JPH11185047A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of improving operability of image processing software and enhancing efficiency when it is used by a user. SOLUTION: The image processor is provided with a central processing unit 1, a display 2, an input device 3 to input a character and a numeral, etc., a main storage device 4 to store a program under execution, etc., a secondary storage device 5 to temporarily store data and a pointing device 6 to operate a cursor, etc. Operation by history in the case that an image processing is performed for plural times is possible, common processings are also performed among other files and the efficiency of the image processing is enhanced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for an electronic camera, a color scanner and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an environment for personal use of digital images such as an electronic camera and a color scanner has been prepared. Correspondingly, opportunities to process and edit digital images (hereinafter, these operations are referred to as retouching) have been increasing. Software (hereinafter, referred to as retouching software) for performing these operations on a calculation processing device such as a personal computer has various image processing functions.

The image itself is basically composed of RGB numerical data. In an image called full color, the R component indicates the intensity of red, the G component indicates the intensity of blue, and the B component indicates the degree of green intensity in 256 levels, and the color of one pixel is displayed by a combination thereof. . Therefore, image processing is realized by changing each of these numerical values. Hereinafter, the basic image processing will be briefly described.

(1) Change of Brightness The degree of brightness of an image is designated and changed.

(2) Change of contrast The change is performed by designating the degree of contrast of an image.

(3) Change of Hue, Saturation and Luminance RGB data is converted into three elements of hue, saturation and luminance, respectively, and these values are changed respectively.
The conversion to RGB data again makes it easier to change the color sensuously.

(4) Sharpness processing A process for expressing sharpness by enhancing the outline (edge) of an object in an image.

(5) Smooth processing A process for blurring edges of an object in an image to express smoothness.

(6) Gray processing Processing for converting a color image into black and white gradations.

(7) Binarization process A process for converting an image into only two pieces of information, white and black.

In each process, a value for determining the degree is often specified, and the user generally adjusts this value while looking at the image. As for the degree of value adjustment, a method for easily providing the user with operability through a graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as a GUI) has been adopted, and more sensible operability has been realized.

The configuration of the GUI-based retouching software will be described below with reference to the schematic diagram of the retouching software shown in FIG.
In the GUI, the user performs a basic operation using a pointing device such as a mouse and a cursor 205 displayed on a screen. Reference numeral 201 denotes a main frame displayed when the retouch software is activated on a personal computer. Within this mainframe, the user gives various instructions. First, various functions are displayed in the menu area 202 in the form of buttons 203 and menus. Move the cursor to the desired function and press the mouse button to open the main frame 2.
01 is configured to receive an instruction.

When the function of reading a file is executed, 2
A frame called a child window of 04 is displayed on the main frame, and an image specified in the child window is read. The user performs the above-described image processing on the read image. Each function is assigned to a button in the menu area, and each image processing can be executed by pressing the button. However, when a parameter (such as a numerical value) is specified in the image processing as described above, a window for setting called a dialog 206 is further displayed.

This dialog will be described with reference to a dialog diagram of one image processing shown in FIG. Here, an example will be described in which the brightness of the image processing function is changed using a dialog. When inputting the degree of brightness as a numerical value, 3
The user places the cursor on a place called a value input field of 01 and inputs a numerical value. However, if it is troublesome to input each numerical value, the adjustment is made using the slider 302. The slider 302 moves the cursor to a part 303 and moves the cursor left and right while holding down the mouse, thereby expressing the movement linked thereto on the screen. Further, the moving width of the slider 302 is proportional to the numerical value of the degree of brightness. This numerical value is displayed in the input fill-in 301 to make it easy for the user to understand.
When the adjustment is performed as described above and the actual execution is performed, the OK button 304 is pressed. With this signal, the system performs image processing based on the actually designated numerical value.

[0015]

However, in the above-mentioned method, in order to perform an intuitive operation, an image on which a plurality of processes have been actually performed is determined at what point in time what process is applied and what value is given. Must be properly managed by the user. It is difficult to ascertain what processing has been performed just by looking at the image. In other words, if you want to perform similar processing on different images, you cannot reproduce them unless you leave the data yourself.

Although the retouching software has a cancel function, this function is only for canceling the previous processing. This function is implemented by securing the previous image data in the memory. In order to return to the processing a plurality of times ago, it is necessary to store the image data for the number of times in the two-time device, which imposes a burden on the calculation processing device and is not practically possible.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and provides an image processing apparatus capable of increasing the efficiency of image processing by storing the details of image processing performed by a user in a stepwise manner. The purpose is to:

[0018]

The present invention provides input means for reading image data from a file, data securing means for securing image data on a memory, data reading means for reading data on a memory, An image processing means for creating new data by adding various processes and an output means for writing the changed image data to a file are provided.

With this configuration, it is possible to realize an image processing apparatus in which the contents of the image processing performed by the user are stored in a stepwise manner and the efficiency of the image processing can be improved.

[0020]

An image processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: an input unit for reading image data from a file;
Data securing means for securing image data in memory, data reading means for reading data in memory, image processing means for creating new data by applying various processing to the data, and Output means for writing to a file.

