JPH11250223A - Image processing apparatus and method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To convert a trimmed image into a multi-image with the same size. An image of each frame of a film is photoelectrically converted by an image sensor and stored in a memory via an image pickup circuit, an image processing circuit and a memory control circuit. The main control circuit 36 controls the memory control circuit 28 in accordance with the magnification set by the magnification setting device 40, and the memory control circuit 28 trims a specified image among the images stored in the memory 30a and performs multi-image formation. For this purpose, each trimmed image is converted into a multi-image having the same size and stored in the memory 30b. The obtained multi-image is read by the memory control circuit 28, converted into an analog signal by the image output circuit 32, and applied to the monitor TV 34.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and a storage medium, and more specifically, for example, to, for example,
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for reproducing and processing an image of a developed film, a photographed image of a digital still camera, or a recorded image of a photo CD, and a storage medium for storing program software therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A film image reproducing apparatus which captures an image photographed in each frame of a developed film by a CCD image pickup device or the like and reproduces and displays the photographed image on a monitor TV. An image reproducing apparatus that reproduces an image stored in a storage medium such as a card and displays the image on a screen of a video monitor, an image reproducing apparatus that reproduces an image recorded on a photo CD and displays the image on a screen of a video monitor, and the like Is already known.

Such a conventional image reproducing apparatus has a function of displaying a large number of images, which has a multi-image display function of reducing images of a large number of frames and displaying the reduced images simultaneously on one screen.

[0004]

In the multi-image display function of the conventional image reproducing apparatus, each image is reduced as it is to obtain a multi-image. However, the image desired by the user is not always the entire captured image, and may be a part of the captured image, for example, an image of only the upper body in a portrait. The conventional example could not meet such a demand.

[0005] In the case of having an image storage function, an image trimmed to a desired image range is separately stored, and the separately stored image is newly designated for a multi-image, so that a multi-image including the desired image range is obtained. However, complicated operations similar to computer operations are required.

Although the size of the trimmed images varies, when the multi-image is generated from the trimmed images having different sizes, the size of the subject image (for example, the face of a person) included in each image can be unified. At present, the only way to do this is to rely on visual judgment or trial and error.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and method capable of forming a multi-image including a trimmed image.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of forming a multi-image having a uniform size of a subject image by a simple operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium for storing program software useful for implementing the above-described image processing method.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus, comprising: a magnification setting means capable of arbitrarily setting a magnification for each of a plurality of original images; The image processing apparatus includes a trimming unit for trimming an image and a synthesizing unit for synthesizing a plurality of images trimmed by the trimming unit as a multi-image of one screen.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention also includes a photographing magnification detecting means for detecting a photographing magnification for each of a plurality of original images, and a designated original image in accordance with the photographing magnification detected by the photographing magnification detecting means. Means for trimming a plurality of images trimmed by a predetermined size and a constant subject magnification, and a plurality of images trimmed by the trimming means in the predetermined size as a multi-image of one screen. And characterized in that:

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is also an image processing apparatus that generates a plurality of images by performing trimming from one original image and combines the plurality of images into a multi-image of one screen. Trimming condition determining means for determining a trimming size such that each of a plurality of images obtained by trimming has the same subject magnification at a predetermined size; and a plurality of the plurality of images with the trimming size determined by the trimming condition determining means. It is characterized by comprising a trimming unit for trimming each of the images, and a synthesizing unit for synthesizing each of the plurality of images trimmed by the trimming unit with the predetermined size as a multi-image of one screen.

According to the image processing method of the present invention, there is provided a magnification setting step in which a magnification can be arbitrarily set for each of a plurality of original images, and a trimming step for trimming the corresponding original image in accordance with the setting of the magnification setting step. Steps and
A combining step of combining a plurality of images trimmed by the trimming step as a multi-image of one screen.

The image processing method according to the present invention also includes a photographing magnification detecting step of detecting a photographing magnification for each of the plurality of original images, and a designated original image according to the photographing magnification detected in the photographing magnification detecting step. And a plurality of images trimmed by the trimming step in the predetermined size are combined as a multi-image of one screen with the predetermined size. And a combining step.

