JP5273282B2 - Image editing apparatus, image editing method, image printing apparatus, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image printing apparatus which allows for efficient editorial input on plural photographic images. <P>SOLUTION: The image printing apparatus comprises: photographing means (camera 10) for photographing; first display means (a touch panel 20) which displays photographic images obtained by plural times of photographing by the photographing means; second display means (touch panels 400) which simultaneously displays the plural photographic images as images to be edited and accepts editorial inputs on all the displayed photographic images; editorial means (touch pens 49L and 49R) which editing the photographic images displayed by the second display means, on the basis of the editorial inputs; and printing means (network printer 35) which prints on predetermined printing mediums the photographic images edited with the editorial means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus. Specifically, the present invention controls an image editing apparatus that generates a composite image based on a captured image obtained by photographing a user with a camera, an image editing method performed by the apparatus, and each process of the image editing apparatus. The present invention relates to a computer program and an image printing apparatus having the image editing apparatus .

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image printing apparatus (also referred to as “photo vending machine” or “photo creation apparatus”) that captures a user with a camera and outputs the captured image as a photo sticker or a photo card is known.
As such an image printing apparatus, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a variety of frame images and stamp images prepared in advance are combined into a plurality of photographed images in order to improve the playability or entertainment of the user. Or a user can freely doodle on a plurality of captured images with a touch pen, and can be edited.

In the image printing apparatus of Patent Document 1, an editing screen that accepts editing input includes an editing target image display unit, an editing target image selection unit, an input tool selection unit, and a time limit display unit, and is recorded at the time of shooting. The plurality of captured images are displayed as thumbnails in the editing target image selection unit.
Further, one of the plurality of captured images displayed as thumbnails can be selected as an image to be edited (image to be written) using a touch pen, and the selected image is enlarged and displayed on the edit image display unit ( (See paragraphs 0115 to 0118 of Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-262199 A

The conventional image printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a screen configuration in which one of a plurality of photographed images is displayed on a write-only edit target image display unit. In order to perform editing input, it is necessary to select images to be edited one by one from a plurality of captured images displayed as thumbnails and display them one by one on the editing target image display unit.
For this reason, the conventional image printing apparatus has a drawback in that it takes time and effort to perform edit input for a plurality of captured images, and efficient edit input cannot be performed.

In particular, in this type of image printing apparatus, the time limit for editing input is usually displayed on the screen. For this reason, if the remaining time is short, the impatient user cannot calmly perform an appropriate editing input, and there is a possibility that an edited image having a desired result cannot be obtained.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image editing apparatus capable of performing efficient editing input on a plurality of captured images.

(1) The image editing apparatus of the present invention displays a plurality of photographed images simultaneously as images to be edited, and at least one of the plurality of photographed images displayed as the images to be edited. Display means for receiving an edit input for all the photographed images including the photographed image of a large size displayed as a size to be edited and displayed as the image to be edited regardless of the size of the photographed image. Editing means for editing the captured image displayed on the display means based on the editing input, wherein the display means includes a plurality of the captured images displayed as images to be edited. In the group, an input unit for changing the captured image displayed in a large size to another captured image by an input operation by the editing unit is displayed. It is characterized by that.

According to the image editing apparatus of the present invention, the display means displays the plurality of captured images at the same time as the image to be edited, since accepting edits input to all of the photographed image displayed as an image of the edited user without one by one select images to be edited in Viewing means may be edited input for a plurality of photographed images.
Therefore, efficient editing input can be performed on a plurality of captured images, and the above-described object of the present invention is achieved.

According to the image editing apparatus of the present invention, the display means displays at least one captured image of a plurality of captured images displayed as the image to be edited in a size larger than the other captured images , Editing input for all captured images including large-sized captured images displayed as images to be edited is accepted regardless of the size, so other captured images are displayed for large-sized captured images. Finer editing input can be performed compared to images.

(2) As an embodiment of the image editing apparatus according to the present invention, when the display size of the photographed image is changed, the edited image made on the photographed image may be displayed reflecting the size change. preferable.

( 3 ) The image editing method of the present invention is a method performed by the image editing apparatus of the present invention described in the above (1) to (2). For this reason, the image editing method of the present invention has the same effects as the image editing apparatus of the present invention.
(4) The computer program of the present invention is a program for causing a function as a control device of the image editing apparatus of the present invention described in the above (1) to (2). For this reason, the computer program of the present invention has the same effects as the image editing apparatus of the present invention.

(5) An image printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a photographing unit that performs photographing, a first display unit that displays a photographed image obtained by photographing a plurality of times by the photographing unit, and a plurality of the photographed images that are output. Regardless of the layout of the second display means for simultaneously displaying as an image to be edited and receiving editing input for all the captured images displayed as the image to be edited, and based on the editing input, the second Editing means for editing the photographed image displayed on the display means, and printing means for printing the photographed image edited by the editing means on a predetermined print medium, the second display In the group of the plurality of photographed images displayed as the images to be edited, the means can select any one or a plurality of the photographed images by an input operation by the editing means. An input unit for enlarging at a predetermined magnification is displayed, and editing input for all the photographed images including the photographed image having a large size displayed as the image to be edited is received regardless of the size of the photographed image. And

According to the image printing apparatus of the present invention, the second display means simultaneously displays a plurality of captured images as images to be edited, and accepts editing input for the displayed captured images, so that the user can perform the second display. Even if the image to be edited is not selected one by one in the means, editing input can be performed on a plurality of photographed images.
Therefore, efficient editing input can be performed on a plurality of captured images, and the above-described object of the present invention is achieved.

