JP6353261B2 - Information processing apparatus, control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method, and a program for editing image data.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for easily reusing contents set for outputting a document using application software (application) on a personal computer (PC) is known. For example, the output setting contents are saved as a history, and a history list is displayed by reading, and the contents set in the past are reused and output by selecting a desired history item from the list. As the data to be saved, there is also known a technique for easily distinguishing history items on a list display by saving an icon indicating the output operation as a pair in addition to setting contents (Patent Document 1).

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes that an application icon using the output setting is displayed. Further, it is described that the history content can be corrected when the user selects an icon provided in advance on the output setting screen. The icon disclosed in Patent Document 1 is expressed by an abstracted icon design, not a design that allows the driver to understand the setting contents at a glance.

  On the other hand, a page design editing application for editing a design image is also known. The page design editing application has a function (auto design function) for automatically generating a page design by setting design generation elements such as text, images, and color schemes and fonts that greatly contribute to the design impression. The auto design function has two user interface screens: a design generation element setting screen for setting design generation elements, and a design candidate selection screen for displaying a list of multiple types of design images automatically generated based on each design generation element. Is displayed.

  In the design generation element setting screen, it is possible to set each design generation element such as text such as a title and subtitle, a photograph, a clip art image, an overall color scheme and a font to be used. When a user selects a desired design image on the design candidate selection screen, a page design based on the design image is displayed in the preview area.

JP 2008-140244 A

  Even in the auto design function, there is a case where it is desired to generate a different design by reusing a generation element set in the past and changing a text set in the past, and the history list display of the design generation element is useful.

  However, in the history list display in the auto design function, in the conventional list display such as icons and text data, the user understands the specific setting contents indicated by the history item from the display state and the desired history. It is not easy to select information. Therefore, it is desired to improve the selection operability of history information in the auto design function.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such conventional problems. In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, a control method, and a program that improve operability of user selection in a history information list.

In order to solve the above problems, a program according to the present invention is a program for displaying a layout image in which an object is arranged in a template, and automatically selects an image object in each of a plurality of templates in accordance with a predetermined instruction from a user. A first display step for displaying a selected image indicating a layout result of a predetermined layout image among a plurality of layout images generated based on the arrangement in the arrangement step, and the first display step A second display step for displaying a screen that allows editing on the object arranged in the predetermined layout image when the selected image displayed in the display step is selected by the user; The edited object is placed on the screen displayed in the display process. A generation step of generating a layout image; and when a title to be arranged in the predetermined layout image is input by the user, in the first display step, the selection image including the title and The titles are displayed together, and in the second display step, when the selected image is selected, a screen capable of editing the title is displayed as the editing .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability of user selection in the history information list.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of information processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the main screen of a design editing application. It is a figure which shows a design generation element setting screen. It is a figure which shows a design candidate selection screen. It is a figure which shows a library image selection screen. It is a figure which shows a log | history selection screen. It is a figure which shows a log | history data table. It is a figure which shows a history database tree. It is a figure which shows a production | generation element file. It is a flowchart which shows the addition process of a history item.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the present invention. . The same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the information processing apparatus 100 operates as an image processing apparatus that performs image processing such as layout editing on image data. For example, a general-purpose PC is used. A central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 101 shown in FIG. 1 controls the entire information processing apparatus 100 in an integrated manner, for example, by reading a program stored in a ROM into a RAM and executing it. Realize operation. For example, the CPU 101 performs management control of a design editing system, generation and editing of a page design, and the like. A storage device (hard disk: HDD) 102 stores an operating system (OS), a Web browser, other applications, and the like. Further, the storage device 102 stores a file system, an application program that realizes the operation of the present embodiment, image data, image data that has undergone design editing, and the like.

