculated based on the intensity of the representative image data RDp, and the plurality of modification targets are calculated. Each of the image data Dp is changed based on the correction coefficient H1.

  Therefore, with reference to the correction coefficient H1 for the representative image data RDp selected from the plurality of image data arranged according to the attribute corresponding to the sort item, the plurality of image data to be modified with the correction coefficient H1 serving as the reference. Dp can be changed collectively. For this reason, when a plurality of image data Dp having similar image quality is modified by shooting in the same scene, it is possible to suppress a large variation in the image quality of the modification result.

  In this embodiment, a sort item can be specified from the [sort item setting] dialog box DB1, and the correction coefficient H1 for the representative image data RDp relating to the attribute corresponding to the sort item collectively corrects a plurality of image data. This is a modification parameter. For this reason, the attribute desired by the operator can be corrected without varying the image quality of the correction result.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the modification target image data Dp having the middle order of alignment is determined as the representative image data RDp, and thus the correction coefficient H1 is obtained according to the average attribute strength in the plurality of image data. be able to. A plurality of modification target image data Dp can be modified based on the correction coefficient H1. Therefore, the same modification as the modification of the representative image data RDp having the average attribute strength among the plurality of modification target image data Dp can be performed on the plurality of modification target image data Dp.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the modification result for the representative image data RDp is once displayed in the processed image display dialog box DB2 so that the operator can judge whether the modification result is acceptable. Therefore, the representative image data RDp as well as the plurality of image data Dp can be easily modified to the image quality that the operator prefers.

D. Other embodiments:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the following modifications are possible.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the attributes to be subjected to full automatic correction executed when the “fully automatic” button switch BT3 is clicked are “color balance”, “brightness”, “saturation”, “ “Sharpness” and “contrast” are used, but instead, only some of these attributes may be targeted. In this case, it is necessary that the attribute items that can be specified by the [sort item setting] dialog box DB1 are included in the target of full automatic modification. In addition, attributes other than “color balance”, “brightness”, “saturation”, “sharpness”, “contrast”, for example, “noise level”, “focus”, etc., can also be subject to fully automatic correction. .

(2) In addition, in this embodiment, the attribute to be noticed when modifying the image is configured to be specified by the [sort item setting] dialog box DB1, but instead of this, a predetermined attribute is specified in advance. It is good. Specifically, it is assumed that the attribute stored in advance in the memory 13 is specified together with the sort execution instruction by clicking the “sort” button switch BT2 by the operator. According to this configuration, for example, “brightness” alone can be used to collectively modify a plurality of pieces of image data focusing on the brightness.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, it is necessary to operate the “sort” button switch BT2 and the “fully automatic” button switch BT3 in the modification of a plurality of images, but instead, when one button switch is operated. A configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of pieces of image data are automatically executed from alignment to modification. In this case, it is not always necessary to display a plurality of aligned image data on the display 20, and a plurality of image data are aligned in the memory 13 to determine representative image data corresponding to an intermediate order of alignment. do it.

(4) In the above embodiment, the modification result for the representative image data RDp is temporarily displayed in the processed image display dialog box DB2, and the operator is allowed to determine whether the modification result is acceptable. This configuration is not necessary. When the representative image data RDp is determined, a correction coefficient H1 that is a modification parameter may be obtained, and a plurality of image data may be immediately changed according to the modification parameter.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of pieces of image data to be subjected to batch modification are displayed in the modification target area A1, but this configuration is not necessarily required and is displayed in other display areas. May be good. Further, the image need not be an image displayed in the display area, and any image data stored in a predetermined area of the recording medium can be subjected to batch modification.

(6) Further, the image data is not limited to image data of a photographic image taken by the digital camera 26, and can be read from a silver salt photograph using a scanner, and is not necessarily limited to a photographic image. It can also be applied to image data such as symbols. Further, the image is not limited to a color image, and may be a black and white image.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the computer system to which one Example of this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the first half part of multiple image modification routine. It is a flowchart which shows the second half part of multiple image modification routine. It is explanatory drawing which shows the application window WD. It is explanatory drawing which shows the [sort item setting] dialog box DB1. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the sort process performed by step S140. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the application window WD after sort processing execution. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the representative image data correction process performed by step S170. It is a graph which shows the correspondence of average value Cav and brightness correction coefficient H1. It is a graph which shows the correspondence of average value Cav and the brightness correction coefficient H1 as a modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of dialog box DB2 for a processed image display.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Personal computer 11 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Bus 13 ... Memory 14 ... Hard disk drive 15 ... Input control part 16 ... Display control part 20 ... Display 22 ... Keyboard 24 ... Mouse 26 ... Digital camera 28 ... Printer 30 ... Attribute intensity | strength calculation part 32 ... Alignment part 34 ... Representative image Data selection unit 36 ... modification parameter calculation unit 38 ... multiple image data change unit Pr ... computer program Dp ... image data (modification target image data)
RDp ... Representative image data WD ... Application window FL1 ... Toolbar FL2 ... File designation field FL3 ... Work field A1 ... Modification target area BT1 ... "Exclude" button switch BT2 ... "Sort" button switch BT3 ... "Fully automatic" Button switch BT4 ... "Automatic modification (preset)" button switch DB1 ... [Sort item setting] dialog box DB2 ... Processed image display dialog box FD1 ... Original image display field FD2 ... Processed image display field BT11 ... [Change set value] button switch BT12 [Modify parameter registration] button switch H1 ... Correction coefficient (light correction coefficient)
H2 to H5 Other correction factors XH1 to XH5 Correction factors Cav Average value Cpx Attribute strength