Further, according to the image printing apparatus of the present invention, the second display unit includes any one or a plurality of the plurality of photographed images in the group of the plurality of photographed images displayed as the image to be edited. And an input unit for enlarging the image at a predetermined magnification by an input operation by the editing means, and editing input for all captured images including a large-sized captured image displayed as the image to be edited is reduced in size. Since it is accepted regardless of the number of captured images to be displayed, fine editing input can be performed on the enlarged captured image.

  (Delete)

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform editing input for a plurality of captured images without the user selecting an image to be edited. Can do.

1 is an external view of an image printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of an imaging unit. It is a front view of an editing unit. It is a front view of an output unit. It is a screen block diagram of the touch panel for imaging operations. 1 is a functional block diagram of a screen printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of an imaging | photography process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of an edit process. It is a screen block diagram of the touch panel for edit operation. It is a screen block diagram (before expansion operation) of the input area of the right side of the same touch panel. It is a screen block diagram (after expansion operation) of the input area of the right side of the same touch panel. It is a screen block diagram which shows the modification of the same touch panel. It is a screen block diagram which shows another modification of the same touch panel.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[Overall structure]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an image printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 1A is a side view of the device 1, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of the device 1.
2 is a front view of the photographing unit 3, FIG. 3 is a front view of the editing unit 4, FIG. 4 is a front view of the output unit 5, and FIG. 5 is a touch panel for photographing operation. It is a screen block diagram of 20. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image printing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a shooting room 2 in which a user U can enter, and a shooting unit 3 that can receive shooting of the user U and selection of a background image and a foreground image. It has.
The image printing apparatus 1 also includes an editing unit 4 that receives an editing input including a graffiti (drawing operation) by the user U and generates an image combined with the photographed image, and an output unit 5 that outputs the combined image. ing.

The shooting room 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped frame structure that is long in the front-rear direction of the shooting room 2 (the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 1), and the shooting unit 3 is disposed at the front of the shooting room 2. On both side surfaces in the left-right direction (arrow Y direction in FIG. 1) of the photographing room 2, there are provided openings for the user U to enter and exit, and light-shielding curtains (not shown) for covering part or all of the openings. It has been.
In addition, an electric roll curtain device 25 is disposed at the rear of the photographing room 2. A space between the photographing unit 3 and the curtain device 25 in the photographing room 2 (a space on the front side of the touch panel 20 for photographing operation) constitutes a photographing space for photographing the user U.

  The editing unit 4 includes a casing that is connected to the back surface of the curtain device 25 and that is long in the front-rear direction of the photographing room 2 (the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 1). ) Are provided on both sides of the touch panel 400 on which two users U can edit together. The space on the front side of each touch panel 400 of the editing unit 4 constitutes an editing space where the user U performs editing work, and this editing space is provided at a position different from the shooting space with the curtain device 25 interposed therebetween. ing.

As will be described later, in the image printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, processing in the shooting space (shooting processing) and processing in the editing space (editing processing) can be performed in parallel, and in the editing space. The touch panel 400 that accepts the process is more installed than the touch panel 20 that accepts the process in the imaging space.
For this reason, the work of the user U who has entered the shooting space and the editing space can be performed simultaneously and the rotation rate of the user U can be improved.

[Structure of the shooting unit]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the photographing unit 3 includes a camera 10 that is an imaging unit for photographing the user U, and a plurality of strobes 11, 12, and 13 </ b> L disposed on both the upper and lower sides and the left and right sides of the camera 10. , 13R, 14 and a touch panel 20 for photographing operation which is disposed below the camera 10 and accepts the operation of the user U and displays a photographed image.

The camera 10 is composed of, for example, a digital camera that generates a digital image signal using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and outputs a digital image signal acquired by photographing of the user U. Each of the strobes 11 to 14 emits a flash to the user U when the camera 10 is shuttered.
The touch panel 20 provides an operation screen for accepting various operations by the user U during a shooting operation. The touch panel 20 can also display a digital moving image acquired by the camera 10 in real time.

As shown in FIG. 5, the touch panel 20 for shooting operation includes a preview area 201 for displaying a real-time moving image, a first display area 202 for displaying a sample of a pose, and a shot image obtained by shooting. And a second display area 203 for display.
The photographing unit 3 incorporates a control device mainly composed of a personal computer, an I / O control device, and a network adapter for communicating with the editing and printing units 4 and 5. Further, the photographing unit 3 is provided with a coin insertion slot 26 (see FIG. 2) below the front surface thereof.

[Edit unit structure]
As shown in FIG. 1, in the image printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the editing unit 4 includes two units 4a and 4b so that, for example, two users U, which are two people, can play simultaneously. (See FIG. 1B).
As shown in FIG. 3, each of the two units 4a and 4b has an inclined work surface with a predetermined height facing each other, and an area for displaying a graffiti area and a menu or tool for the graffiti on the work face. And touch pens 49L and 49R used for touch operations on the touch panel 400 are provided.