  The input device 103 is, for example, a keyboard or a pointing device, and receives an operation instruction from the user. The display device 104 is, for example, an LCD display, and displays a setting screen for the user to perform design editing in the present embodiment. The user gives instructions and settings on the setting screen using a keyboard and a pointing device. The external storage device 105 is an external storage medium such as a CD-ROM. The image input device interface 106 is a communication interface that enables communication with an image input device such as a film scanner, a flatbed scanner, or a digital camera that acquires image data with an optical reading configuration. The printing apparatus interface 107 is a communication interface that enables communication with a printing apparatus that records an image on a recording medium based on image data. The CPU 101 to the printing apparatus interface 107 in FIG. 1 are connected to be communicable with each other via a system bus (not shown). The information processing apparatus 100 also includes a communication interface that connects to a network such as a LAN and enables communication with an external apparatus. The information processing apparatus 100 can acquire image data to be edited from an external host terminal, for example, via a communication interface.

  In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 100 executes a design editing application stored in a ROM or HDD. The design editing application is an application for a user to perform a design editing work corresponding to each use such as an office document, a poster, a postcard, and a presentation. The design editing application has various editing functions for the user to perform design editing work. The design editing application has editing functions such as resizing, moving, rotating, selecting, image correction processing, text editing, photographic image and text decoration processing, and background setting for the component (object) of the document to be edited. The user can select and execute each of these functions using an input device such as a keyboard and a pointing device.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main screen of the design editing application. The main screen 201 in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display device 104 when the CPU 101 activates the design editing application. In the design editing application, a plurality of types of design templates that can be arbitrarily selected and used by the user are prepared in advance. The main screen 201 can display an image edited based on a design template selected by the user among design templates prepared in advance in the preview area 202. In addition to the preview area 202, the main screen 201 includes menus and toolbars for executing the above editing functions, buttons for confirming and canceling user operations, and the like. Using these menus and toolbars, the user can display a list of design generation elements (hereinafter also referred to as art marks) such as photo images, clip art, photo image frames, text decorations, and backgrounds, and select the desired art mark. can do.

  FIG. 2 shows a state where the character string object 203 “SALE” is selected by the user on the page displayed in the preview area 202. The main screen 201 further includes menus and toolbars for executing editing support functions such as guides, grids, and rulers, and the user uses these to execute each editing function for the selected object. be able to. The auto design execution button 204 displays a design generation element setting screen, which will be described later, in response to a user pressing. The design image created on the design generation element setting screen can be displayed in the preview area 202. The design generation element is, for example, a character string object indicating a title in image data to be edited such as a poster or an inserted image object. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the main screen 201 further includes menus and buttons for executing other functions such as a drop-down list for designating the display magnification of the preview area 202. There is also.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a design generation element setting screen displayed when the auto design execution button 204 in FIG. 2 is pressed. The design generation element setting screen 301 displays setting information for each design generation element for the purpose of creating a poster page design. When the user sets each item on the design generation element setting screen 301, the contents of each item are reflected in a plurality of types of templates prepared in advance and displayed as a list of design image candidates in FIG.

  The item 302 is an item that allows the user to select a poster design image. The color scheme of the entire page and the font to be used are defined for each selectable design image. For example, in FIG. 3, “four seasons (winter)” is selected as the design image, and a poster design can be realized using a color scheme and font suitable for the winter image. As design images other than “four seasons (winter)”, for example, four seasons (spring), four seasons (summer), four seasons (autumn), natural, sporty, pop, chic, elegant, pretty, and monotone can be selected. Colors and fonts suitable for each image are also defined in these design images.

  An item 303 is an item for the user to set a title used for the poster, and an item 304 is an item for the user to set a subtitle. An item 305 is an item for the user to set the content of the text of the poster, and an item 306 is an item for the user to set the organization name. An item 307 is an item for the user to set the orientation of the poster paper. In FIG. 3, the user can select portrait orientation or landscape orientation. In the above items, the user does not necessarily have to set all items.

  The image input area 308 is used for setting an insertion image used by the user for the poster. For example, the user drags and drops a file icon on the file system to the image input area 308 with a pointing device. For example, the user presses the button 313 to display a file system screen and designates a desired image on the file system. In addition, the user presses a button 314 to display a list of default images provided by the design editing application, and designates a desired image. The list of default images will be described later as a library image selection screen. The user can delete the image selected in the image input area 308 by pressing the button 315. In FIG. 3, an input image 309, an input image 310, an input image 311, and an input image 312 are set in the image input area 308. In the following description, a default image provided by the design editing application is referred to as a library image, and an image set in the image input area 308 is referred to as a user image.