Claims (5)

A multi-image retouching device that retouches a plurality of image data expressed by gradation values of each pixel constituting an image,
Attribute designating means for designating in advance the attribute of interest of the image data;
Attribute intensity calculating means for calculating the intensity of the attribute of the entire image using the gradation value of each pixel for each image data;
Aligning means for aligning the plurality of image data according to each intensity calculated by the attribute intensity calculating means;
Representative image data selecting means for selecting one image data as representative image data from the plurality of arranged image data;
Modification parameter calculation means for calculating a modification parameter for changing the gradation value of each pixel of the representative image data based on the intensity of the representative image data calculated by the attribute intensity calculation means;
A plurality of image data changing means for changing the gradation value of each pixel based on the modification parameter calculated by the modification parameter calculating means for each of the plurality of image data;
The modification parameter calculation means includes:
A multi-image retouching apparatus comprising: means for switching a slope of change of the retouching parameter between positive and negative depending on whether the intensity of the representative image data is larger or smaller than a predetermined threshold. A multi-image retouching device that retouches a plurality of image data expressed by gradation values of each pixel constituting an image,
Attribute designating means for designating in advance the attribute of interest of the image data;
Attribute intensity calculating means for calculating the intensity of the attribute of the entire image using the gradation value of each pixel for each image data;
Aligning means for aligning the plurality of image data according to each intensity calculated by the attribute intensity calculating means;
Representative image data selecting means for selecting one image data as representative image data from the plurality of arranged image data;
Modification parameter calculation means for calculating a modification parameter for changing the gradation value of each pixel of the representative image data based on the intensity of the representative image data calculated by the attribute intensity calculation means;
A plurality of image data changing means for changing the gradation value of each pixel based on the modification parameter calculated by the modification parameter calculating means for each of the plurality of image data;
The modification parameter calculation means includes:
Multi-image modification comprising means for switching the slope of change of the modification parameter between positive or negative and 0 depending on whether the intensity of the representative image data is larger or smaller than a predetermined threshold apparatus. A computer program for collectively correcting a plurality of image data expressed by gradation values of each pixel constituting an image,
(A) a function of preliminarily designating the attribute of interest of the image data;
(B) a function for calculating the intensity of the attribute of the entire image using the gradation value of each pixel for each image data;
(C) a function of aligning the plurality of image data according to each intensity calculated by the function (b);
(D) a function of selecting one image data as representative image data from the plurality of arranged image data;
(E) a function of calculating a modification parameter for changing a gradation value of each pixel of the representative image data based on the intensity of the representative image data calculated by the function (b);
(F) for each of the plurality of image data, causing the computer to realize a function of changing the gradation value of each pixel based on the modification parameter calculated by the function (e);
The function (e) is
Wherein depending on whether the intensity of the representative image data is on the small side whether a predetermined threshold value larger side, a function of switching between the slope of the change in the modification parameter, and positive and negative, the computer program. A computer program for collectively correcting a plurality of image data expressed by gradation values of each pixel constituting an image,
(A) a function of preliminarily designating the attribute of interest of the image data;
(B) a function for calculating the intensity of the attribute of the entire image using the gradation value of each pixel for each image data;
(C) a function of aligning the plurality of image data according to each intensity calculated by the function (b);
(D) a function of selecting one image data as representative image data from the plurality of arranged image data;
(E) a function of calculating a modification parameter for changing a gradation value of each pixel of the representative image data based on the intensity of the representative image data calculated by the function (b);
(F) for each of the plurality of image data, causing the computer to realize a function of changing the gradation value of each pixel based on the modification parameter calculated by the function (e)
The function (e) is
Depending whether the intensity of the representative image data is on the small side whether a predetermined threshold value larger side, comprises a slope of a change of said modification parameters, positively or negatively, the ability to switch between 0, computer program . A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 3 or 4 is recorded.

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