The touch panel 400 for editing operation has a symmetrical screen configuration as shown in FIG. 9, for example, so that two users U can simultaneously doodle in each unit 4a, 4b. Details of the edit input will be described later. Note that the touch panel 400 for editing operation according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to simultaneously detect the operation position (touch position of the pen tip) by both the touch pens 49L and 49R, and each detected operation position is It is possible to detect which one of the touch pens 49L and 49R corresponds to the operation.
As with the photographing unit 3, the editing unit 4 also includes a control device mainly composed of a personal computer and a network adapter for communicating with the photographing and printing units 3 and 5, for example.

[Output unit structure]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the output unit 5 includes a touch panel 30 for output operation, and a non-contact communication port 31 disposed below the touch panel 30.
Also, below the communication port 31, a speaker 32 that informs the user U by voice of operation methods and sound effects necessary for non-contact communication and a composite image that has been edited by the editing unit 4 are printed. An outlet 33 for taking out photo stickers, photo cards and the like is provided.

The communication port 31 is capable of non-contact communication with an infrared port of a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, for example, and can transmit an edited composite image to the mobile terminal of the user U by this communication. it can.
The communication port 31 may be a non-contact communication type communication port such as Felica (registered trademark) using radio waves.

The touch panel 30 for output operation accepts various operations necessary for transmitting to a mobile terminal having the above communication function when the user U wants to see a photo sticker or the like on which a composite image is printed on the mobile terminal. Provides an operation screen.
If this operation is performed using, for example, the time until the photo sticker of the composite image is printed, the user U can effectively use the time until the photo sticker etc. is printed. Can be used. However, in a case where the touch panel 30 for output operation is not provided, various operations for image output may be performed on the touch panel 400 of the editing unit 4. In this case, the process in which the mobile terminal acquires the composite image is performed by the second control unit 80 (described later in FIG. 6).

Similarly to the photographing unit 3, the output unit 5 also includes a control device mainly configured by a personal computer and a network adapter for communicating with the photographing and editing units 3 and 4.
The output unit 5 also includes a network printer 35 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B) for printing a composite image as a photo sticker or the like.

In the image printing apparatus 1 configured as described above, the user U takes a picture in the photographing room 2 and then uses the touch panel 400 of one of the editing units 4a and 4b to doodle the photographed image. Edit input.
Thereafter, the user U causes the network printer 35 to print the composite image data generated in response to the editing input and receive it as a print sheet, or transfer it to the mobile terminal of the user U by non-contact communication. be able to.

If the network (LAN) 6 is connected to a public communication line such as the Internet, the composite image generated by the image printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is transmitted to the server computer via the public communication line, You may decide to memorize | store a synthesized image for every folder of the user U in this server computer.
In this case, the user U can view and download the produced composite image by accessing the server computer from a mobile terminal such as his mobile phone or smartphone after playing the image printing apparatus 1.

[Functional configuration of image printing apparatus]
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration when the image printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is viewed from the functional aspect.
As shown in FIG. 6, the image printing apparatus 1 functionally performs an imaging processing unit 7 for performing processing (imaging processing) for imaging the user U, and operation of the user U with respect to an image to be edited. In response, an editing processing unit 8 for performing image processing, and an output processing unit 9 for performing output processing for printing a composite image after editing as a photo sticker or the like, or transferring it by non-contact communication. With.

The imaging processing unit 7 includes a first control unit 70, an imaging unit 71, a first display / operation unit 72, an I / O control unit 73, an illumination unit 74, and a first communication unit 75. It is configured.
The edit processing unit 8 includes a second control unit 80, second display / operation units 81 and 82, and a second communication unit 83.
The output processing unit 9 includes a third control unit 90, a third display / operation unit 91, a print output unit 92, an audio output unit 93, a non-contact communication unit 94, and a third communication unit 95. It is composed of

  The first, second, and third communication units 75, 83, and 95 including network adapters can communicate with each other via a network 6 that is a LAN (Local Area Network).

The imaging unit 71 corresponds to the camera 10 including an imaging element such as a CCD. The imaging unit 71 takes video data in real time and outputs it to the first control unit 70. The first control unit 70 uses video data (still image data) at the time of the shutter operation as a captured image and temporarily stores it in an internal memory.
In addition, the first control unit 70 constantly supplies the video data obtained from the imaging unit 71 to the first display / operation unit 72. Thereby, the present condition of the user U is displayed in real time.

The first display / operation unit 72 corresponds to the touch panel 20 for shooting operation. The first display / operation unit 72 receives input of operations related to shooting such as an operation for selecting a background image or a foreground image to be combined with a shot image, a shutter operation, and an operation for selecting the image quality of the shot image. A signal is sent to the first control unit 70.
Based on the operation signal from the first display / operation unit 72, the first control unit 70 executes a predetermined process corresponding to the operation signal.

For example, when there is an input of a shutter operation, the first control unit 70 causes the camera 10 to perform a shutter operation after a predetermined time of about several seconds, and also causes the flashes 11 to 14 to flash.
The illumination unit 74 corresponds to the strobes 11, 12, 13 L, 13 R, and 14 of the camera 10. The lighting unit 74 is controlled to be turned on / off and dimmed by the I / O control unit 73 based on an instruction from the first control unit 70.

The I / O control unit 73 corresponds to an I / O control device built in the photographing unit 3. The I / O control unit 73 controls the illumination unit 74 based on an instruction from the first control unit 70 and transfers a detection signal from a coin detection unit (not shown) to the first control unit 70.
The first communication unit 75 corresponds to a network adapter built in the photographing unit 3. The first communication unit 75 functions as an interface for data transmission / reception via the network 6.