  In some cases, an upper limit is set for images that can be set in the image input area 308. For example, when the user tries to set a user image or a library image with the button 313 or the button 314 and the number of settings in the image input area 308 exceeds the upper limit, a warning screen is displayed to set the image. You may make it refuse. The arrangement order of the images set in the image input area 308 represents a priority for insertion into a template, which will be described later, and descends from the upper left to the lower right. The user can change the order of insertion by dragging the thumbnail image set in the image input area 308 with a pointing device.

  When the user presses the history selection button 316, a history selection screen described later with reference to FIG. 6 is displayed. On the history selection screen, a list of past history items is displayed. Here, the history item is a combination of the setting contents of each design generation element set in the design generation element setting screen 301 in the past and the thumbnail image of the image reflecting the editing contents based on the setting of each design generation element. Say. In this embodiment, when a history item is selected by the user based on the thumbnail image, the setting contents of the design generation element corresponding to the history item can be restored and displayed on the design generation element setting screen 301 by default. . Details of the history selection screen will be described later.

  By pressing the reset button 317, all setting contents on the design generation element setting screen 301 are reset. For example, in FIG. 3, when the reset button 317 is pressed, the item 307 becomes “vertical”, and the other text input areas, items 303 to 306, become blank. Further, when the reset button 317 is pressed, a warning message may be displayed to the effect that the setting contents set so far are lost.

  When the user completes the setting of necessary design generation elements, when the next button 318 is pressed, a design image based on the set design generation elements is generated. Also, the user presses a cancel button 319 at an arbitrary timing to cancel the setting contents input on the design generation element setting screen 301 and return to the main screen 201 of the design editing application in FIG. At this time, the setting state of the design generation element immediately before the cancel button 319 is pressed is stored in the storage device 102 and restored as the default display when the next design generation element setting screen 301 is displayed, but is reflected in the preview area 202. Not.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a design candidate selection screen displayed when the next button 318 in FIG. 3 is pressed. In the design candidate selection screen 401, a plurality of types of design images to which texts, images, design images and the like set on the design generation element setting screen 301 in FIG. 3 are applied are displayed in the design list list 402 as design image candidates. Listed. The user selects a desired design image from the displayed design image candidates using a pointing device or the like, and presses an OK button 405. When the OK button 405 is pressed, the selected design image is displayed in the preview area 202 of the design editing application. In FIG. 4, the design image 403 is selected. The OK button 405 is disabled so that the user cannot perform a pressing operation when there is no selected design image on the design candidate selection screen 401.

  When the user presses a return button 404, the screen returns to the design generation element setting screen 301 in FIG. At that time, the setting contents of the set design generation element are retained as they are. When the user presses a cancel button 406, the screen returns to the main screen 201 of the design editing application. At that time, the display of the preview area 202 does not change.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a library image selection screen displayed when the button 314 in FIG. 3 is pressed. The library image list 503 on the library image selection screen 501 displays a list of raster data such as photographs and vector data such as illustrations prepared in advance by the design editing application. When the user selects a desired image from the library image list list 503, the selected image is taken into the image input area 308 of FIG. In FIG. 5, the library image 504 is selected and highlighted. In addition, a plurality of library images may be selected on the library image list list 503.

  The category list 502 displays a list of a plurality of types of categories. When the user selects a desired category item, a list of thumbnail images of library images belonging to the selected category is displayed in a list in the library image list list 503. In FIG. 5, the category “shape” is selected in the category list list 502, and the thumbnail image group belonging to the category “shape” is listed in the library image list list 503.

  When the user presses an OK button 505, the currently selected library image 504 is taken into the image input area 308 in FIG. If the upper limit number of images that can be inserted into the template is set on the design generation element setting screen 301, the upper limit number can be set by adding the currently selected library image 504 when the OK button 505 is pressed. It is determined whether or not it exceeds. At this time, if it is determined that the upper limit is exceeded, a warning screen indicating that the insertion operation is not performed is displayed. When the user presses the cancel button 506, the library image is not taken into the image input area 308, and the screen returns to the design generation element setting screen 301 in FIG.

  Note that a button for adding a library image may be provided on the main screen 201 in FIG. 2, and the library image selection screen 501 may be displayed when the button is pressed. In that case, the library image selected in the library image selection list 503 is added to the design image being edited displayed in the preview area 202. In the library image selection screen 501 of FIG. 5, raster images such as photographs and vector images such as clip arts and illustrations are not distinguished, but both attributes may be displayed in a distinguishable manner.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a history selection screen displayed when the history selection button 316 in FIG. 3 is pressed. The history list 602 of the history selection screen 601 includes the setting contents of each design generation element when the design image generation processing has been executed in the past by pressing the next button 318 in FIG. 3 or the OK button 405 in FIG. Listed as a history item with thumbnail images. The thumbnail image is a thumbnail image of an image reflecting the setting contents of each design generation element. When a desired history item is selected by the user, the setting contents of the design generation element corresponding to the history item are displayed on the design generation element setting screen 301, and the past setting contents can be easily restored. .

  In FIG. 6, history items 604, 605, and 606 are displayed in the history list 602. In FIG. 6, the history item 604 is selected and highlighted by the user. A thumbnail image 607 is a thumbnail image of an image in which the setting content 608 of the design generation element included in the history item 604 is reflected. As shown in FIG. 6, since the thumbnail image of each history item reflects the setting contents of the design generation element, the user can easily visually select a desired history item to be reused. .

  In the “image:” section included in the setting contents of the design generation element, the image file name set in the image input area 308 is displayed. A library image is specified in the “image:” section of the history item 604, and a user image is specified in the “image:” section of the history item 605. On the right side of the history list 602, a scroll button 603 is configured. If the number of history items is large and cannot be displayed all at once on the history list list 602, the display position can be adjusted by a drag operation of the scroll button 603 by the user.

  When a desired history item is selected by the user on the history list list 602 and the OK button 609 is pressed, the setting content of each design generation element of the history item is displayed on the design generation element setting screen 301 by default. . For example, for the history item 604 in FIG. 6, “four seasons (winter)” is displayed as the design image, and the paper orientation is “vertical”, which is displayed as a selected state on the items 302 and 307, respectively. In addition, the character strings “SALE” and “Christmas sale” are set in the text input areas of the items 303 and 304, respectively. In the history item 604, since there is no text data for the body text or the organization name, the text input areas of the items 305 and 306 are displayed empty. In addition, the image Snow_04 .. set in the “image:” item of the history item 604 is displayed. kit is set in the image input area 308.

  If any data is already set in each text input area or image input area 308 on the design generation element setting screen 301, a warning message indicating that the data will be lost is displayed when the OK button 609 is pressed. To do. When the user accepts the warning message, the setting content of the history item 604 is overwritten with the setting content set on the design generation element setting screen 301. Further, a history item including a predetermined character string of each setting content of the design generation element setting screen 301 when the history selection button 316 in FIG. It may be displayed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a conceptual configuration of a history data table stored in the storage device 102. When the history selection button 316 on the design generation element setting screen 301 is pressed by the user, each history item is displayed as shown in FIG. 6 based on the data in the history data table 700.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the history data table 700 includes items of ID 701, design image 702, title 703, subtitle 704, text 705, organization name 706, orientation 707, and image 708. Here, the ID 701 is identification information for identifying history data of each history item. The design image 702 to the orientation 707 correspond to the setting items of the items 303 to 307 and store the setting contents of each design setting element at the time of design editing. In the history item of ID001, the text 705 and the organization name 706 are described with a “−” symbol indicating an empty state, and the image 708 is described only with the file name “Snow — 04.kit”. When the file name is described only by the file name like ID001, it indicates that the main image is a library image prepared in advance by the design editing application.

  In the history item of ID002, two file names are described in the image 708, and these files are described by path names from the folder of the history database. This is a history item that uses a user image, unlike ID001, and is image data copied to a storage area under history database management by a user image storage process described later. Unlike the library image, the user image is not directly managed from the design editing application, and is likely to be moved or deleted by a user operation. For example, there is a case where an external storage medium used in a digital camera is connected to the information processing apparatus 100 and an image in the external storage medium is used for design editing, and then the external storage medium is removed from the information processing apparatus 100. In that case, if only the file path name of the user image is left in the history database, the image data to be edited cannot be searched when the history item is to be reused. For this reason, when a user image is specified, copying to the history database and managing the design editing application can avoid a situation in which an image cannot be searched when the history item is reused.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a history database tree composed of folders and files on the file system of the storage device 102. The history database shown in FIG. 7 has a tree structure with the folder 801 as a root. The history database of FIG. 7 includes generation element files 805, 807, and 810 that store setting contents of design generation elements such as design images and text for each of the history item folders 802 to 804. The history database includes thumbnail image files 806, 808, and 811 generated based on the design generation elements for the history item folders 802 to 804, respectively. The history item folder 803 stores two user image files 809.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the generation element file of FIG. FIG. 9A shows a part of the contents of the history item generation element file 805 identified by ID001. The first line is the value of the design image, the second to fifth lines are the title, subtitle, text, and organization name string, the sixth line is the paper orientation, and the seventh line is the specified image file. The name is described. The image attribute “type” on the seventh line indicates a library image or a user image. In ID001, “library” indicating a library image is described.

  FIG. 9B shows a part of the contents of the generation element file of the history item generation element file 807 identified by ID002. Unlike FIG. 9A, two image file names are described. Since these are user images, the path name from the “history DB” is described in the file name indicated by “path”, and “user” indicating the user image is described in “type”. In FIGS. 9A and 9B, each generated element file is described in a markup format, but may be described in another format.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing history item addition processing in the generation of a design image. In S1001, the user has pressed the Next button 317 on the design generation element setting screen 301. In S1002, a basic layout data search process called a skeleton template is performed based on the setting contents of each design generation element.

  The skeleton template is a plurality of templates prepared in advance that can reflect the setting contents of each design generation element, and has layout information for text objects such as titles and subtitles and image objects. Further, layout information possessed by a plurality of types of templates is different from each other. By applying objects such as images and text to each of a plurality of types of skeleton templates in S1006 described later, a design having a plurality of patterns as shown in FIG. 4 can be generated. Also, the skeleton template used for generating the design image differs depending on the setting contents of each set design generation element. For example, when the text of the item 305 and the organization name of the item 306 are not set, a skeleton template that does not include the text or organization name is used.

  In S1003, it is determined whether or not the processing of S1004 to S1005 has been completed for all the searched skeleton templates. If it is determined that the process has been completed for all the skeleton plates, the process proceeds to S1006. If it is determined that the process has not been completed for all the skeleton plates, an unprocessed skeleton template is processed as a process target. move on.

  In step S1004, the text or image set as the design generation element is arranged at a corresponding position based on the text or image layout information on the skeleton template that is currently being processed. At that time, based on the color scheme and font information defined on the design generation element setting screen 301, the background, figure, text color, and text font type are applied. Note that the same text and images are applied to a plurality of types of templates. When all the design generation elements are applied to the skeleton template, they are temporarily stored in the storage device 102 in a file format. In S1005, thumbnail image data is generated based on the file generated and stored in S1004, and is temporarily stored in the storage device 102 (memory).

  In S1006, the design candidate selection screen of FIG. 4 is displayed, and all thumbnail image data generated in S1005 is displayed in the design candidate list 402. In S1007, a history item folder including a new generation element file is generated on the history database. In the newly generated generation element file, the setting contents of the design generation elements other than the image data such as the design image, text, and paper orientation are described. In S1008, all the image data set as design generation elements (set in the image input area 308) are described in the newly generated generation element file. When the image set as the design generation element is a library image, the “library” attribute is given as shown in FIG. 9A and the file name is described in the generation element file. In the case of a user image, the “user” attribute is given, the file name and the file path name are described in the generation element file, and the image data is copied to the history item folder generated in S1007. The file name after copying is determined based on a unified naming rule so that each history item is unique in the history database.

  In S1009, one thumbnail image data among the thumbnail image data generated in S1005, displayed in S1005, and displayed in S1006 is provisionally determined, and copied to the history item folder created in S1007. In this case, one thumbnail image data may be, for example, the thumbnail image first generated in S1005 among a plurality of thumbnail image data.

  In step S1010, a user operation on the design candidate selection screen in FIG. The user operation here is an end operation of the design candidate selection screen, and is one of pressing the return button 404, the OK button 405, and the cancel button 406. In S1011, it is determined whether or not the OK button 405 has been pressed (that is, whether or not a design image has been selected). If it is determined that the OK button 405 has been pressed, the process proceeds to S1012. If it is determined that a button other than the OK button 405 has been pressed, the process proceeds to S1014.

  In S1012, since the design image is selected on the design candidate list 402, the thumbnail image data copied to the history item folder in S1009 is replaced with the thumbnail image data corresponding to the selected design image. In step S1013, the design image selected on the design candidate list 402 is developed and displayed in the preview area 202 in FIG.

  In S1014, the file temporarily saved in the storage device 102 in S1004 and S1005 is deleted. In S1005, the design candidate selection screen in FIG. 4 is closed. At this time, if the return button 404 is pressed in S1010, the screen returns to the design generation element setting screen in FIG. 3, and if the cancel button 406 is pressed, the screen returns to the main screen 201 of the design editing application. .

  When there is a design image intentionally selected by the user among the generated design image candidates by the processing in FIG. 10, the thumbnail image data is stored as a history item. On the other hand, when there is no design image intentionally selected by the user, thumbnail image data temporarily determined in the generated design group is stored as a history item. That is, if there is a design image actually used by the user, the history item is associated with the thumbnail image and displayed on the history selection screen 601 in FIG. On the other hand, even when the user does not make a selection, the thumbnail image temporarily determined in S1009 is stored as a history item.

  In the processing in S1012, information indicating that the user has selected may be stored in the folder 802. As the storage method, the file may be stored as a file different from the generation element 805 and the thumbnail image 806, or may be stored in the generation element 805 or in the header of the file of the thumbnail image 806. Then, when the history item is displayed on the screen shown in FIG. 6 as the history item, a display may be performed so that the user can recognize the selected history item and the history item not selected by the user. For example, information indicating that the history item has been selected (for example, the text “selected” or a frame for a thumbnail image) may be added.

  If it is determined in S1011 that the user has selected a design, the skeleton template used for the selected design may also be stored as a history item. For example, template information for specifying the skeleton template (for example, the file path of the template file) or the template file itself may be stored in the generated element file shown in FIG. Then, when the user selects a history item on the screen shown in FIG. 6 and the button 609 is pressed, the template file is read according to the template information in the generated element file. Then, the design may be generated again according to the read template file and information in the generation element file. Specifically, the image, text, color scheme, and the like corresponding to the generated element file are applied to the template file read as described above. In this case, the screens of FIGS. 3 and 4 may not be displayed.

  As described above, when the history item of the design selected by the user is selected in FIG. 6, the design is automatically regenerated by the template information and the generation element file. Specifically, an object such as text described in the generation element file or image data specified in the generation element file is rearranged in the template specified by the template information. Accordingly, the design having the same content as the thumbnail image shown in FIG. 6 can be generated without the user selecting the design again on the screen of FIG. If a history item of a design not selected by the user is selected, the screen is returned to the screen shown in FIG. 3 without regenerating the design. Even in this case, the information in the history item is displayed as the default setting of the screen shown in FIG.

  As another method of reselecting the design in FIG. 4, there is a method of storing an image having a sufficient number of pixels as the thumbnail image 806 and reusing it. However, in this case, the data capacity of the thumbnail image 806 increases, and since it is converted into image data, it may not be easily edited. Therefore, by automatically regenerating the design according to the selection of the history item as described above, the thumbnail image 806 can be stored as an image having a small number of pixels that can recognize the contents. Also, when regenerating the design, it is possible to easily adjust the position of each object and change the contents by displaying each object on the template instead of generating image data for the entire page. Can do.

  An upper limit may be set for the number of history items that can be stored. In that case, the oldest history item is automatically deleted in S1007. Furthermore, the number of selections selected for each history item on the history selection screen 601 in FIG. 6 may be acquired. In that case, the oldest one with the least number of reuses is deleted.

  In the present embodiment, the history is also added by pressing the return button 404 and the cancel button 406. However, in those cases, the history item added in S1007 may be deleted so as not to remain in the history. . This is because it is considered that the selection operation is not performed because there is no design that the user wants to use. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent unnecessary history information from increasing.

  Further, in the present embodiment, thumbnail image data is stored as history information, but other data formats may be used as long as the setting contents of the design generation element can be expressed as a generation result. For example, the image may be stored in a larger size image, and when the history list shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, the generation result may be displayed in a greatly enlarged manner so that the setting contents of the generation element can be confirmed in more detail. In addition, the generation result may be stored in a standard data format file of the design editing application. In this case, for example, each time the history list list shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, the file is read and a display image is generated and displayed.

  The various displays in the above embodiments may be displayed on a display device included in the information processing apparatus that performs the display, or may be displayed on an external display device connected to the information processing apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, designs generated in the past (settings such as thumbnail images, object contents, and color schemes) are stored in the memory as a history, and the screen in FIG. 6 is displayed. Since the thumbnail image is displayed on the screen in FIG. 6, the user can select a desired history (design) after confirming the result. Then, the contents and various settings of the object used in the selected design are reflected on the setting screen shown in FIG. For example, when a long text is arranged and the user selects a history, the setting screen is displayed in a state where the text is input, so the user does not need to input the text again. Further, for example, there is a case where a user wants to use a design image newly created as a design image used in a design determined to be desirable as a result of checking a thumbnail image. In this case, even if the user does not recognize the design image, the design image used in the design can be easily reflected in the new design by selecting the history.

  Further, on the setting screen shown in FIG. 3 displayed according to the history selection, the contents of the object and various settings can be changed. Therefore, for example, even when it is desired to adjust a history design and generate a new design, a desired design can be easily generated.

  In addition, as described above, when template information is included as a history, the user can easily regenerate a design having the same contents as the history without having to perform a setting operation again on the setting screen of FIG.

  The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

  Further, the program code for realizing the function of the present embodiment may be executed by one computer (CPU, MPU), or may be executed by a plurality of computers cooperating. Also good. Further, the program code may be executed by a computer, or hardware such as a circuit for realizing the function of the program code may be provided. Alternatively, a part of the program code may be realized by hardware and the remaining part may be executed by a computer.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Information processing apparatus 101 Central processing unit 102 Storage apparatus 103 Input apparatus 104 Display apparatus

Claims (21)

A program for displaying a layout image in which objects are arranged in a template,
An arrangement step of automatically arranging image objects in each of a plurality of templates in accordance with a predetermined instruction by a user;
A first display step of displaying a selection image indicating a layout result of a predetermined layout image among a plurality of layout images generated based on the arrangement in the arrangement step;
A second display step of displaying a screen that allows editing related to objects arranged in the predetermined layout image when the selected image displayed in the first display step is selected by the user;
A generation step of generating a layout image in which the edited object is arranged on the screen displayed in the second display step;
To the computer,
When a title to be arranged in the predetermined layout image is input by the user, the selection image including the title and the title are displayed together in the first display step, and in the second display step, When the selected image is selected, a program capable of editing the title as the editing is displayed. When the first instruction and the second instruction as the predetermined instruction are executed, in the first display step, a first selection image corresponding to the first layout image as the predetermined layout image Displaying a second selected image corresponding to the second layout image as the predetermined layout image;
When the first selection image or the second selection image is selected by the user, the second display step selects the first layout image and the second layout image by the user. The program according to claim 1, wherein a screen capable of editing an object arranged in a layout image corresponding to the selected image is displayed. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the arranging step, the image object is arranged at a predetermined arrangement position in each of the plurality of templates according to a predetermined arrangement condition without the instruction of the arrangement position by the user. The listed program. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the arrangement step, the image object is arranged in each of the plurality of templates with a predetermined arrangement size according to a predetermined arrangement condition without an instruction of an arrangement size by a user. The listed program. The program according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the predetermined arrangement condition is a condition set in layout information corresponding to each of the plurality of templates. On the screen displayed in the second display step, as the editing, the user performs a drag operation on the first image object included in the predetermined layout image, and the first image object and the predetermined layout are displayed. The arrangement order of the second image object included in the image can be changed,
In the generation step, a layout image including the first image object and the second image object, and having a different layout order of the first image object and the second image object from the predetermined layout image. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the program can be generated. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the computer is caused to execute a third display step of displaying the predetermined layout image. In the third display step, the plurality of layout images are displayed as a list, and the predetermined layout image selected by the user among the plurality of layout images displayed as a list can be edited with respect to the object. The program according to claim 7, which is displayed as follows. 9. The predetermined display image is displayed in the third display step when the selected image displayed in the first display step is selected by the user. The listed program. In the third display step, the predetermined layout image is displayed by arranging an object included in the predetermined layout image on a template used for the predetermined layout image. The program according to claim 9. Causing the computer to further execute a storing step of storing in the memory object information for identifying the object arranged in the predetermined layout image;
11. The predetermined layout image is displayed in the third display step by arranging an object specified by the object information stored in the memory in the storage step. Program. In the storing step, the object information and template information for specifying a template used for the predetermined layout image are stored in the memory,
12. The program according to claim 11, wherein, in the third display step, an object specified by the object information stored in the memory is arranged in a template specified by the template information. In the storing step, the object information and the selected image are associated with each other and stored in the memory,
In the third display step, when the selected image is selected by a user, an object specified by the object information stored in the memory in association with the selected image is arranged. The program according to claim 11 or 12. In the third display step, the predetermined layout image is displayed after the placement in the placement step is performed and before the selection image is displayed in the first display step. The program according to claim 7. In the third display step, another layout image included in the plurality of layout images after the placement in the placement step is performed and before the selection image is displayed in the first display step. The program according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined layout image is displayed together with the program. Prior to the display in the third display step, the computer further executes a reception step for receiving an input of a title by the user,
16. The program according to claim 15, wherein, in the third display step, the predetermined layout image including the title input by the user received in the input step is displayed. The program according to claim 16, wherein in the arranging step, the image object and the title are automatically arranged in each of the plurality of templates. The program according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined layout image is a first layout image in a predetermined order of the plurality of layout images. In the first display step, the selected image and the title are displayed so that the title that is the same character string input by the user is displayed in the selected image and outside the selected image. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein: An information processing apparatus that displays a layout image in which objects are arranged in a template,
An arrangement unit that automatically arranges image objects in each of a plurality of templates in accordance with a predetermined instruction by a user;
First display control means for displaying, on a display device, a selection image indicating a layout result of a predetermined layout image among a plurality of layout images generated based on the placement by the placement means;
When the selected image displayed by the first display control means is selected by the user, a second screen is displayed on the display screen that allows editing on the object arranged in the predetermined layout image. Display control means;
Generating means for generating a layout image in which the edited object is arranged on the screen displayed by the second display control means;
Have
When a title to be arranged in the predetermined layout image is input by the user, the first display control means displays both the selected image including the title and the title, and the second display control. An information processing apparatus, wherein when the selected image is selected, a screen capable of editing the title is displayed as the editing. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus that displays a layout image in which objects are arranged in a template,
An arrangement step of automatically arranging image objects in each of a plurality of templates in accordance with a predetermined instruction by a user;
A first display step of displaying a selection image indicating a layout result of a predetermined layout image among a plurality of layout images generated based on the arrangement in the arrangement step;
A second display step of displaying a screen that allows editing related to objects arranged in the predetermined layout image when the selected image displayed in the first display step is selected by the user;
A generation step of generating a layout image in which the edited object is arranged on the screen displayed in the second display step;
Have
When a title to be arranged in the predetermined layout image is input by the user, the selection image including the title and the title are displayed together in the first display step, and in the second display step, When the selected image is selected, a screen capable of editing the title is displayed as the editing.