The image processing method according to the present invention is also an image processing method for generating a plurality of images by performing trimming from one original image and synthesizing the plurality of images into a multi-image of one screen. A trimming condition determining step of determining a trimming size so that each of a plurality of images obtained by the trimming has the same subject magnification at a predetermined size; and a plurality of the plurality of images with the trimming size determined by the trimming condition determining step. The image processing apparatus further comprises a trimming step of trimming each of the images, and a synthesizing step of synthesizing each of the plurality of images trimmed by the trimming step with the predetermined size as a single-screen multi-image.

In the storage medium according to the present invention, a software program for executing each of the above-described image processing methods is stored in an externally readable manner.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention applied to a film image reproducing apparatus. A film 12 is wound and housed inside the film cartridge 10. The leading end of the film 12 is locked on a spool 14, and is pulled out of the film cartridge 10 by rotating the spool 14 by an internal motor 16. When the film 12 is stored in the film cartridge 10, the spool 14 may be set free from the motor 16 and the winding roller of the film cartridge 10 may be rotated. The film 12 is a silver halide photographic negative or positive film, which has been developed.

On the back surface of the film 12 pulled out of the film cartridge 10, a light-emitting body 18 such as a surface-emitting type fluorescent lamp or a xenon tube is arranged. Luminous body 18
Is transmitted through the film 12 and the photographing lens 20
And enters the image sensor 22 via the. The taking lens 20 is arranged so that the optical image of the film 12 is formed on the photoelectric conversion surface of the image sensor 22.

The image pickup circuit 24 samples and amplifies the RGB output signals of the image pickup device 22, and outputs
Represents white balance adjustment for the output signal of the imaging circuit 24,
It performs well-known camera signal processing such as exposure adjustment and gamma correction.
The memory control circuit 28 controls writing and reading of image data to and from the memories 30a and 30b. In particular,
The image of each frame subjected to image processing by the image processing circuit 26 is stored in the memory 30a. The memory control circuit 28 also
By controlling the addresses of the memories 30a and 30b, the image stored in the memory 30a is subjected to the image data thinning process (reducing the image size) and the multi-image combining process using the image data after the thinning process, and the obtained multi-image Is stored in the memory 30b.

The image output circuit 32 includes a memory control circuit 28
Converts the image data read from the memories 30a and 30b into an analog video signal and applies the analog video signal to the monitor TV.

The main control circuit 36 is composed of a microcomputer, and the operation device 38 and the magnification setting device 4 are operated by the user.
0, the film 12 is pulled out of the film cartridge 10 and stored in the film cartridge 10, and the image pickup device 22, the image pickup circuit 2
4. Control the operations of the image processing circuit 26 and the memory control circuit 28.

The magnification setting device 40 is used to set the magnification of a subject when forming a multi-image from a trimmed image. Although the details will be described later, the subject magnification set by the magnification setting device 40 determines the thinning rate (reduction rate) of the thinning processing (reduction of the image size) for the trimmed image data.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a multi-image before trimming. 25 frames of images are combined in an array pattern of 5 rows and 5 columns, and play a role of index display of the film images contained in one 25-frame film cartridge. FIG. 3 shows four out of the 25 images shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a multi-image generated by trimming four frames (second frame, twelfth frame, fourteenth frame, and eighteenth frame) as indicated by broken lines in FIG. In FIG. 2, the size of the trimming is different for each of the four frames, but on the multi-image shown in FIG. 3, the subject magnifications of the four images are equal. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, on the multi-image, each image (trimmed image) constituting the multi-image is set to the same size.

The subject to be viewed is enlarged and displayed by trimming, and a multi-image composed of trimmed images of uniform size can be formed. The main subject is also enlarged and displayed in the index display, so that it is easy to see.

Referring to FIG. 4, a magnification setting method by the magnification setting device 40 will be described. FIG. 4 shows an example of the display screen when the magnification is set. A rectangular display frame 42 displayed on the screen of the monitor TV 34 indicates a trimming area in the entire screen. The magnification setting device 40 includes, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, and selects and drags one corner (for example, C4) of the rectangular display frame 42 by a click operation to freely change the size of the display frame 42. Can be changed. In FIG. 4, when the size of the display frame 42 is changed, the aspect ratio (aspect ratio) of the image is maintained, and only the size (area) of the display frame 42 is changed. The size of 42 may be changed.

