JPH114312A - Image input output system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow even a person without expert intelligence such as image quality and resolution of an input image to obtain an output with excellent image quality by displaying recommendations of an image output size providing an output with excellent image quality among plural image output sizes based on resolution or a pixel number of image data detected by a detection means. SOLUTION: At first, the user selects any of various input media that are print sources displayed on a screen of a display device 20. When any of the input media is selected, setting to receive image data from the selected input medium is conducted. Then reading of image data is started and the number of pixels of the received image is detected. When reading of the image data is finished, the input data are extracted. Then a size of print paper is selected and the number of pixels of each size is compared with the number of pixels of the input image to be detected and a size of print paper at which excellent resolution is obtained is recommended and the result is displayed on the display device 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input / output system. The present invention relates to an image input / output system for outputting to an output device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a print service for reading a photograph taken by a user with a scanner, processing the read image, or synthesizing it with a template image prepared in advance, and then printing it on a print paper of a desired size by a digital printer. Has been proposed.

[0003] An image input / output system capable of providing this kind of print service is installed in stores such as DPE agent stores, department stores, and convenience stores, and can be operated by the user himself.

[0004]

However, a general user can perform an appropriate processing without deteriorating the image quality by performing what kind of processing and what kind of output (print paper size) on an image read by a scanner or the like. In some cases, it is difficult to obtain prints of the image quality expected by the user because the user is not familiar with the process.

For example, about VGA (640 pixels × 480 pixels)
If an attempt is made to output a full-size image from the input image of l) to a printer with a paper size of A4 and 300 dpi, the image is interpolated and output as a very poor image. Also,
When an input image and a prepared template image are combined and output, the input image is scaled up or down depending on the size of the area to be combined, but if the template image that matches the input image is not selected, the image quality will be reduced. Deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an image input / output system capable of obtaining an output of good image quality even by a person who does not have specialized knowledge such as image quality and resolution of an input image. With the goal.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image capturing means for capturing image data from an input medium, and a method for detecting the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data captured by the image capturing means. Detecting means for selecting a desired image output size from a plurality of image output sizes; and a good image output size based on the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data detected by the detecting means. A means for making a recommendation of an image output size at which image quality output is obtained, or a means for selecting only an image output size at which good image quality output is obtained by the image output size selection means, and Image output means for outputting an image of a size selected by the image output size selection means based on the read image data It is characterized in that it consists of.

That is, based on the information on the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data taken in from the input medium, an image output size (for example, from a plurality of sizes of printing paper, good image quality) can be obtained from a plurality of image output sizes. Print paper of a size that provides good image quality) or select only the image output size that provides good image quality output, so that poor quality image output is not performed. Prevent beforehand.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided image capturing means for capturing image data from an input medium, detecting means for detecting the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data captured by the image capturing means, A template image selecting means for selecting a desired template image from a plurality of template images prepared in advance; and outputting a good image from the plurality of template images based on the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data detected by the detecting means. Means for performing a recommended display of the obtained template image, or selecting only a template image capable of obtaining a good image quality output in the template image selecting means; and image data and the template read by the image capturing means. Image data of the template image selected by the image selection means It is characterized in an image output means for outputting an image of a predetermined size based, in that it consists of.

That is, the size of an input image to be synthesized with the template image is determined by the type of the template image. A plurality of template images are determined based on the information on the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data fetched from the input medium. Provides information that recommends template images that can output good image quality, or allows only template images that can output good image quality to be selected, thereby preventing image output with poor image quality from being performed. To prevent.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an image input / output system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image input / output system according to the present invention. This image input / output system includes an image processing unit 10 including a personal computer main body, a display 20, a coin machine 30, an image input device 40, and an output device (printer) 50.

The image processing unit 10 includes a central processing unit (C)
PU) 11, storage device 12, frame memory 13, display controller 14, user interface input control unit 15, serial controller 16, and SCS
It comprises an I controller 17. Storage device 12
Stores an operating system (OS), software for a print service, template image data serving as a background image of an input image to be synthesized, and a storage area for one frame previously reserved for printing. And unused areas. The frame memory 13 stores image data corresponding to the screen of the display 20 on a one-to-one basis, and the image data is sequentially and repeatedly read and output to the display 20 via the display controller 14. As a result, various screens to be described later are displayed on the display 20.

User interface input control unit 15
Is connected to an input device 18 such as a touch sensor provided on the screen of the display 20 or a mouse. By operating the input device 18, an appropriate input can be performed in an on-screen interactive mode. I have. The coin machine 30 collects a fee for a print service and returns change. The coin machine 30 is connected to the image processing unit 10 via the serial controller 16, and the amount of money inserted, the type and quantity of each coin currently stored. , And information indicating change and the like are exchanged with the image processing unit 10.