The first control unit 70 corresponds to a computer (control device) that is built in the photographing unit 3 and includes a CPU, a memory, a frame buffer, a timer, and an auxiliary storage device.
The first control unit 70 performs overall control related to shooting processing by the CPU executing a program stored in the memory.
For example, the first control unit 70 writes all of the plurality of captured images as images to be edited in the frame buffer and causes the first display / operation unit 72 to display them.

Further, when there is a selection input of a predetermined background image or foreground image, the first control unit 70 combines the image of the user U in the captured image with the background image or foreground image selected by the user. The image is also written in the frame buffer as an image to be edited and displayed on the first display / operation unit 72.
The first control unit 70 performs second control corresponding to the editing unit 4 via the first communication unit 75 on the captured image (including images obtained by combining background images and the like) written in the frame buffer. To the unit 80.

The second control unit 80 corresponds to a computer (control device) built in the editing unit 4 and including a CPU, a memory, a frame buffer, a timer, and an auxiliary storage device.
The second control unit 80 performs overall control related to editing processing by the CPU executing a program stored in the memory.
For example, the second control unit 80 applies to an image to be edited (all taken images in the present embodiment) based on the input signal of the editing process for the taken image received from the first control unit 70. Generate a composite image.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user U can photograph an arbitrary number (for example, 5 to 8) of photographed images within a predetermined time limit in the photographing process.
The generated composite image is displayed on the second display / operation units 81 and 82 in accordance with an instruction from the user U. When the generation of the composite image as described above is completed, the generated composite image is transmitted to the output unit 5. When the print output unit 92 is outputting another composite image, a message to that effect is displayed on the second display / operation unit 81 or 82 and transmitted after waiting for the completion.

The second display / operation units 81 and 82 correspond to the touch panel 400 for editing operation capable of editing input such as graffiti with a touch pen. That is, the second display / operation unit 81 corresponds to the input area 40L on the left side of the touch panel 400 (see FIG. 9), and the second display / operation unit 83 corresponds to the input area 40R on the right side of the touch panel 400 (FIG. 9). Equivalent to reference).
The second communication unit 83 corresponds to a network adapter built in the editing unit 4. The second communication unit 83 functions as an interface for data transmission / reception via the network 6.

The third control unit 90 corresponds to a computer (control device) that is built in the output unit 5 and includes a CPU, a memory, a frame buffer, a timer, and an auxiliary storage device.
The third control unit 90 performs overall control related to output processing by the CPU executing a program stored in the memory.
For example, the third control unit 90 stores the composite image data received from the second control unit 80 in the memory.

The print output unit 92 corresponds to the network printer 35 built in the output unit 5. The print output unit 92 prints data of a plurality of composite images stored in the memory as a photo sticker or a photo card.
The printed photo sticker or the like is discharged to an outlet 33 provided at the lower front of the output unit 5.

  The third display / operation unit 91 corresponds to the touch panel 30 for output operation. The third control unit 90 causes the third display / operation unit 91 to display an operation screen for accepting an input operation of the user U so that data of a plurality of composite images can be downloaded from the server.

The third control unit 90 instructs the non-contact communication unit 94 to transmit the image data to the mobile terminal of the user U based on the operation signal input to the third display / operation unit 91. Put out. This non-contact communication unit 94 corresponds to the communication port 31. The image data is directly transmitted from the non-contact communication unit 94 to the user U's mobile terminal as an infrared signal.
The third communication unit 95 corresponds to a network adapter built in the output unit 5. The third communication unit 95 functions as an interface for data transmission / reception via the network 6.

The third control unit 90 writes the demo image (demonstration image) stored in advance in the auxiliary storage device into the frame buffer until the user U who has finished editing starts the output operation. Is displayed on the display / operation unit 91.
The audio output unit 93 corresponds to the speaker 32. The voice output unit 93 explains the operation method to the user U in conjunction with the operation screen displayed on the third display / operation unit 91. The audio output unit 93 plays music according to the demo image. The description of the input operation method, music, and the like are stored in advance in a hard disk or the like as an auxiliary storage device.

The predetermined program executed by each of the control devices is provided by, for example, a DVD-ROM that is a recording medium on which the program is recorded.
That is, a DVD-ROM as a program recording medium is mounted on a DVD-ROM drive device built in a control device as an auxiliary storage device, and a program is read from the DVD-ROM to provide a hard disk device as an auxiliary storage device. To be installed. The program may be provided via a recording medium (CD-ROM or the like) other than the DVD-ROM or a communication line.

The first to third control units 70, 80, and 90 have been described as corresponding to devices including different computers built in different parts (such as the imaging unit 3) of the image printing apparatus 1. Such a configuration is an example, and the first to third control units 70, 80, 90 may be realized by two or less devices or four or more devices.
For example, two control units may be provided, and the photographing unit 3 and the output unit 5 may be controlled by one control unit, and the editing unit 4 may be controlled by the other control unit.

In such a case, each control unit executes a program according to the function to be realized.
Further, the control devices constituting the control units 70, 80, 90 may be built in any of the units 3, 4, 5. For example, all the control devices may be built in the editing unit 4. . Further, the photographing unit 3, the editing unit 4, and the output unit 5 are physically divided into three, but can be configured as one or two units.

[Parallel processing in image printing device]
As described above, the image printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the photographing unit 3, the editing unit 4, and the output unit 5. The photographing unit 3 performs photographing processing, the editing unit 4 performs editing processing, and output. In unit 5, output processing is performed.
Here, when the succeeding user U is playing with the photographing unit 3, the preceding user U can play with the editing unit 4, and the preceding user U can output the composite image with the output unit 5. it can.