A change in the size of the display frame 42 may be restricted so as not to make the display area too small. As a result, it is possible to prevent the range of the trimming from being too small and the amount of image data being small, so that it is not clear what is being captured.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the trimming range of the reduced image forming the multi-image can be arbitrarily set. However, the trimming range may be automatically trimmed to a predetermined object magnification. FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of the embodiment. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, a magnetic read head 50 for reading magnetic information of a magnetic medium applied to the film 12 is provided, and the read result is applied to a main control circuit 52. The magnification setting device 54 can input a numerical value of an arbitrary object magnification to the main control circuit 52. The main control circuit 52 has a function of processing the output of the magnetic read head 50 as follows in addition to the function of the main control circuit 36.

On the magnetic medium of the film 12, a photographing magnification calculated based on a subject distance and a focal length of a photographing lens is magnetically recorded as one of photographing information when photographing with a camera. The photographing magnification magnetically recorded in each frame is read by the magnetic read head 50 and supplied to the main control circuit 52.

The main control circuit 52 controls the magnification of the subject, which is input numerically by the magnification setting device 54, and the magnetic read head 50.
From the photographing magnification of each frame read by the above, when the trimmed image of each frame is made into a multi-screen with the same size, an optimal trimming ratio or trimming size is calculated so that the main subject becomes the same size. The user
In the trimming according to the determined trimming ratio or trimming size, only the portion to be trimmed in each frame is determined. Of course, the upper, lower, left and right trimming widths may be automatically determined so as to leave the center portion of each frame.

The main control circuit 52 also includes a memory control circuit 28
To determine the optimal thinning rate when performing the image data thinning process on the trimmed image, generate a small image according to the thinning rate, combine the small images of a plurality of frames, and perform multi-processing. A screen is formed in the memory 30b.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the user only needs to set the desired subject magnification once with the magnification setting device 54, and can set all the frames for one film cartridge.
Trimmed images as if they were taken at the same magnification,
Further, a multi-image composed of the trimmed images can be obtained. In each frame, which part is to be left at the determined trimming ratio or trimming size is determined by a rectangle indicating a trimming range on an image of each frame of a multi-screen display composed of the entire image of each frame (for example, FIG. The rectangle 42) may be determined by moving the rectangle 42) with a pointing device such as a mouse.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a multi-image is generated from a plurality of original images.
It is also possible to perform different trimmings on one original image and form a multi-image from images obtained by each trimming.

FIG. 6 is an example of one original image before trimming, and shows a group photograph of many persons. In this group photo, the face of the person at the front is photographed large, and the face of the person at the back is photographed small. This is due to a difference in subject magnification caused by a difference in subject distance. For example, when extracting an image of each person by trimming from the original image, if the trimming area is set to the same size without considering the subject magnification,
The face of the front person is large, and the face of the rear person is small. In the original image, you can see the whole, so you do not feel much discomfort with the difference in the size of the person's face, but when generating a multi image from a small image cut out of each person's face, Is likely to be uncomfortable with a difference in the size of the object.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, it is desirable to form a multi-image by performing trimming in consideration of the subject magnification so that the person's face becomes substantially the same. In order to obtain a multi-image as shown in FIG.
What is necessary is just to give a difference in the size of the trimming area as shown by 2, 64, 66. The size of each trimming area reflects the subject magnification of the main subject to be trimmed, and the trimming area is set smaller for a main subject that is far away, and smaller for a main subject that is closer. The trimming area is set large. In this way, when a multi-screen is formed by making each trimmed image the same size, it is possible to form a multi-image in which the size of each main subject is almost the same and does not give a viewer a sense of discomfort. .

Recent cameras have been equipped with an AF (automatic focus adjustment) system that performs multi-point ranging over a wide range within the angle of view. Can also be managed with a camera. Therefore, distance measurement information at each point over a wide range within the angle of view can be recorded on the magnetic medium coated on the film, and by reading the recorded information,
The determination of the size of the trimming area that reflects the difference in subject magnification depending on the position as described above can be easily realized.