According to this configuration, the processing can be returned to an intermediate stage in the course of several image processings, and the same image processing can be performed between the image files, thereby improving the processing efficiency. Can be done.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a list forming means for listing contents processed by each image processing as a parameter, a list description means for writing the listed items on a memory, and a list forming means. The system includes a list calling unit that reads items from a memory, a list analyzing unit that analyzes parameters from the items of the called list, and a history image processing unit that performs image processing according to the analyzed parameters.

With this configuration, the efficiency of image processing can be improved. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a list file output unit that writes a list described on a memory to a file, and a list file input unit that reads a list file and expands the list on a memory. It is possible to reuse.

With this configuration, the efficiency of image processing can be improved. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of history image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the retouching software, FIG.
4 is a flowchart up to the same image display, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of image processing in the same history image processing, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the same history list, FIG. 7 is a flowchart of image processing based on the same history, and FIG. FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit for performing image processing and a series of processing. Reference numeral 2 denotes a display device for displaying a processing result and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes an input device for a user to specify numerical values, characters, and the like. Reference numeral 4 denotes a main storage device for storing execution processing modules and image files. Reference numeral 5 denotes a secondary storage device for temporarily storing data. Reference numeral 6 denotes a pointing device for the user to operate the cursor to make a designation.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a file input unit for expanding an image file stored in the main storage device 4 into image data. A data securing unit 111 stores the developed image data in the secondary storage device 5. Reference numeral 112 denotes a data display unit which displays an image from the image data according to the information. Reference numeral 113 denotes a data acquisition unit that reads out image data stored in the secondary storage device 5. Reference numeral 114 denotes an image processing unit for performing various calculation processes on the image data. Reference numeral 115 denotes a file output unit that writes changed image data as a file in order to secure the image data in the main storage device 4.

Reference numeral 120 denotes a list forming unit that divides the contents of one image processing into items and forms a list. 1
Reference numeral 21 denotes a list description unit that stores data configured as a list in the secondary storage device 5. Reference numeral 122 denotes a list acquisition unit that reads a list stored in the secondary storage device 5 from a header. Reference numeral 123 denotes a list analysis unit that decodes the contents of the acquired list into a history of image processing.
Reference numeral 124 denotes a history image processing unit that executes target image processing based on the analyzed history data. Reference numeral 130 denotes a list file output unit that writes a list group stored in the secondary storage device 5 as a file to be stored in the main storage device 4. Reference numeral 131 denotes a list file input unit that reads a list file stored in the main storage device 4.

The operation of the history image processing method of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 4 shows a flow of displaying a digital image file.

First, in step 1, the user designates an arbitrary image file to make the file readable. The image file has various formats, but here, a bitmap format will be briefly described as an example.
The bit mat file is large, and stores information data such as a size of image data called a header portion and actual image data. This information data is read from the file, and the size of the image is acquired. A digital image is a two-dimensional collection of pixels, and the image size is calculated in pixel units. Here, 640 pixels horizontally and 480 pixels vertically
Handles image data composed of pixels. That is, 6
It is a collection of data of 40 × 480 pixels.

Next, in step 2, image data is read. A digital image is composed of data of one pixel. An image in which one pixel has only information of 0 or 1 is called a binary image, and an image in which several levels of data, that is, brightness can be expressed, is called a gradation image. Here, a color image is handled. A color image is represented by gradations of three primary colors of R, G, and B. For a full-color image, R,
G and B are each represented by 256 gradations. Therefore, in full-color digital image data, R, R
Since it is necessary to secure G and B gradation data areas, the data areas are prepared for the image size. In this process,
Since this data area is enormous, preparations to be made in advance on the secondary storage device are made.

Next, in step 3, the image data is stored. Image data is stored in a bitmap format file.
As described above, one pixel is recorded in the order of R, G, and B. This data is read out one by one from the file and stored in the image data area prepared in step S2.
Each pixel is stored in the order of R, G, and B.

Next, in step 4, one pixel at a time is drawn on the screen based on the image data stored in step S3. In this process, the R, G, and B pixels are displayed pixel by pixel, with the upper left corner of the display frame having an image size of 640 × 480 as the first.
And starts drawing, and slides one pixel in the horizontal direction. Since the horizontal size is 640, 64
When the 0th drawing is completed, one slide is performed in the vertical direction, and drawing is similarly performed from the left. Up to this step is a process up to displaying the digital image.

Next, in step 5, the user accepts designation of an arbitrary image processing, and causes a processing corresponding to the designation. Next, in step 6, when image data changed by a user's instruction is stored as a file, data of one pixel is read one by one from the stored image data. Next, in step 7, the read data is
Each file is written one by one, but since it is a bitmap file, information data is written first.