  That is, in the image printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, photographing processing, editing processing, and output processing are performed simultaneously and in parallel by the computers of the units 3, 4, and 5. Hereinafter, procedures of the photographing process and the editing process will be described.

[Shooting process]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the photographing process.
In a standby state where no play is performed, a demonstration image is displayed on the touch panel 20 for shooting operation.
Thereafter, when the user U arrives and inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot 26 during display of the demo image, the first control unit 70 starts play (step S100).

In addition, after starting the play, the first control unit 70 accepts selection of a shooting mode by the user U (step S110).
In step S110, for example, selection of image quality (specifically, clear image quality with high contrast, soft, soft image quality, or cool image quality with transparency), brightness selection, and automatic Selection is made between shooting and manual shooting. When shooting automatically, a shooting theme is selected.

In this case, the first control unit 70 displays a screen on the touch panel 20 that allows the user U to select one or more shooting themes from among a plurality of shooting themes prepared in advance, and the user U selects them. Accept the operation.
The first control unit 70 acquires information based on the selection operation of the user U, and determines a combination of a frame and a background to be combined with the captured image based on the selected capturing theme. When shooting manually, the user U freely determines the frame and background.

Then, it progresses to step S120 and the user U is image | photographed. As a result of this shooting, a shot image that is still image data including the user U (the image of the user U combined with a background and a frame) is stored in the memory of the first control unit 70.
In step S130, the captured image is displayed on touch panel 20. Specifically, every time shooting is performed in step S120, captured images that are images to be edited are sequentially added and displayed in the second display area 203 of the touch panel 20.

Thereafter, in step S140, the first control unit 70 determines whether or not a predetermined time limit (for example, 3 minutes) has ended. If the predetermined time limit has expired as a result of the determination, the first control unit 70 proceeds to step S150. If the predetermined time limit has not expired, the first control unit 70 returns the process to step S120.
In step S <b> 150, the first control unit 70 transmits a plurality of captured images (images displayed in the second display area 203) to the editing processing unit 8 through the network 6.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, all the captured image data of the user U obtained by the imaging process is sent as it is to the editing processing unit 8 as an image to be edited. However, in step S150, the user U may perform an operation of selecting an image to be edited.
In this case, from the captured images displayed in the second display area 203 of the touch panel 20, a plurality of captured images that are preferred to be captured are left to touch, or conversely, a captured image that has failed to be captured is touched. The image to be edited may be selected by deleting the image.

The first control unit 70 transmits the image data to be edited by the input by the user U to the editing processing unit 8 through the network 6.
After the end of step S150, the first control unit 70 advances the process to step S160 and displays a guidance screen. Specifically, the first control unit 70 displays a screen for guiding the user U to one of the two units 4 a and 4 b of the editing unit 4 on the touch panel 20 for shooting operation. Thereby, the photographing process is completed.
In the process of step S160, in addition to displaying the guidance screen or instead of displaying the guidance screen, a voice for guiding the user U is output to one of the two units 4a and 4b. May be.

[Edit processing]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the editing process.
In the editing process of FIG. 8, the second control unit 80 first acquires the image to be edited transmitted by the first control unit 70 via the network 6 (step S200).
Thereafter, the timer is set to a predetermined time (time for permitting the user U to input editing), and countdown is started (step S210).

After the timer countdown starts, the second control unit 80 accepts input of an editing operation such as graffiti (drawing) on the touch panel 400 by the user U (step S220).
In addition, when the remaining time of the editing process reaches 60 seconds, the second control unit 80 determines whether or not to extend the editing time (step S230). This determination is made based on whether or not a subsequent user U who should play in the editing unit 4 is performing shooting processing with the shooting unit 3.

If the result of the determination is affirmative, the second control unit 80 advances the process to step S240, and if negative, advances the process to step S250.
In step S240, the second control unit 80 sets a timer to a predetermined resetting time (a time during which additional editing input is permitted for the user U). In this case, the countdown by the timer is started again, and the process proceeds to step S250.

In step S250, the second control unit 80 receives an input of an editing operation such as graffiti (drawing) on the touch panel 400 by the user U.
Thereafter, when the resetting time of the timer reaches 0, the second control unit 80 proceeds to a process of selecting a division pattern for the photo to be output (step S260). Specifically, the second control unit 80 displays a plurality of division patterns prepared in advance on the touch panel 400. When the user U selects one of the plurality of division patterns, the selection information is acquired, and the process proceeds to step S270.

In step S270, a guidance screen is displayed. Specifically, the second control unit 80 displays a screen for guiding the user U to the output unit 5 on the touch panel 400 for editing operation. Thereby, the editing process ends.
In addition, in the process of step S270, in addition to the display of the guide screen or instead of the display of the guide screen, a voice for guiding the user U to any of the output units 5 may be output. .

[Configuration and functions of touch panel for editing operations]
FIG. 9 is a screen configuration diagram (both sides) of the touch panel 400 for editing operation. 10 and 11 are screen configuration diagrams of the input area 40R on the right side of the touch panel 400. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the touch panel 400 is divided into a pair of left and right input areas 40 </ b> L and 40 </ b> R in which two left and right users U can respectively perform pen input. In each of the input areas 40L and 40R, a graffiti section 41, a palette section 43 capable of menu switching by a tab 42 (see FIG. 10), a mode selection section 44, a command selection section 45, a timer display section 46, and a guide display section, respectively. 47 is arranged.