The image input device 40 and the printer 50 are connected to the image processing unit 10 via the SCSI controller 17. Note that the image input device 40
For example, a film scanner for reading a frame image of a photo film (APS film), a flatbed scanner for reading a reflection original such as a photograph, a card reader for reading image data from a PC card or smart media (SSFDC), a floppy for reading image data from a floppy disk It is a disk driver. Also, the printer 5
Reference numeral 0 denotes a digital printer that has print paper of, for example, A4, A5, and A6 sizes and prints an image on a print paper selected from these print papers.

Next, the procedure at the time of printing by the image input / output system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 and the screens of the display 20 shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, at the start of the print service, first, an input medium is selected (step S10). That is, the screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display 20, and the user can input various types of input media (photos,
(APS film, floppy disk, smart media, and PC card).

When an input medium is selected, setting for taking in image data from the input medium is performed (step S12). Now, when a photograph is selected as the input medium, the screen of the display 20 is a screen for starting the scan by setting the photograph on the flatbed scanner as shown in FIG. Here, when the start button on the screen of the display 20 is pressed, the scanning of the photograph by the flatbed scanner is started (step S14). When reading of image data by scanning is started, the screen of the display 20 is as shown in FIG.

During the scanning, the number of pixels of the input image is detected. That is, since the number of pixels when controlling the scanner is specified based on the size of the photograph, the number of pixels of the input image can be recognized. Further, when image data is taken in from a floppy disk or a PC card, since information indicating the number of pixels is usually included in the header file, it can be recognized therefrom. When the input image is reduced, the number of pixels corrected according to the reduction processing is detected.

After that, when the reading of the image data is completed, the input medium is taken out (step S1).
6). That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a screen for warning that the input medium (photograph) is to be taken out is displayed, and by pressing the OK button on this screen, the process proceeds to the next step. As described above, the input medium is taken out before the print service ends, so that the input medium is prevented from being left behind.

Subsequently, the size of the print paper is selected (step S18). Here, it is assumed that there is a print service that prints an A4, A5, or A6 size print paper by fully scaling the print paper, and the number of pixels for obtaining a print of good resolution on each size print paper is defined as A4 Output size of (3000 × 2000) Output size of A5: (2000 × 1500) Output size of A6: (1500 × 1000)

Then, by comparing the number of pixels of each size with the number of pixels of the input image detected in step S14, it is recommended to use a print sheet capable of obtaining a good resolution. That is, if the number of pixels of the input image is larger than 3000 × 2000, all print papers of A4, A5 and A6 are recommended, and if the number of pixels of the input image is larger than 2000 × 1500 and smaller than 3000 × 2000. Recommends A5 and A6 print papers, and recommends A6 print papers if the number of pixels of the input image is smaller than 2000 × 1500.
It should be noted that in step S18 of FIG.
This is an example of a case where the size is larger than 00 × 1500 and smaller than 3000 × 2000, and the buttons for selecting the print papers of A5 and A6 are displayed separately (for example, brightly) from the buttons for selecting the print paper of A6. I am trying to do it.
In addition, for the selection of the print paper that is not recommended, for example, the button display on the screen may be deleted so that the selection cannot be made.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen of the display 20 for selecting a print sheet. Further, on this screen, different prices are displayed according to the size and the number of prints, and the amount of money inserted into the coin machine 30 is also displayed. In this embodiment, the print fee for the second and subsequent prints is set to a separate fee (half price for the first print in this embodiment). If printing is impossible due to running out of print paper or the like, "sold out" is displayed as shown in FIG.

When the first print charge is inserted, or when a larger amount (for example, a 500 yen coin) than the first print charge is inserted and the change is made, the printer 50 Print out the input image on print paper of the selected size. If there is no change, "no change" is displayed and no printing is performed.

When printing is completed, the display 20
9 displays a screen shown in FIG. 9, and it is possible to select whether or not to perform additional printing by using the additional print button on this screen. Here, when the end button is pressed, the print service ends, and if there is a change, the change is returned. On the other hand, if the user presses the additional print button and there is a balance more than the second print fee and there is change or print paper, the second print is accepted.
Print out the first sheet. If the second print fee has not been charged or if the balance is less than the second print fee, a screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display 20 to request an additional fee. Then, when the amount of money equal to or more than the second print fee is entered,
The change is determined in the same manner as above, and if the conditions are satisfied, the second sheet is printed out.

Next, an embodiment will be described in which the image processing unit 10 performs an interpolation process on the image data of the input image so that the input image can be electronically zoomed, and limits the magnification by the electronic zoom according to the input image data. explain.
The image quality of the image zoomed by the electronic zoom decreases as the zoom magnification increases. Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, a print sheet that can obtain a print with a good resolution is recommended according to the number of pixels of the input image, and the zoom magnification is limited according to the type of image data as described below. Like that.

That is, the image processing unit 10 inputs information on the presence / absence of compression, compression method, and compression ratio of image data taken from an input medium, and provides a service suitable for image quality based on the information. As shown in FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not the image data captured from the input medium is compressed data (step S20). In particular, image data stored on a floppy disk or a PC card is often subjected to various types of compression in order to reduce the amount of data. Also, since the compression method and the compression ratio are included in the header file, it is recognized from the header file.

If it is determined in step S20 that the image has not been compressed or that the image has been losslessly compressed, the process proceeds to step S22, where based on the number of pixels of the input image, shown in (a) of Table 1 below. Enable output service.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S20 that lossy compression has been performed, the process proceeds to step S24, where the compression ratio is determined. If the compression rate is 2 bits / pel or more, the process proceeds to step S26, where the output service shown in (b) of Table 1 is enabled based on the number of pixels of the input image, and the compression rate is 2 bits / pel. If it is less than the number of pixels, the process proceeds to step S28, where Table 1
(C) is enabled.

[0027]

[Table 1] Next, another procedure for printing by the image input / output system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 12, in this embodiment, the size of the print paper to be printed out is first selected from the print papers of A4, A5 and A6 sizes (step S30, see FIG. 7). In this case, there is no display of a recommended size or a print size that cannot be selected. Subsequently, the input medium is selected (step S3).
2) Inserting the media (step S34), scanning (step S36), and removing the media (step S36)
38) is performed. Note that the contents of steps S32 to S38 are the same as those of steps S10 to S16 shown in FIG. 2, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

In step S38, when the removal of the medium is completed, a combined image to be combined with the input image (a template image serving as a background image of the input image) is selected (step S40). FIG. 13 is an example of a screen of the display 20 for selecting a template image.
As shown in FIG.
A button with the template images is displayed,
The area where the input image is synthesized on each template image is shown in white. By pressing any one of the buttons on which these template images are displayed, a template image is selected. By pressing the “next” or “previous” button on the screen of FIG. 13, the template image of the next candidate or the previous candidate can be displayed. The template image includes a decoration image for decorating the periphery of the input image, a calendar image representing the input image as a part of a calendar, an image forming the cover image or a poster of the input image, and a plurality of frame images of a roll of film. There is an index image for displaying a list.

On the screen shown in FIG. 13, a display for recommending a template image suitable for the input image is also performed. That is, based on the number of pixels of the input image detected in step S36 and the size of the area where the input image is synthesized on each template image, whether or not the input image synthesized in that area has a good resolution Is determined. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, in the case of a template image in which the input image is fitted into the center circle, the size of the region is defined as a rectangular region circumscribing the circle to be composited, based on the number of pixels of the input image. Only when the size that can be printed at a good resolution is larger than the combined area size, the template image can be recommended. The button indicating the template image that can be recommended is highlighted and blinked so as to be easily selected, and the button indicating the template image that is not recommended is not highlighted so as not to be selected. If an unrecommended template image is selected, a message to that effect may be displayed. Further, only a button indicating a recommended template image is displayed on the screen, and an unrecommended template image cannot be selected. You may do so.

When the template image is selected as described above, the process of synthesizing the template image and the input image is performed (step S42). That is, when the template image is selected, the display 20 displays a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing the input image with the template image as shown in FIG. 14, and a group of buttons for performing alignment, rotation, zoom, etc. of the input image. Is displayed. By operating these buttons, the input image is appropriately edited and combined with the template image. If the size of the input image is smaller than the size of the combined area, the zoom magnification may be limited to an enlargement ratio that can maintain good image quality, so as to prevent a decrease in image quality.

Also, in this embodiment, the case where a printer is used as an output device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a storage device that stores image data on a recording medium and a communication device that transmits image data to an external device may be used. Good. Furthermore,
The template image is converted to multiple resolutions (for example, 100dp
i, 200 dpi...) may be used to make a recommended display of a template image of an appropriate resolution or select only a template image of an appropriate resolution based on the resolution or the number of pixels of the input image.

[0033]

As described above, according to the image input / output system according to the present invention, good image quality can be obtained from a plurality of image output sizes based on information such as the resolution and the number of pixels of image data taken from an input medium. Providing information that recommends the image output size that can output the image, or selecting only the image output size that can obtain the output of good image quality, even those who do not have expertise such as image quality and resolution of the input image It is possible to obtain an output with good image quality, thereby preventing output of a print or the like having poor image quality.

According to the present invention, the resolution of the template image and the size of the input image to be synthesized are determined by the type of the template image. To provide information that recommends template images that provide good image quality output from multiple template images, or to select only template images that provide good image quality output. Therefore, even a person who does not have specialized knowledge such as resolution can obtain an output of good image quality, thereby preventing output of a print or the like having poor image quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image input / output system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart used to explain a procedure at the time of printing by the image input / output system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display when an input medium is selected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display when a medium is inserted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display while reading image data from an input medium;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display after reading of image data from an input medium is completed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for selecting a print sheet from a plurality of print sheets.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display when sold out.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display when printing is completed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display when an additional print is instructed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm for classifying image data based on information on the presence / absence of compression, a compression method, and a compression ratio of image data captured from an input medium.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart used to explain another procedure at the time of printing by the image input / output system according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display when a template image is selected.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display when an input image and a template image are combined.

FIG. 15 is a diagram used for explaining a combined area size of an input image in a template image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image processing part 11 ... Central processing unit (CPU) 12 ... Storage device 13 ... Frame memory 14 ... Display controller 15 ... User interface input control part 16 ... Serial controller 17 ... SCSI controller 18 ... Input device 20 ... Display 30 ... Coin Machine 40: Image input device 50: Output device (printer)

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image capturing means for capturing image data from an input medium; a detecting means for detecting the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data captured by the image capturing means; and a desired image output from a plurality of image output sizes. An image output size selection unit for selecting a size; and a display for recommending an image output size capable of obtaining good image quality output from a plurality of image output sizes based on the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data detected by the detection unit. Or a means for selecting only an image output size at which good image quality output is obtained by the image output size selecting means, and selecting by the image output size selecting means based on image data read by the image capturing means. Image output means for outputting an image having a predetermined size, and an image input / output system comprising: 2. An image capturing means for capturing image data from an input medium, a detecting means for detecting the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data captured by the image capturing means, and a plurality of template images prepared in advance. A template image selecting means for selecting a template image of the image data, and a recommendation display of a template image capable of obtaining a good image output from a plurality of template images based on the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data detected by the detecting means. Or means for selecting only a template image from which good-quality output is obtained in the template image selecting means; image data read by the image capturing means and an image of the template image selected by the template image selecting means An image of a predetermined size based on the data Image output system, wherein an image output means for outputting, in that it consists of. 3. Image capturing means for capturing image data from an input medium, detecting means for detecting the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data captured by the image capturing means, and outputting a desired image from a plurality of image output sizes. Image output size selecting means for selecting a size; template image selecting means for selecting a desired template image from a plurality of template images prepared in advance; image output size selected by the image output size selecting means and the detecting means Based on the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data detected by the above, a display recommending a template image that provides good image quality output from a plurality of template images is performed, or a good image quality output is obtained by the template image selecting unit. Means for selecting only the template image to be selected, Image output means for outputting a composite image at an image output size selected by the image output size selection means based on the image data read by the image capture means and the image data of the template image selected by the template image selection means; An image input / output system comprising: 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input medium is at least two of a transparent original, a reflective original, and a storage medium for storing image data, and has a medium selecting means for selecting the input medium. And 2 or 3 image input / output systems. 5. An image processing means for enlarging or reducing image data fetched by said image fetching means, wherein the enlargement processing by the image processing means is performed so that an image output at the image output size has good image quality. 4. The image input / output system according to claim 1, wherein the magnification is maintained. 6. An image processing unit for performing scaling processing on image data captured by the image capturing unit, and when the image processing unit performs a reduction process, the detection unit corrects the image data in accordance with the reduction process. 4. The image input / output system according to claim 1, wherein the resolution or the number of pixels of the image data is detected. 7. The image input / output system according to claim 1, wherein said image output means is a storage device for storing image data on a recording medium. 8. The image input / output system according to claim 1, wherein said image output means is a communication device for transmitting image data to an external device. 9. The image input / output system according to claim 1, wherein said image output means is a printing device for printing image data as a visible image. 10. The template image is composed of image data that can be used at a plurality of resolutions. When synthesizing an image for outputting an image, the template image has a resolution or the number of pixels of the image data detected by the detection unit. 4. The image input / output system according to claim 2, wherein the resolution of the template image is set based on the template image.