JP2006350936A - Image forming device and image forming program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form album images with unity. <P>SOLUTION: A template image includes accessory information for color range of each color component of representative colors of photographic images to be synthesized. The representative color of photographic image is detected for each photographic image, and whether the color component of the detected representative color is within the above-mentioned color range or not is determined, and photographic images to be synthesized to the template image are selected. This determination is made for all photographic images, and photographic images selected as photographic images to be synthesized to the template image are synthesized to the template image to form album images. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image creation apparatus that synthesizes a still image with a template image provided with a layout area into which a still image such as a photographic image is fitted, and an image creation program.

  There is provided software for creating album images by taking image data of photographic images obtained by a digital camera or a video camera into a personal computer (PC). In addition, an album image using the image data of the above-described photographic image on the Internet, a service for creating an album using the image, and a storage medium storing the photographic image data are entrusted to a service provider, and the above-described album or There is also a service for creating album images.

For example, when using an album image creation software, an intended template image is selected from the template images displayed on the monitor, and photo images are sequentially arranged in the layout area of the selected template image, and the album image is It is common to create. In this case, the layout area provided in the template image is fixed in advance or can be adjusted when a photographic image is arranged (Patent Document 1). As described above, when the software for creating the album image is used, the operation for creating the album image is easy, and the album image can be easily created. The same applies to the case of creating an album image or an album based on the album image on the Internet connected by a PC.
Japanese Patent No. 2982149

  However, when creating such an album image or an album, a photographic image is synthesized with a template image whose layout area has been determined in advance. In other words, there is a problem that the color tone of the synthesized photographic image and the color tone of the template image do not match.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an image creation apparatus and an image creation program capable of creating a unified album image.

  The image creating apparatus according to the present invention combines a template image provided with at least one layout region into which a still image is fitted and at least one still image captured from an image storage medium, thereby synthesizing a synthesized image. In the image creating apparatus to be created, the template image has incidental information for narrowing down still images in harmony with the color tone of the template image, and a plurality of information stored in the image storage medium based on the incidental information. Image selecting means for selecting a still image suitable for the template image from among the still images, and image combining means for combining the still image selected by the image selecting means with the template image. It is characterized by.

  The supplementary information is information indicating a color range of a photographic image to be combined with the template image, and the image selection unit has a representative color obtained by analyzing the still image within the color range. In this case, the still image is selected as a still image to be combined with the template image.

  The template image includes a plurality of the layout areas, and the supplementary information includes information indicating a color range of a still image fitted in each of the layout areas, and the image selection means When the representative color obtained by the analysis falls within any one of the color ranges, the still image is selected as a still image that fits into a layout area that corresponds to the corresponding color range.

  In addition, the representative color is determined based on color components used for a plurality of pixels constituting the still image.

  The image creation program according to the present invention combines one template image provided with at least one layout area into which a still image is inserted and at least one still image captured from an image storage medium. In the image creation program for creating a composite image, the template image is selected from a plurality of still images stored in the image storage medium based on incidental information for narrowing down still images that match the color tone of the template image. The computer functions as an image selection unit that selects a still image suitable for the image, and an image synthesis unit that synthesizes the still image selected by the image selection unit with the template image.

  According to the image creating apparatus of the present invention, one template image provided with at least one layout area into which a still image is fitted is synthesized with at least one still image taken from the image storage medium. In the image creating apparatus for creating an image, the template image has incidental information for narrowing down still images that match the color tone of the template image, and is stored in the image storage medium based on the incidental information. Image selecting means for selecting a still image suitable for the template image from a plurality of still images, and image combining means for combining the still image selected by the image selecting means with the template image. Therefore, the task of selecting a still image that matches the template image from multiple still images is a specialized task. It is not necessary to ask, the composite image of unity can be easily created.

  The supplementary information is information indicating a color range of a still image to be combined with the template image, and the image selection unit has a representative color obtained by analyzing the still image within the color range. In this case, since the still image is selected as a still image to be combined with the template image, a unified image having a sense of unity can be easily created.

  The template image includes a plurality of the layout areas, and the supplementary information includes information indicating a color range of a still image fitted in each of the layout areas, and the image selection means When the representative color obtained by the analysis falls within any one of the color ranges, the still image is selected as a still image that fits into the layout area that corresponds to the corresponding color range, so there is a sense of unity A composite image can be easily created.

  In addition, since the representative color is determined based on color components used for a plurality of pixels constituting the still image, until now, a professional worker who has synthesized a still image to be combined with a template image However, since the selection is made according to the above feeling, it takes a long time to work. However, since the representative color of the still image is automatically detected and synthesized with the template image, there is an advantage that the working efficiency is improved.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an album image creation apparatus. The album image creating apparatus 10 creates album image data AD1 using photographic image data and template image data TD. The album image creating apparatus 10 includes a data reading unit 11 and a data writing unit 12.

  The data reading unit 11 is provided for reading photographic image data stored in a storage medium 13 made of an optical disk such as a magnetic disk or a CD-R (Compact Disk Recordable). The photo image data read by the data reading unit 11 is stored in the photo image folder PF created in the RAM 17, and when the album creation program PG1 is executed in the CPU 15, the photo image data is read from the photo image folder PF. . Photo image data includes photo image data obtained by an imaging device such as a digital camera or a mobile phone with a camera, and is obtained by photoelectrically reading an image recorded on a photo film or photographic paper. It is assumed that the photographed image data is included. Although a photographic image will be described as a still image, the still image includes an image such as a picture or a mark created by a personal computer (PC) in addition to the photographic image.

  The data writing unit 12 is provided for writing album image data AD1 obtained by executing the album creation program PG1 to a storage medium 14 formed of an optical disk such as a magnetic disk or a CD-R (Compact Disk Recordable). ing.

  The album image creating apparatus 10 includes a CPU 15, a ROM 16, and a RAM 17 as main parts. The CPU 15 executes an album creating program PG1 stored in the ROM 16 to thereby execute a control unit 20, a representative color detection unit 21, and a target color detection unit 22. , Function as a template selection unit 23, an image editing unit 24, and an album image synthesis unit 25.

  The representative color detection unit 21 reads photographic image data from the photographic image folder PF stored in the RAM 17 and creates a histogram thereof. As is well known, the histogram detects luminance information and R, G, B color information of photographic image data for each pixel, and determines the number of pixels belonging to a specific gradation value for each R, G, B color component. The frequency distribution counted. Further, the representative color detection unit 21 obtains the representative value from the calculated histogram. The representative value of the histogram includes an average value, a median value, a mode value, etc., and any one value is selected as the representative value.

  The target color detection unit 22 averages the representative colors of the photographic images used for creating the album, and detects a target color to be compared with the representative colors of the still images. This target color is a color indicating the directionality of one album image when the album image is created. There are two types of target colors: a case where a color specified by the user via the input operation unit 46 is applied and a case where the target color detected by the target color detection unit 22 is applied. The user will select when creating the album.

  When the target color is designated by the user or when the target color is detected by the target color detection unit 22, the template selection unit 23 uses template image data TD that uses the target color as the color of the template image. Are read from the template folder 31 provided in the database 30. The read template image data TD is accompanied by data indicating the color range of the photographic image to be combined with the template image, specifically, the color range of the representative color of the photographic image that matches the color of the template image. Yes.

  The image selecting unit 24 determines whether or not the representative color of the photographic image is included in the color range of the representative color attached to the template image data. The photographic image from which the representative value is obtained is selected as a photographic image to be combined with the template image. For example, since the representative color can be decomposed into color components, it is determined whether or not each color component of the representative color is within the color range for each color component stored in the template image data TD. In the following, the color range of the representative color is, for example, a range of ± 30 of each color component of the target color.

  The album image synthesis unit 25 creates an album image by synthesizing the template image TD selected by the template selection unit 23 and the photo image. Although not described in detail, the template image is provided with an area in which a photographic image is arranged (hereinafter referred to as a layout area) and a background area in which characters and illustrations are arranged, and the color tone correction unit 36 performs color tone correction. Trimming processing according to the layout area is performed on the photographic image performed or the photographic image determined by the image sorting unit 37 as being suitable as a photographic image to be combined with the template image. An album image is created by inserting the trimmed photographic image into the template image. The album image data AD1 based on the album image created by the album image composition unit 25 is stored in the RAM 17.

  The image display unit 45 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and performs input display when creating an album image, display of a photographic image read by the data reading unit 11, or display of a preview image of the created album image. The input operation unit 46 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like, and is operated when performing an input operation when creating an album image or a correction based on a preview image. The printer 47 is used when printing a preview image based on the album image data displayed on the image display unit.

  Next, a procedure for creating album image data using the album creating apparatus 10 of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The photographic image data stored in the storage medium 13 is read by the data reading unit 11, and the read photographic image data is copied to the photographic image folder PF created in the RAM 17. When copying of photographic image data to the photographic image folder PF created in the RAM 17 is completed, the control unit 20 creates a thumbnail image using the photographic image data, and an image display unit displays a plurality of photographic images as thumbnail images on the monitor. A list is displayed at 45.

  When a plurality of photo images are displayed as a list of thumbnail images on the image display unit 45, the user selects a photo image to be used for creating an album image from these photo images. At this time, the user selects all the photographic images or selects some of the photographic images. When the selection of the photographic image is completed, the representative color detector 21 detects the representative color of each photographic image. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 to (R, G, B) = (134, 175, 58), the photographic image Pic. 2 to (R, G, B) = (85, 70, 125), photographic image Pic. 3, representative colors of (R, G, B) = (100, 175, 50) are detected.

  When the detection of the representative color is completed, the image display unit 45 displays a selection screen for selecting whether or not to select the color of the template image. The color of the template image is selected by, for example, a 128 color palette (not shown) displayed on this selection screen. The template selection unit 23 reads the template image data TD using the selected color from the template folder 31 stored in the database 30 and stores it in the RAM 17.

  On the other hand, when the color of the template image is not selected, the target color detection unit 22 detects the target color as the entire photographic image. When the target color is detected, the template selection unit 23 reads the template image data TD using the target color from the database 30 and stores it in the RAM 17.

  When the template image data TD is determined, the image selection unit 24 compares the representative color of the photographic image with the color range of the representative color of the photographic image to be combined with the template image for each color component, and the color component of the representative color Is determined to be within a color range for each color component. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the color components of the color of the template image are (R, G, B) = (120, 200, 50), the color range of the R color component 90 to 150, the color of the G color component The representative color range of a photographic image suitable as a photographic image to be combined with the range template image is as follows: the R component color range is 90 to 150, the G color component color range is 170 to 230, and the B color component color range. Will be 20-80. For example, photographic image Pic. When the color components of one representative color are (R, G, B) = (134, 175, 58), the R, G, and B color components are within the color range of the R, G, and B components, respectively. Therefore, in this case, the photographic image Pic. 1 is determined to be suitable as a photographic image to be combined with the template image, and data to be combined with the template image is converted into the photographic image Pic. 1 is added to the photographic image data.

  Similarly, the photographic image Pic. 2, Pic. The same processing is performed for 3. Photo image Pic. The color components of the two representative colors are (R, G, B) = (85, 75, 125), and the R, G, B color components are all out of the color range of the R, G, B components. Image Pic. 2 determines that it is not suitable for a photographic image to be combined with a template image. Also, the photographic image Pic. When the color components of the three representative colors are (R, G, B) = (100, 150, 50), the R color component and the B color component are within the respective color ranges, but the G color component is Since it is out of the color range, the photographic image Pic. 3 is determined not to be suitable as a photographic image to be combined with the template image.

  As shown in FIG. 4, nine photo images Pic. 1-Pic. When 9 is used, the above-described processing is performed for all photographic images. For example, when one of the photographic images is combined with the two template images TP1 and TP2, from the comparison result in the image selection unit 24 described above, for example, the photographic image Pic. 1, Pic. 4, Pic. 5 is a photographic image to be combined with the template image TP2. When the six photographic images 7 to 9 are selected, for example, the photographic images Pic. 1 is arranged in the layout area LA2 of the template image TP1. 4 is arranged in the layout area LA3 of the template image TP1 so that the image 4 is arranged. Each photographic image is combined with the template image TP1 so that 6 is arranged.

  Similarly, the photographic image Pic. Is displayed in the layout area LA4 of the template image TP2. 7 in the layout area LA5 of the template image TP2. 8 in the layout area LA6 of the template image TP2. Each photographic image is combined with the template image TP2 so that 9 is arranged. As a result, album images AP1 and AP2 are created, and album image data AD1 based on the album images AP1 and AP2 is stored in the RAM 13. Note that the photographic image is arranged in the layout area after being subjected to processing such as trimming processing.

  The created album image data AD1 is previewed on, for example, the image display unit 45 or stored in the storage medium 14 set in the data writing unit 12 in response to an operation of the input operation unit 46 by the user. Printing can be performed by transferring the album image data AD 1 to the printer 47.

  In the above-described comparison, a photographic image that has not been selected as a photographic image to be combined with a template image is combined with another template image. Examples of other template images include a target image in a photographic image that has not been selected, a template image using the calculated target color, or an achromatic template image.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to the said embodiment, A suitable change is possible. For example, the album image creation device 10 of the above embodiment is configured as a dedicated device for creating an album image, but the album image is created by a digital still camera in which an album creation program is incorporated or a personal computer. May be.

  In the present embodiment, whether or not the representative color of the photographic image is suitable as a photographic image to be combined with the template image is determined depending on whether or not the representative color is within the color range of the template image. A color difference value indicating a difference between the color of the template image and the representative value of the photographic image is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the calculated color difference value is within a preset reference range of the color difference. Thus, it is possible to determine whether or not it is suitable as a photographic image to be combined with the template image.

  In the present embodiment, as an example of detecting a representative color of a photographic image, an example in which a histogram is created and detected is taken up. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the main subject in the photographic image is analyzed and analyzed. It is also possible to detect representative colors from the subject.

  In the present embodiment, the color range of the representative color of the photographic image combined with the template image is taken as an example of the data attached to the template image. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the photographic image inserted in the layout area is used. It may be information indicating the color range of the representative color.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the layout areas LA7, LA8, LA9 of the template image TP4, the color range of each color component of the photographic image fitted in each of the layout areas LA7, LA8, LA9 is determined in advance. This condition is set according to the color of the template image. For example, the color range of each color component with respect to the photographic image is set within a range of ± 30 with respect to the color component of the color of the template image TP4, for example. Thereby, when the color of the template image TP4 is (R, G, B) = (65, 45, 180), the color range of each color component of the photographic image arranged in the layout area LA7 is the color of the R color component. The range is set to 45 to 85, the B color component color range 25 to 60, and the B color component color range 165 to 190. Similarly, for the layout areas LA8 and LA9, the color range of each color component for the photographic image is set.

  For example, photographic image Pic. 10 Pic. 12 is combined with the template image LA4, histogram analysis is performed on each photographic image to detect a representative value for each photographic image. In this detection, for example, the photographic image Pic. 10 representative colors are (R, G, B) = (134, 175, 58), photographic image Pic. 11 representative colors are (R, G, B) = (57, 30, 185), and photographic image Pic. The 12 representative colors are (R, G, B) = (100, 175, 50).

  When the background color of the template image TP4 is (R, G, B) = (65, 45, 180), the range of each color component in the representative color of the photographic image arranged in the layout area LA7 is the R color component. Since the color range is set to 45 to 85, the color range of the B color component is set to 25 to 60, and the color range of the B color component is set to 165 to 190, it is determined whether or not the color component in the representative color of the photographic image is within these ranges. judge. For example, photographic image Pic. In the case of 10, the gradation value of each color component is not within the range of the color component set in the layout area LA7. 10 is not selected as a photographic image arranged in the layout area LA7. Similarly, the photographic image pic. 11 is also performed. In this case, the photographic image pic. 11 are within the range of the color components set in the layout area, so that the photographic image pic. 11 is selected as a photographic image arranged in the layout area LA7.

  Similarly, the photographic image pic. 12 is also performed. This comparison is also performed for other layout areas. In this case, when a plurality of photographic images are selected in one layout area, they are displayed as candidates on the monitor, and the selection process is performed by narrowing the range of color components set in the layout area. It is conceivable to execute again, or to execute an appropriate method such as selecting a photographic image having a color component approximated as the background color of the template image as an image to be arranged in the layout area. The same applies to a case where a photographic image is selected in a range of color components set in a plurality of layout areas. Thereby, an album image with a sense of unity can be created.

  In the above-described comparison, a photographic image that has not been selected as a photographic image to be arranged in the layout area is synthesized with another template image. Examples of other template images include a target image in a photographic image that has not been selected, a template image using the calculated target color, and a template image in which no color component is set in the layout area. it can.

  In addition to the color information, the incidental data may include the aspect ratio of the photographic image arranged in the layout area, the image size, or the number of persons when the photographic image is a person. If there are many photographic image conditions to be combined in each layout area, it is possible to prevent a plurality of photographic images from being selected for one layout area.

  In this embodiment, the color of the template image is not described. However, when the template image is actually composed of a single color, the color is used for the template image, and the template image is composed of a plurality of colors. In some cases, the color obtained as a result of performing the histogram on the template image is used as the color of the template image.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the album image creation apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of album image creation. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow at the time of selecting the photographic image combined with a template image by whether the representative color of the detected photographic image approximates the background color of a template image. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow which synthesize | combines the selected image with a template image. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow when selecting a photographic image to be arranged in a layout area depending on whether or not a detected representative color falls within a range of color components set in the layout area.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Album image production apparatus 11 Data reading part 12 Data writing part 13, 14 Storage medium 15 CPU
16 ROM
17 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Control part 21 Representative color detection part 22 Target color detection part 23 Template selection part 24 Image selection part 25 Album image composition part 30 Database 45 Image display part

Claims (5)

In an image creating apparatus that creates a composite image by combining one template image provided with at least one layout region into which a still image is fitted and at least one still image captured from an image storage medium,
The template image has incidental information for narrowing down a still image in harmony with the color tone of the template image,
Image selecting means for selecting a still image suitable for the template image from a plurality of still images stored in the image storage medium based on the incidental information;
An image creating apparatus comprising: an image composition unit configured to compose the still image selected by the image selection unit with the template image. The auxiliary information is information indicating a color range of a still image combined with the template image,
2. The image selection means, when a representative color obtained by analyzing the still image falls within the color range, selects the still image as a still image to be combined with the template image. The image creating apparatus described. The template image includes a plurality of the layout areas, and the incidental information includes information indicating a color range of a still image fitted in each of the layout areas,
When the representative color obtained by analyzing the still image falls within any one of the color ranges, the image selection unit is configured to insert the still image into a layout area that corresponds to the corresponding color range. The image creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image creating apparatus is selected as an image.   4. The image creating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the representative color is determined based on color components used for a plurality of pixels constituting the still image. In an image creation program for creating a composite image by combining one template image provided with at least one layout region into which a still image is fitted and at least one still image captured from an image storage medium,
Image selecting means for selecting a still image suitable for the template image from among a plurality of still images stored in the image storage medium based on incidental information for narrowing down the still image that matches the color tone of the template image. When,
An image creation program for causing a computer to function as an image composition means for composing a still image selected by the image selection means with the template image.

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