Hereinafter, the configuration and functions of the above-described units will be described by taking the input area 40R on the right side shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 as an example. The left input area 40L has the same configuration and function as the right input area 40R.
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the graffiti unit 41 occupies most of the input region 40R from the center to the upper edge, and a plurality of captured images (shooting processing unit 7) acquired from the shooting unit 3 are occupied. (Image data received from P1 to P8) are displayed in substantially equal sizes so that adjacent images do not overlap.

In the example shown in the figure, eight photographed images P1 to P8 are shown, but the number thereof may be displayed below a preset limit number (for example, eight).
That is, the graffiti unit 41 displays the number of photographed images received from the photographing processing unit 7 in a number equal to or less than the limit number as it is. Therefore, when the user U selects only one photographed image P1 in the photographing process, only the photographed image P1 is displayed on the graffiti unit 41.

In the graffiti unit 41 of the present embodiment, editing input such as graffiti input and image pasting with the touch pen 49R is simultaneously accepted for the plurality of captured images P1 to P8 displayed in the graffiti unit 41. Yes.
Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the user U performs graffiti input (a character string “Lovely” in the example) on the captured image P1 with the touch pen 49R, and then selects an image to be edited. The graffiti input (character string “Cute” in the example) for the other captured image P2 can be performed immediately without requiring any work.

In addition, an enlarged button 48 for enlarging and displaying the corresponding captured images P1 to P8 in the center of the graffiti portion 41 is displayed at the upper left of each captured image P1 to P8.
Therefore, for example, when the user U touches the enlargement button 48 of the photographed image P3 in FIG. 10, as shown in FIG. 11, the photographed image P3 is in front of the other photographed images P2 to P7. The graffiti portion 41 is enlarged at a predetermined magnification at the center portion.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, in addition to graffiti input with the touch pen 49R, editing input such as image pasting can be performed on the enlarged photographed image P3, and the graffiti is not enlarged and is not modified. Editing input can be simultaneously performed on the other captured images P1, P2, and P4 to P8 displayed on the unit 41.
The enlarged photographed image P3 is accompanied by a reduction button 50 for reducing the photographed image P3 to the original size. When the reduction button 50 is touched, the photographed image P3 is displayed in the original size. It returns to the position and position. Note that FIG. 11 shows an example in which the captured image P3 is enlarged, but it goes without saying that the above-described enlargement and reduction operations can be performed for the other captured images P1, P2, and P4 to P8. Yes.

A large number of pasted images that can be combined with the captured images P1 to P8 such as a plurality of types of stamp images and frame images are displayed inside the palette unit 43.
The user U touches a desired pasted image with the pen tip, and then touches the pen tip at a predetermined position of the photographed images P1 to P8 to which the image is pasted, thereby pasting the predetermined photographed images P1 to P8. Attached images can be synthesized.

  If a pasted image having the number of pixels suitable for the display size of the captured images P1 to P8 is prepared, the pasted image is pasted on either the enlarged or original captured images P1 to P8. Even if it is attached, a good-looking composite image can be obtained. In this case, the value of the number of pixels of the pasted image may be converted according to the display size of P1 to P8 of the photographed image, or a pixel number corresponding to the display size may be prepared in advance. .

On the tab 42 of the pallet unit 43, there are a plurality of items according to the preference of the user U, such as “neon”, “heart”, and “star / shiny”.
Therefore, when the user U touches the desired item with the pen tip, the type of the pasted image arranged in the palette unit 43 is switched to the pasted image collected in advance according to the purpose of the item. It has become.

A plurality of types of mode selection buttons are arranged in the mode selection unit 44. In this embodiment, mode selection buttons of “pen”, “stamp”, “moji”, “recommend”, and “color” are prepared. ing.
Among these, for example, the “Pen” selection button is a button for displaying the type of line to be drawn with the touch pen 49R on the palette unit 43, and the “Stamp” selection button is a palette for selecting the type of stamp to be pasted with the touch pen 49R. This button is displayed on the unit 43.

The command selection unit 45 includes, in order from the top, “end”, “reset”, multiple sizes of “eraser”, “enclosed eraser” (buttons with round arrows), “forward” and “return” buttons. Is provided.
Among these, “END” is a button for forcibly terminating editing input by the touch pen 49R, and “RESET” is a button for canceling all editing inputs made to one edited image P1 to P8.

“Eraser” is a button for converting a pen input by the touch pen 49R into an eraser input for erasing a line, and “enclosed eraser” is a button for erasing a line or a composite image surrounded by a pen tip. “Return” is a button for canceling one editing input of the touch pen 49R, and “forward” is a button for canceling cancellation by the “return” processing. When these buttons are touched, the edit input for all the captured images P1 to P8 displayed on the graffiti unit 41 may be processed to “forward” or “return” in the input order. The “advance” or “return” processing may be performed for each of the captured images P1 to P8.
Note that the timer display unit 46 at the upper center of the touch panel 400 is a part for displaying the remaining time of editing work to be counted down, and the guide display unit 47 provided in the center of the input area 40R notifies the user U. This is a part for displaying a predetermined guidance text to be displayed.