Next, the flow of the history image processing in step 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and FIGS.
First, in step 11, since there are a plurality of (1 to n) image processes, the user selects an arbitrary image process N. A tag corresponding to each image processing is assigned in advance to each image processing (see FIG. 6A). Here, a process of changing the brightness of an image will be described as an example. The user can change the brightness in the menu area 202
Then, a button 203 for executing the brightness change processing is selected. At this time, the dialog of FIG. 3 is displayed on the screen. Here, the user designates the setting items of this dialog to specify the degree of brightness. After the designation (here, enter the value of 50), an OK button 304
By pressing, the image processing is executed.

Next, the processing in step 12 will be described. The type of image processing is change in brightness, and the parameter of the parameter is information of 50, which is received by the image processing unit. Here, an area for storing the changed image data is newly secured in the secondary storage device. Since the image data before the processing is stored in the secondary storage device 5, preparation for reading the image data is performed.

The data of one pixel is read one by one. The image processing is calculated as specified each time one data is read. This calculation processing is a different method for each image processing. Here, the change of the brightness will be described. The data of one pixel has data of 256 gradations of R, G and B.
That is, values of 0 to 255 are held.
In general, the colors become darker as they approach zero, and lighter as they approach 255. When the degree of brightness is designated by 50, each value is manipulated so as to be 50% brighter. R, G, and B are represented by r,
If g and b are used and the degree is m, the brightness is changed by the following equation.

When m> 0, r ′ = r + (r × m / 100) g ′ = g + (g × m / 100) b ′ = b + (b × m / 100) When m ≦ 0, r ′ = R-(r x m / 100) g '= g-(g x m / 100) b' = b-(b x m / 100) r ', g', and b 'are values after the change.

When r '> 255, r' = 255 when g '> 255, g' = 255 when b '> 255, b' = 255 when b '> 255, r' = 0 when r '<0, and r' = 0 when g '<0. When g ′ = 0, b ′ = 0 when b ′ <0.

As described above, the values r, g, and b are calculated one pixel at a time, and the values r ', g', b 'of the calculation result are stored in the newly secured data area. . And
The image is displayed again on the changed image based on the new data. Here, the newly secured image data area is overwritten at the time of the next image processing, and a new area is not secured again.

Next, in step 13, a list in which the contents of the executed image processing are divided into respective items as shown in FIG. 6B is created. The processing number describes the order in which the image processing was performed. The tag describes a tag assigned to each image processing in advance and a tag of the actually executed image processing. The number of parameters is plural depending on each image processing. In the case of brightness change processing, the parameter describes the value of the degree of brightness as one parameter.

Next, the processing in step 14 will be described. The list created in the previous step is stored in a history list area in which an area is reserved in the secondary storage device 5 in advance.
It is stored in the form as shown in (c). With the above steps, the history in the image processing is prepared.

The process of history image processing based on this preparation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It is assumed that when the image processing is performed N times, the processing returns to the processing performed n times before.

First, the processing in step 21 will be described. When performing the history image processing, a means for displaying a history list as a dialog is used here. Since the process of performing the image processing is secured as a list, tags are extracted from the list according to the processing numbers, and the tags are displayed as a list on the dialog of FIG. 8 in the history list 801. Image processing corresponding to the tag is assigned in advance to the tag.

Next, in step 22, the user selects an item to return to the intended processing from the history list of this dialog and gives an instruction by pressing an OK button.

Next, in step 23, the list up to the designated image processing number is sequentially read. First, the image data in the initial state is extracted. This is secured as image data. Extract tags and parameters from the list.

Next, in step 24, image processing corresponding to the extracted list item is calculated using the extracted image data. The calculated data is secured in another image data area, the processing up to the designated image processing number is repeated, the final image data is displayed on the screen, and the processing ends. Further, the list data is stored in the main storage device 4 as a file.
, And the same processing can be performed by reading a file in the list for image processing of another file.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation based on the history when the image processing is performed a plurality of times can be performed, and the common processing can be performed between other files. Efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of history image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of retouching software according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a dialog diagram of one image processing according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart up to image display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of image processing in history image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a history list according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of image processing using history according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a dialog diagram of a history list according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Central processing unit 2 Display device 3 Input device 4 Main storage device 5 Secondary storage device 6 Pointing device 110 File input unit 111 Data reservation unit 112 Data display unit 113 Data acquisition unit 114 Image processing unit 115 File output unit 120 List configuration unit 121 list description unit 122 list acquisition unit 123 list analysis unit 124 history image processing unit 130 list file output unit 131 list file input unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] An input means for reading image data from a file, a data securing means for securing image data in a memory, a data reading means for reading data in a memory, and a new processing by adding various processes to the data. An image processing apparatus comprising: image processing means for creating data; and output means for writing changed image data to a file. 2. A list creating means for listing contents processed by each image processing as a parameter, a list description means for writing the listed items on a memory, and a list for reading the listed items from the memory. Calling means, list analyzing means for analyzing parameters from the items of the called list, and history image processing means for performing image processing according to the analyzed parameters, enabling image processing by history. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. A list file output means for writing a list described on a memory to a file, and a list file input means for reading a list file and expanding the list file on a memory, and reusing image processing based on a history. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein