JP2004048648A - Method of forming special effect image, camera and image server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily form a special effect image such as a stereoscopic photograph or a panoramic photograph. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of digital cameras 9 each having a communication function are used. One of the digital cameras 9 specifies group cameras, and camera identifying data specified together with identifying data for forming special effect image are transmitted to an image server 10. The server 10 transmits photographing instruction data to each of the group cameras on the basis of the identifying data for forming special effect image. With the start of photographing by a leader camera, the group cameras start photographing at a prescribed timing. Picked-up image data are transmitted to the server 10 together with the identifying data for forming special effect image. The server 10 composes the image data picked up by the plurality of cameras 9 to form a special effect image such as a stereoscopic photograph or a panoramic photograph. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for creating a special effect image using a camera with a communication function capable of transferring image data, a camera, and an image server.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, electronic cameras, mobile phones equipped with cameras, and the like are rapidly spreading (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-128113 A (pages 3 and 4)
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-320454 A (pages 2 and 3)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Such an electronic camera or camera-equipped mobile phone simply shoots the subject, and if you want to take special shots such as panorama shooting, stereo shooting, and slow motion shooting, you need an accessory device for these In addition to the complexity of the device configuration, there are problems such as an increase in the size of cameras and mobile phones.
[0005]
The present invention is for solving the above-mentioned problems, and special effect image creation is made so that various special effect images can be easily obtained by panoramic photography, stereo photography, slow motion photography, etc. without complicating the apparatus configuration. It is an object to provide a method, a camera, and an image server.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, photographing is performed using a camera with a communication function including a photographing unit and a data communication unit that transfers image data photographed by the photographing unit and identification data of the image data. And transferring the image data and identification data to the image server by the data communication unit, associating a plurality of image data using the identification data in the image server, and synthesizing the images based on these image data to produce special effects. Creating an image. In addition, it is preferable to use a plurality of cameras with the communication function, and perform shooting with the plurality of cameras at a timing synchronized or shifted by a predetermined time to create a special effect image. The camera with a communication function includes a strobe or a light, and it is preferable that the strobe or the light is emitted at a timing synchronized with or shifted from another camera at the time of photographing.
[0007]
Further, in the present invention, a strobe using a photographing unit, a data communication unit for transferring image data photographed by the photographing unit and identification data of the image data, and a plurality of cameras with communication functions. Alternatively, light emission photography is performed, the image data and identification data are transferred to the image server by the data communication unit, and the image server associates image data from a plurality of cameras using the identification data, and the image data Is selected or synthesized to create one special effect image. In addition, it is preferable that the special effect image is an image with good illumination conditions or an image that is not red-eye among images from the plurality of cameras.
[0008]
In the camera with a communication function of the present invention, in the camera with a communication function including the imaging unit, and the data communication unit that transfers the image data captured by the imaging unit and the identification data of the image data, the special effect image capturing mode is set. Mode switching means for switching, and when the mode switching means switches to the special effect image shooting mode, the image is shot by a preset shooting procedure, and the shot image is attached with identification data for creating a special effect image and transferred. And a control unit.
[0009]
Further, in the present invention, the image data and identification taken using a camera with a communication function including a photographing unit, image data photographed by the photographing unit, and a data communication unit that transfers identification data of the image data. In the image server that receives and stores data, a special effect image is created by combining images based on a plurality of image data based on the identification data. Further, in the image server that receives and stores the image data and the identification data captured using a plurality of cameras with a communication function including a strobe or a light, from the plurality of image data associated based on the identification data, It is preferable to create a special effect image by selecting an image with good lighting conditions or an image that is not red-eye.
[0010]
The special effect image is a group image obtained by combining images from a plurality of the cameras, a panoramic image combined by arranging a plurality of adjacent images, and a subject photographed by a plurality of cameras arranged around the subject. A circular image synthesized so that a plurality of images with different directions are arranged, a stereo image synthesized so that a right-eye image and a left-eye image obtained by two cameras are arranged, and a plurality of images obtained by changing the shooting times by a plurality of cameras are arranged. It is preferable that the image is a slow-motion image combined with a zoom-in image combined with a plurality of images with different shooting magnifications or shooting distances, or a combined image selected and combined with a plurality of images from the cameras. .
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a special effect image creation system of the present invention. This special effect image creation system includes a digital still camera (camera mobile phone) 9 with a communication function and an image server 10. The digital still camera 9 and the image server 10 are connected by a mobile phone line 11. The digital still camera 9 includes a still camera body 12, a communication unit 13, and a controller 14 that controls them.
[0012]
The still camera body 12 includes a photographing unit 15, an image processing unit 16, and a buffer memory 17. The photographing unit 15 is composed of a color image area sensor and photographs a subject. The image processing section 16 performs A / D conversion after performing gamma conversion and well-known image processing, and stores this in the buffer memory 17. The buffer memory 17 is composed of two frame memories 17a and 17b. When data compression processing or the like is performed in one frame memory 17a, the image data from the image processing unit 16 is stored in the other frame memory 17b. Can be written. The memory configuration is not limited to the above, and may be changed as appropriate.
[0013]
The communication unit 13 includes a data compression unit 18, an identification / instruction data generation unit 19, and a mobile phone unit 20. The data compression unit 18 reads digital image data for one frame from one of the frame memories 17a and 17b, and compresses the image data at a compression rate of about 1/10 to 1/20, and JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compression. To do. The compressed image data is sent to the mobile phone unit 20. The data compression method is not limited to JPEG, and other known compression methods may be used.
[0014]
The identification / instruction data generation unit 19 generates identification number data (ID data) for specifying a camera user and image creation instruction data corresponding to various special effect image creation commands input from the numeric keypad 21. These identification / instruction data are sent to the mobile phone unit 20.
[0015]
The mobile phone unit 20 associates the compressed image data with the identification / instruction data and transfers the image data to the image server 10 using the well-known mobile phone line 11. It has functions. The data transfer is performed automatically or by key input after each processing such as photographing, image processing, image recording, data compression, and the like, whereby image data and identification / instruction data are registered in the image server 11 registered in advance. Are transferred. Note that a frame identification number is assigned to each image data in order to identify each shooting frame. As the frame identification number, shooting date / time data may be used in addition to a simple count of the number of shooting frames. In the case of image data for special effect image creation, identification data for special effect image creation for identifying this is also attached.
[0016]
The controller 14 includes a numeric keypad 21 and a display 22 and controls each part. Then, by operating the numeric keypad 21, various service modes such as a normal mobile phone mode and e-mail, a normal shooting mode, an image data transfer mode, a special effect image creation mode, and the like are selected, and processing in these modes is executed. . The cellular phone mode, various service modes, the normal shooting mode, the image data transfer mode, and the like are performed in the same manner as an ordinary camera-equipped cellular phone, and will not be described in detail. The numeric keypad 21 is provided with various function keys in addition to the numeric keys 0 to 9, and is used to input setting data and commands for various modes.
[0017]
The image server 10 includes a data communication unit 30, an image composition unit 31, an image storage file 32, a digital printer 33, and a system controller 34. Based on the image data and identification data transferred from each camera 9, the image composition is performed. Or print.
[0018]
The data communication unit 30 includes a modem 35 connected to a telephone line, and a data conversion unit 36 that decodes data from the modem 35 into image data and identification / instruction data. Image data and identification / instruction data from the data converter 36 are stored in the image storage file 32 by the system controller 34 using the identification data as search data. Note that the configuration of the data communication unit 30 may employ another data communication method in addition to the modem 35 and the data conversion unit 36 described above.
[0019]
The system controller 34 controls the image synthesizing unit 31 and the digital printer 33 based on the special effect image creation identification data and the print instruction data to create instruction data for each camera 9 for creating a special effect image. Controls image composition, printing, and the like based on image data photographed based on instruction data.
[0020]
Hereinafter, a method for creating a special effect image which is a feature of the present invention will be described. A processing program for creating a special effect image is stored in advance in the system controller 34 of the image server 10 and the controller 14 of the digital still camera 9. The main part of the processing procedure of this processing program is shown in FIG.
[0021]
First, when a camera owner (user) intends to create a special effect image, a mode is selected by key input, and a special effect image creation mode is selected. In this special effect image creation mode, selection of the type of special effect image and input of identification data of the group camera are performed. In the present embodiment, as the special effect image, a collective image, a panoramic image, a circular image, a stereo image, a slow motion image, and a zoom-up image are prepared.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 3, the collective image P <b> 1 is a combination of images SP <b> 1 to SP <b> 5 by, for example, five cameras C <b> 1 to C <b> 5 arranged side by side. When this group image is selected, the images taken by the designated group cameras C1 to C5 are sent from the group cameras C1 to C5 to the image server 10 together with the group image creation identification data. In the image server 10, based on the image data and identification data from each of the group cameras C1 to C5, the images are synthesized based on a preset collective image format to create a collective image P1. An example of this format is shown in FIG. Reference numeral T1 is a title image, and S1 is a text image of an explanatory text.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 4, the panoramic image P <b> 2 is a combination of adjacent images SP <b> 21 to SP <b> 23 connected by, for example, three cameras C <b> 1 to C <b> 3. Although (C) illustrates the connection of three images SP21 to SP23, this panoramic image P2 only needs to be a combination of two or more. FIG. 4A is an example of a shooting form of a 180 ° half-round panoramic image P2 using three cameras C1 to C3, and FIG. 4B uses six cameras C1 to C6. It is an example of the imaging | photography form of a 360 degree panoramic image. In this panoramic image P2, pattern recognition is performed when adjacent images are combined, and the images are connected so that the images match based on the pattern recognition result. Thereby, the connection part of an image is not unnaturally connected. At this time, if the image enlargement / reduction correction is performed, a more unified panoramic image can be obtained. In the panoramic image, images adjacent in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction are continuous, but instead, images adjacent in the horizontal and vertical directions may be continuous. A resolution image can be obtained. For example, two-dimensional area division is performed using at least four or more cameras, and the resultant image data is combined.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 5, the circular image P3 is a combination of a plurality of images SP31 to SP34 in which the shooting direction of the subject D1 is changed by a plurality of cameras C1 to C4 arranged around the subject D1. The number of images arranged may be two or more. The layout pattern is not limited to that shown in FIG. 5B, and may be changed as appropriate. Also, a plurality of patterns may be stored in advance, and a favorite layout pattern may be selected from these.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 6, the stereo image P4 is a combination of the right-eye image SP41 and the left-eye image SP42 obtained by the two cameras C1 and C2, and can be stereoscopically viewed by autostereoscopic vision or the like.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 7, the slow motion image is a combination of a plurality of images SP51 to SP55 in which the shooting times of the plurality of cameras C1 to C5 are changed by Δt, and the slow motion image is reduced by shortening the shooting time interval. An image P5 is obtained. When taking a still image with each camera, Δt = T / M is set from the time length T to be taken and the number of cameras M. For example, when the purpose is to check a golf form, the time length T is set to 5 to 6 seconds from the start to the end of swing. If the first unit turns on the shutter at the timing of the start of swing, a continuous image in which all operations are divided into M in terms of time is obtained.
[0027]
In addition, when a single camera has a video shooting function of N frames per second, a plurality of (M) cameras are used and the shooting start timing is set to a predetermined time Δt (Δt = 1 / (N × M)). By moving images with different cameras, it is possible to obtain a moving image in which the number of frames per second is increased to (N × M) in a pseudo manner. For example, in the camera of FIG. 7, if N = 10, 50 frames of video can be obtained per second when the number of cameras M = 5. In addition, in the camera as a reader, the number of cameras M may be manually input, or the number of cameras that can be linked is automatically recognized by communication between cameras, and according to the number of recognized cameras (group cameras), It is also possible to automatically calculate Δt with a leader camera and transmit this Δt to other cameras in the group.
[0028]
Although illustration is omitted, the zoomed-up image is a composite of sequentially zoomed-up images using a plurality of cameras with different shooting magnifications and shooting distances. In this case, an image similar to that obtained by zooming in can be obtained by changing the shooting magnification with a camera having a zoom function and changing the shooting distance with a camera without a zoom function. Similarly, although not shown in the figure, the multiple exposure image is obtained by photographing each camera with different exposure values and combining these multiple exposure images as one image. In addition to this, the shutter speed may be divided into a plurality of stages and shared by each camera, and a plurality of images having different shutter speeds may be combined as one image.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 2, when a type such as special effect images P1 to P5 is selected, input of group camera identification data is prompted in accordance with this selection. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the collective image P1, five cameras C1 to C5 are registered as group cameras, and one of them is a leader camera, and a shooting start signal is issued, and the other in the group. The camera performs shooting based on the shooting start signal. Identification of the group camera is performed by inputting a mobile phone number unique to each camera, or an identification number for creating a special effect image registered in advance may be used.
[0030]
Next, a desired image composition format is selected from pre-registered as necessary, and identification data thereof is input. When these inputs are completed, the input content is displayed on the display 22 of the camera 9. The camera user confirms the content of the display 22 and, if the content is as desired, operates the corresponding key of the numeric keypad 21 to transmit the special effect image creation data to the image server 10.
[0031]
Based on the special effect image creation data sent in the image server 10, for example, when the collective image P1 is selected, the group cameras C1 to C5 to be linked are specified as shown in FIG. The special effect image creation instruction data is transferred to the group cameras C1 to C5. Each of the group cameras C1 to C5 receives other camera C2 to C5 at a predetermined timing in response to a shooting start signal from the leader camera C1, and creates a special effect image on the image server 10 with this image data. Transfer with identification data.
[0032]
A shooting time designation signal is used as a shooting timing control signal in each camera 9. The shooting time designation signal includes a signal for designating a certain time and starting shooting after the elapse of this time, and a signal for starting shooting when the set time is reached.
[0033]
The image server 10 performs predetermined image composition based on the special effect image creation identification data and the image data. For example, when a group image is selected, a group image P1 as shown in FIG. 3 is created. The created special effect image P1 is transferred to each of the group cameras C1 to C5. Each of the group cameras C1 to C5 displays the special effect image P1 on the display 22 based on the transferred composite image data.
[0034]
If the camera user observes the special effect image P1 and likes it, the camera user operates the numeric keypad 21 to send a registration command to the image server 10. When receiving the registration command, the image server 10 stores and registers the composite image data together with the special effect image creation identification data. The registered image data is stored for a predetermined period, for example, about one month. When an image browsing service or the like is selected during this period, the registered image data is transferred to each camera or another ordinary mobile phone. Whether or not images can be viewed other than the group cameras C1 to C5 is confirmed at the time of registration, and when the viewing is enabled, the special effect image is transferred to a third party for a fee or free of charge. The Even if browsing is impossible, it is possible to change this setting later by inputting a password or the like. In this case as well, the third party can observe the special effect image.
[0035]
In the embodiment described above, the creation of the image composition of the collective image P1 as a special effect image has been described. However, other special effect images P2 to P5 can be created in the same manner. Further, the created special effect images P1 to P5 may be used for a print service. In this case, a print transfer destination is registered in advance, and the print is sent to this registration destination. Print delivery methods include postal mail, home delivery, and over-the-counter delivery, and are selected from these.
[0036]
In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described using the camera 9 with a communication function as a mobile phone with a camera function. However, the present invention is not particularly required to be a mobile phone, and any camera having a communication unit may be used. For example, it may be a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a camera and a communication unit, or a camera connected to a mobile phone. Note that the communication unit may be provided integrally or separable with the camera.
[0037]
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the image control data is transferred to the group camera by the image server 10, but instead of this, a leader that becomes a leader when creating various special effect images The camera C1 may transfer the shooting control data to the remaining cameras C2 to C5 in the group. In this case, various data for creating special effect images are transferred to other cameras in the group using a short-range wireless communication method such as Bluetooth. In addition, the image data taken by each camera in the group is sent to the image server via the mobile phone line. Instead, the image data is transferred to the reader camera C1 using the short-range wireless communication method. The image data of the cameras C2 to C4 in the group may be transferred to the image server 10 using various communication methods by the leader camera C1. Alternatively, a plurality of image data captured by each camera and their identification data may be stored in association with each other, and the image data of each frame may be sent to the image server 10 collectively. In this case, image data from each camera is extracted based on the special effect image creation identification data, and a plurality of related images are synthesized.
[0038]
Further, when creating various special effect images, in addition to the identification data of each image, shooting date / time data, shooting position data, and the like may be added as necessary and input to the image server. . The shooting date and time data can reduce time errors between the cameras by adding a radio clock function to each camera. Further, the shooting position data of each group camera uses this GPS information by adding a position specifying function by a global positioning system (GPS) to the camera. Furthermore, a special effect image can be created with high accuracy by adding a posture detection function and a direction detection function to the camera. In addition, various data such as a shooting date / time, a shooting position, a camera posture, and a shooting direction may be pasted on the composite image. In addition, other data such as the focal length of the photographing lens, the subject distance, the type of the subject irradiation light source, the weather, and the temperature may be sent to the image server together with the image data, and the image quality may be improved based on the information. In addition to the automatic detection by each device, the various data may be input by a camera user through a key operation or the like.
[0039]
Further, when creating the special effect images P1 to P5, a main subject is extracted for each frame, position displacement correction between frames, subject size shift correction (enlargement / reduction correction), density and color shift correction, Eye meditation correction and red eye correction may be automatically performed. Eye meditation correction is automatically selected when the same subject is shot with multiple cameras while slightly shifting the time axis. The eye position is identified by pattern recognition, and the eye is open. Whether or not the patient is meditating is automatically determined, and when the patient is meditating, the partial image of the meditating eye is replaced with a partial image of the corresponding part of the eye in another image. In this case, when the time required for blinking (the time from when the eyes start to close to when the eyes are fully opened) is typically L milliseconds, the time interval shifted at the time of shooting is set to about (L + α) milliseconds. Α is a margin value considering individual differences and is added. For example, when photographing with two cameras, the photographing time is shifted by (L + α) milliseconds, so that even if one of the photographed images is in the eye-closed state, the other photographed image is expected to have the eyes fully open. it can. Similarly, in the case of red eyes, correction for replacing with a general color is performed. The replacement data may be corrected using standard color data set in advance, in addition to extracting the color of the corresponding part in the face image and correcting it using the color data.
[0040]
Instead of automatically performing these corrections, the correction processing may be performed by selecting these corrections when the eyes are closed or when red eyes are noticed when the finished image is confirmed. By performing such eye meditation correction and red eye correction, it is possible to obtain a group photo and the like that all of the subject persons are satisfied with. These eye-meditation correction and red-eye correction may replace the entire corresponding person image in another image as it is instead of fitting and combining the problematic part. Further, instead of replacing an image, an image in which red eyes or eye meditation has not occurred may be selected and used.
[0041]
In the above embodiment, the digital still camera 9 is composed of the still camera body 12 and the data communication unit 13, but in addition to this, various memory media such as an IC card can be mounted, and image data or Special effect image creation identification data may be stored. In this case, a special effect image can be obtained by handing over the memory medium to the image server without using a mobile phone line. In addition, image data, identification data for special effect image creation, and the like may be transferred using a data communication method using simple wireless communication such as Bluetooth.
[0042]
In the above embodiment, the identification data and the instruction data are transferred to the image server together with the image data for each shooting. However, in the case of a camera having a large-capacity memory, image data for a plurality of frames is stored. The data may be transferred to the image server 10 later. Alternatively, a plurality of image servers 10 may be registered in the memory of the camera 9 in advance, and special effect image creation processing unique to each image server 10 may be selected.
[0043]
In the above-described embodiment, the captured image data is transferred after being compressed, but in addition to this, the image data may be transferred as it is without being compressed, although the transfer efficiency is reduced. Data transfer may be performed after the photographed image data is confirmed on the display 22 of the camera 9. In this case, if a shooting failure occurs due to camera shake or the like, a cancel operation is performed and data transfer from the camera 9 is not performed. When the image server 10 does not satisfy the number of images required when creating a special effect image due to shooting failure or the like, for example, when only one image is obtained when creating a stereo image P4 as shown in FIG. In this case, cancel data is transferred to each group camera, and re-shooting is performed.