[Effect of image printing device]
As described above, in the image printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the touch panel 400 for editing operation (second display / operation units 81 and 82) displays a plurality of captured images P1 to P8 as images to be edited simultaneously. Editing input for all displayed captured images P1 to P8 is accepted.
For this reason, when the user U performs editing input on the touch panel 400, editing input can be performed on the plurality of captured images P1 to P8 without selecting the images to be edited one by one, and the plurality of captured images P1. Efficient editing input can be performed on .about.P8.

In particular, in this embodiment, since all the captured images acquired by the imaging unit 3 are displayed on the touch panel 400 and all the captured images captured by the user U can be edited, even captured images that are not liked by the imaging unit 3 can be edited. If you look again at the touch panel 400 of the editing unit 4 and edit it with a makeup tool or the like that can be selected in the palette unit 43, it will be possible to respond appropriately when the user U notices later that it will be an interesting image. There is also an advantage that the photographed image photographed by the person U with the photographing unit 3 can be used without waste.
In addition, since all the edited captured images (all captured images acquired by the capturing unit 3) can be printed, the user's request that a sticker on which various captured images are printed is desired. There is also an advantage that can be.

Further, in the image printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the touch panel 400 for editing operation displays the captured images P1 to P8 so that the adjacent captured images P1 to P8 do not overlap each other (see FIG. 10). The user U can view all the captured images P1 to P8 displayed on the page 400 at the same time.
For this reason, there is also an advantage that editing input can be efficiently and systematically performed on the plurality of photographed images P1 to P8, for example, by intensively editing and allocating time in order from the favorite photographed image P1.

  Furthermore, in the image printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the enlargement button 48 is displayed on the touch panel 400 for editing operation, and the touch pen 49R that performs editing input on the touch panel 400 is used to select one of the plurality of captured images P1 to P8. Since an input operation for enlarging one or a plurality of images at a predetermined magnification is possible, by enlarging one of the captured images P1 to P8, fine editing input can be performed on the expanded captured image. It becomes easy to perform edit input.

[First Modification]
FIG. 12 is a screen configuration diagram illustrating a modification of the touch panel 400 for editing operation.
12 differs from the above-described embodiment (FIGS. 10 and 11) in that a plurality of captured images P1 to P6 are placed on the graffiti unit 41 so that adjacent captured images P1 to P6 partially overlap each other. The point is to display.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when a plurality of photographed images P1 to P6 are displayed so as to partially overlap each other, the photographed images P2 to P6 other than the photographed image P1 displayed on the foremost side can be input for editing. However, editing input with the touch pen 49R can be performed on the non-overlapping portions of the captured images P2 to P6.

  In this way, if a plurality of captured images P1 to P6 are displayed in an overlapping manner, even when the number of captured images P1 to P6 to be displayed on the graffiti portion 41 is relatively large, all the captured images P1 to P6 are limited. It can be displayed in a suitable size in the space of the graffiti section 41, and it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that editing input becomes difficult as the number of captured images P1 to P6 increases.

Note that the “forward” button provided in the graffiti unit 41 in FIG. 12 is a button that advances the order in which the captured images P1 to P6 are superimposed in a predetermined direction. When this “forward” button is touched, the foremost photographed image P1 rotates after the last photographed image P1, and the next photographed image P2 appears most foremost.
On the contrary, the “return” button provided in the graffiti unit 41 in FIG. 12 is a button for returning the order in which the captured images P1 to P6 are superimposed in the direction opposite to the “forward” button.

Here, in the example of FIG. 12, a case where a plurality of photographed images P <b> 1 to P <b> 6 are arranged with an upward slope from the lower left corner of the graffiti unit 41 toward the upper right corner is illustrated.
However, in this case, if the tilt directions of the plurality of captured images P1 to P6 remain ascending to the right, in the case of the user U on the left side when viewed from the front, the face is generally displayed in the captured images P2 to P6. In the case of the right user U, the face is hidden in the overlapping part of the captured images P2 to P6, so that it is difficult to perform graffiti for the right user U.

Therefore, it is preferable that an operation button (not shown) for switching the tilt direction is provided in the graffiti unit 41 so that the plurality of captured images P1 to P6 can be rearranged in different tilt directions.
In this case, when the operation button is touched while the photographed images P1 to P6 are inclined upward to the right, the photographed images P1 to P6 are rearranged from the upper left corner of the graffiti unit 41 toward the lower right corner and inclined downward. When the operation button is touched in a state where the images P1 to P6 are inclined downward to the right, the captured images P1 to P6 are rearranged to the upward inclination. For this reason, it is possible to prevent only one of the two left and right people shown in the captured images P2 to P6 from being displayed with the face hidden behind the overlapping portion.

[Second Modification]
FIG. 13 is a screen configuration diagram showing another modification of the touch panel 400 for editing operation.
The modified example of FIG. 13 is also displayed so that the adjacent captured images P1 to P5 partially overlap each other as in the first modified example (FIG. 12). In the modified example of FIG. This is different from the case of the first modification (FIG. 12) in that the photographed image P3 arranged at the center of the graffiti part 41 is displayed in the foreground.

In this way, when a plurality of captured images P1 to P5 are displayed in an overlapping manner, it is only necessary to arbitrarily set which captured image P1 to P5 is displayed in the forefront.
However, if the photographed image P3 arranged in the center of the graffiti part 41 is displayed in the foreground as in the modification of FIG. 13, it is possible to easily perform editing input for the photographed image P3 in which a hidden part does not occur due to overlap. There are advantages. In the case of the second modification shown in FIG. 13, an operation button (not shown) for switching the tilt direction is provided on the graffiti unit 41, and a plurality of captured images P1 to P5 can be rearranged in different tilt directions. You may comprise.

[Other variations]
Note that the embodiments disclosed this time (including the above-described modifications, the same applies hereinafter) are merely examples and are not restrictive. The scope of the right of the present invention is not the embodiment described above, but includes all modifications within the scope equivalent to the configurations described in the claims.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, a single monitor (touch panel 400) is not divided into two left and right regions, and a plurality of captured images are displayed over almost the entire region of one monitor, and the plurality of captured images are displayed. Then, it may be possible to perform graffiti simultaneously with both the left and right touch pens 49L and 49R.
In this way, since a plurality of photographed images are displayed on one monitor, a plurality of photographed images are displayed as compared to the above-described embodiment in which a plurality of photographed images are displayed in each divided area. There is an advantage that the image can be displayed in a larger size, and editing input to each captured image can be easily performed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which when the enlargement button 48 is touched with the pen tip, the photographed image corresponding to the button 48 is enlarged to a predetermined magnification by one touch. It may be determined according to the length of time or the number of times that is touched. In the case of the reduction button 50 as well, the reduction ratio may be determined according to the touched time length, the number of times, and the like. In this way, the user U himself / herself can adjust the size of the captured image to an arbitrary size that facilitates editing input.
Needless to say, the modification examples shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 may include the above-described enlargement button 48 and reduction button 50.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when a plurality of captured images are displayed in the left and right input areas 40L and 40R (see FIG. 9) to perform editing input, the captured images displayed in the input areas 40L and 40R, respectively. Editing input to the image can be performed completely independently, and editing input for the captured image displayed in the left input area 40L (or right input area 40R) is input to the right input area 40R (or left side). It can also be reflected in the captured image displayed in the input area 40L).
It should be noted that how to perform editing input may be selectable depending on the user's preference, or may be configured to be switchable during editing input.

In the above-described embodiment, in order to allow the user U to confirm his / her actual way of capturing, experimental pre-shooting with designated image quality such as contrast is performed in advance before the actual shooting play. The photographed image obtained by this preliminary photographing may be displayed in the first display area 202.
In this case, the photographed image acquired by the previous photographing may be excluded from the editing target in the editing unit 3 or may be included in the editing target.

3 Shooting unit 4 Editing unit (image editing device)
5 Output unit 6 Network (LAN)
10 Camera (photographing means)
20 Touch panel for photographing operation (first display means)
30 Touch panel for output operation 35 Network printer (printing means)
31 communication port 32 speaker 40L input area 40R input area 49L touch pen (editing means)
49R touch pen (editing means)
400 Touch panel for editing operation (second display means)
P1-P8 images

Claims (5)

A plurality of captured images are displayed simultaneously as images to be edited, and at least one of the plurality of captured images displayed as the image to be edited is displayed in a size larger than the other captured images. Display means for accepting editing input for all the captured images including the captured image of a large size displayed as the image to be edited regardless of the size of the captured image;
Editing means for editing the captured image displayed on the display means based on the editing input,
The display means is an input unit for changing the photographed image to be displayed in a large size into another photographed image by an input operation by the editing means within a group of the plurality of photographed images displayed as an image to be edited. An image editing apparatus characterized by displaying.   The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the display size of the captured image is changed, the display unit also displays an edited image made on the captured image by reflecting the size change. An image editing method for generating a composite image based on a captured image,
A plurality of captured images are displayed simultaneously as images to be edited, and at least one of the plurality of captured images displayed as the image to be edited is displayed in a size larger than the other captured images. A display step for accepting editing input for all the captured images including the captured image of a large size displayed as the image to be edited regardless of the size of the captured image;
An editing step for editing the captured image displayed in the display step based on the editing input,
In the display step, an input unit that changes the captured image to be displayed in a large size into another captured image by an input operation by the editing unit in a group of the captured images displayed as an image to be edited. An image editing method characterized by displaying an image. A computer program for causing a computer to function as a control device of an image editing device that generates a composite image based on a captured image,
A plurality of captured images are displayed simultaneously as images to be edited, and at least one of the plurality of captured images displayed as the image to be edited is displayed in a size larger than the other captured images. A display step for accepting editing input for all the captured images including the captured image of a large size displayed as the image to be edited regardless of the size of the captured image;
An editing step for editing the captured image displayed in the display step based on the editing input,
In the display step, an input unit that changes the captured image to be displayed in a large size into another captured image by an input operation by the editing unit in a group of the captured images displayed as an image to be edited. A computer program characterized by displaying. Photographing means for photographing,
First display means for displaying a photographed image obtained by photographing a plurality of times by the photographing means;
A second display means for displaying a plurality of the photographed images simultaneously as images to be edited regardless of the layout of the output photo, and receiving editing inputs for all the photographed images displayed as the images to be edited;
Editing means for editing the captured image displayed on the second display means based on the editing input;
Printing means for printing the photographed image edited by the editing means on a predetermined print medium,
The second display means is configured to input one or more of the plurality of photographed images within the group of the photographed images displayed as an image to be edited by an input operation by the editing means. An input unit for enlarging at a magnification is displayed, and editing input for all the captured images including the captured image having a large size displayed as an image to be edited is accepted regardless of the size of the captured image. Image printing device.

Images