[0044]
In the above embodiment, the special effect images P1 to P5 are created by using a plurality of cameras 9 with communication functions. In addition, the special effect images P1 to P5 are obtained by using one camera 9 with communication functions. You may create it. In this case, although it is difficult to create a special effect image such as a slow motion image whose shooting timing is almost the same time, other collective images, panoramic images, loop images, stereo images, zoom-up images, multiple exposures Necessary images can be obtained by changing the shooting position and the like with the same camera, and these special effect images can be created by performing image synthesis processing similar to the above.
[0045]
In the above embodiment, the special effect images P1 to P5 and the like are created by arranging a plurality of images in a spatial arrangement, but instead, a special effect image in which a plurality of images are arranged in time series in a frame-by-frame manner. A file may be created. In this case, the file is transferred to a camera or other information terminal to reproduce a plurality of images in a moving image.
[0046]
In addition, in a camera with a built-in strobe, when one specific camera enters the strobe shooting mode, the other cameras associated in advance may enter the strobe shooting mode, and only the strobe shooting or the strobe light emission may be performed. In this case, illumination from multiple directions can be obtained by strobe light from a plurality of cameras, and generation of shadows can be suppressed, and an image quality improvement effect can be obtained by increasing the amount of light. For the purpose of preventing shadows, the strobe emission timing is set so that the shooting camera (leader camera) and the other group cameras are at the same time.
[0047]
Further, since the strobe light is obtained from a direction different from the photographing optical axis, the occurrence of red eyes can be prevented by the effect of pre-emission. For the purpose of preventing red-eye, all cameras in the group emit light in synchronization with imaging. Alternatively, as a pre-flash mode, control is performed so that the remaining cameras in the group emit light continuously immediately after the shutter is turned on by the camera to be photographed (leader camera), and the image is taken by the leader camera 2-3 seconds later May be. This type of pseudo-synchronous shooting with almost simultaneous flash firing is performed by setting this mode in advance and selecting this mode. You may make it image | photograph combining. In addition, instead of the strobe, a light that can be lit for a long time may be used as the illumination light. In this case, for example, the light is lit for about 1 to 2 seconds or for several seconds. Even if the amount of light is weaker than that of the strobe light, it is possible to expect the effect of preventing red-eye and reducing the whiteout phenomenon of the face that is often used for close-up flash photography.
[0048]
As an image with good lighting conditions, it is desirable to extract the main subject (particularly the face area) by automatic processing and select an image having an appropriate density level. As an example of setting an appropriate density level, (R, G, B) = (R0 ± αr, G0 ± αg, B0 ± αb). It is desirable to adjust this value according to the preference of the camera user in addition to the default set by the laboratory.
[0049]
Also, using multiple images taken from different positions, the shadow area of the main subject or background area is corrected using the corresponding area of the image where the strobe / light is properly applied (density correction, or Local image synthesis) may be performed. A known local area pattern matching method may be used as a method for determining the same subject among a plurality of images. In addition, if the positional relationship between the cameras is used, it is possible to improve the automatic detection accuracy of shadows. For example, when there is a dark area on the right side of the subject on the screen, an area where the density difference is larger than a predetermined value can be regarded as a shadow as compared with a captured image of the camera on the right side at the time of shooting.
[0050]
Further, the leader camera in the group does not need to be fixed, and the reader right may be sequentially transferred within the group camera. For example, the reader right is shifted in the order in which a specific button such as shutter-on or shooting preparation is pressed. In this case, when the Aircraft A takes a picture, the other cameras in the group perform an auxiliary role of only light emission. Then, after the Aircraft A has finished photographing, the order of photographing to the Aircraft B shifts, and the Aircraft other than the Aircraft B performs the auxiliary role in the same manner.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, using a camera with a communication function, image data and identification data are transferred to an image server, the image server uses the identification data to associate a plurality of image data, and an image based on these image data is synthesized. Thus, since a special effect image is created, a special device for obtaining a special effect image is not necessary on the camera side, the camera can be made compact, and the portability of the camera is not impaired.
[0052]
Using multiple cameras with communication functions, shooting with these multiple cameras is performed at a timing synchronized or shifted by a predetermined time, and by creating special effect images, collective images, panoramic images, round images, stereo images, Special effect images such as slow motion images and zoom-up images can be obtained with a simple configuration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a special effect image creation system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a special effect image.
FIG. 3A is a camera use example for creating a collective image, and FIG. 3B is a front view showing an example of a collective image.
4A and 4B are camera use examples for creating a panoramic image, and FIG. 4C is a front view illustrating an example of a panoramic image.
FIG. 5A is an example of using a camera for creating a circular image, and FIG. 5B is a front view showing an example of a circular image.
FIG. 6A is a camera use example for creating a stereo image, and FIG. 6B is a front view showing an example of a stereo image.
7A is an example of using a camera for creating a slow motion image, and FIG. 7B is a front view illustrating an example of a slow motion image.
[Explanation of symbols]
9, C1-C6 camera
10 Image server
11 Mobile phone line
12 Still camera body
13 Communication Department
20 Mobile phone
30 Data communication department
31 Image composition unit
32 Image storage file
33 Digital printer
34 System Controller
P1 group image
P2 panoramic image
P3 circle image
P4 stereo image
P5 Slow motion image

Claims (9)

Shooting is performed using a camera with a communication function including a shooting unit and a data communication unit that transfers image data shot by the shooting unit and identification data of the image data,
Transferring the image data and identification data to the image server by the data communication unit;
A method of creating a special effect image, wherein the image server associates a plurality of pieces of image data using the identification data, and creates a special effect image by synthesizing images based on the image data. 2. The special effect image according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the cameras with communication functions are used, and the special effect image is created by performing shooting by the plurality of cameras at a timing synchronized or shifted by a predetermined time. How to make. The special effect image includes a collective image synthesized by arranging images from a plurality of cameras, a panoramic image synthesized by arranging a plurality of adjacent images, and a shooting direction of a subject by a plurality of cameras arranged around the subject. A circular image synthesized to arrange a plurality of changed images, a stereo image synthesized to arrange a right-eye image and a left-eye image obtained by two cameras, and a plurality of images changed in shooting time by a plurality of cameras are arranged. Or a zoomed-up image synthesized by arranging a plurality of images with different shooting magnifications or shooting distances, or a synthesized image obtained by selecting and synthesizing images from a plurality of the cameras. The method for creating a special effect image according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera with a communication function includes a strobe or a light, and emits the strobe or the light at a timing synchronized with another camera or shifted by a predetermined time during photographing. A method for creating one special effect image. A strobe or light emission photographing is performed using a camera with a plurality of communication functions including a photographing unit, a data communication unit for transferring image data photographed by the photographing unit and identification data of the image data, and a strobe or a light. ,
Transferring the image data and identification data to the image server by the data communication unit;
A special effect image creating method characterized in that the image server associates image data from a plurality of cameras using the identification data, and selects or synthesizes these image data to create one special effect image. . 6. The method of creating a special effect image according to claim 5, wherein the special effect image is an image with good lighting conditions or an image that is not red-eye among images from the plurality of cameras. In a camera with a communication function including an imaging unit and a data communication unit that transfers image data captured by the imaging unit and identification data of the image data,
Mode switching means for switching to a special effect image shooting mode;
A control unit that, when switched to the special effect image capturing mode by the mode switching unit, captures images in accordance with a predetermined capturing procedure, and attaches special effect image creation identification data to the captured images and transfers the data. A camera with a communication function. Receiving and storing the image data and identification data photographed using a camera with a communication function comprising a photographing unit and image data photographed by the photographing unit and a data communication unit for transferring identification data of the image data In the image server that
An image server that creates a special effect image by combining images based on a plurality of image data based on the identification data. The image data captured using a plurality of cameras with a communication function including an image capturing unit, a data communication unit that transfers image data captured by the image capturing unit and identification data of the image data, and a strobe or a light. In an image server that receives and stores identification data,
An image server that creates a special effect image by selecting an image with good illumination conditions or an image that is not red-eye from a plurality of image data associated based on the identification data.

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