Although the embodiment applied to the film image reproducing apparatus for reproducing the image of the developed film has been described, the present invention is applicable to other image reproducing apparatuses such as a digital still apparatus.
It is apparent that the present invention can be applied to an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image captured by a camera, an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image recorded on a photo CD, and the like.

The present invention can be realized not only as a dedicated device but also as application software installed on a computer. That is, in order to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, a computer in an apparatus or a system connected to the various devices stores software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. The present invention also encompasses those which supply and execute the computer (CPU or MPU) of the apparatus or system by operating the various devices according to stored programs.

In this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example,
A storage medium storing such a program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) or other operating system running on the computer. Even when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with application software, etc.,
It goes without saying that such a program code is included in the embodiment of the invention according to the present application.

Further, the supplied program code is:
After being stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs one of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing all or part of the processes and executing the processing is also included in the invention according to the present application.

[0043]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, a multi-image can be formed from a trimmed image desired by a user. Further, it is possible to easily generate a multi-image from the trimmed image with the subject magnification uniformly adjusted. Similar effects can be obtained even when trimming is performed a plurality of times from one image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of a film image reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a display example of a multi-image including 25 images.

FIG. 3 is an example of a multi-image including four trimmed images.

FIG. 4 is an example of a display screen when a trimming area is set.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a group photo of many people.

FIG. 7 is an example of a multi-screen formed from four images cropped from the group photograph shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Film Cartridge 12: Film 14: Spool 16: Motor 18: Light Emitting Element 20: Photographic Lens 22: Image Sensor 24: Imaging Circuit 26: Image Processing Circuit 28: Memory Control Circuit 30a, 30b: Memory 32: Image Output Circuit 34: Monitor TV 36: Main control circuit 38: Operating device 40: Magnification setting device 42: Rectangular display frame indicating trimming area 50: Magnetic read head 52: Main control circuit 54: Magnification setting device 60, 62, 64, 66: Frame indicating trimming area

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H04N 1/387 H04N 1/387 5/262 5/262 // G09G 5/14 G09G 5/14 A G06F 15/62 380

Claims (39)

[Claims] 1. A magnification setting means capable of arbitrarily setting a magnification for each of a plurality of original images; a trimming means for trimming a corresponding original image in accordance with a setting of the magnification setting means; An image processing apparatus comprising: a synthesizing unit that synthesizes a plurality of images obtained as a multi-image of one screen. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesizing unit adjusts the images to be synthesized to the same size and then synthesizes the images as the multi-image. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image output means for outputting a video signal of a multi-image synthesized by said synthesizing means. 4. A photographing magnification detecting means for detecting a photographing magnification for each of a plurality of original images, and a designated original image having a predetermined size and a predetermined size according to the photographing magnification detected by the photographing magnification detecting means. A trimming means for trimming under a trimming condition to be a subject magnification, and a synthesizing means for synthesizing each of the plurality of images trimmed by the trimming means with the predetermined size as a multi-image of one screen. Image processing device. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said trimming means includes means for automatically determining a trimming position in said designated original image. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the trimming means includes means for determining a trimming position in the designated original image in accordance with a user operation. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising image output means for outputting a video signal of a multi-image synthesized by said synthesis means. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said photographing magnification detecting means is means for reading photographing magnification information magnetically recorded on a film. 9. An image processing apparatus for generating a plurality of images by performing trimming from one original image, and synthesizing the plurality of images into a multi-image of one screen, comprising: Trimming condition determining means for determining a trimming size so that each has the same subject magnification at a predetermined size; and trimming means for trimming each of the plurality of images with the trimming size determined by the trimming condition determining means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of images trimmed by the trimming unit; and a synthesizing unit that synthesizes each of the plurality of images at the predetermined size as a multi-image of one screen. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the trimming unit includes a unit that determines a position of each trimming in the original image according to a user operation. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising image output means for outputting a multi-image video signal synthesized by said synthesis means. 12. The trimming condition determining means includes: a photographing magnification detecting means for detecting a photographing magnification of a target to be trimmed; and a size determining means for determining the trimming size according to a detection result of the photographing magnification detecting means. The image processing device according to claim 9. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said photographing magnification detecting means is means for reading photographing magnification information magnetically recorded on a film. 14. A magnification setting step capable of arbitrarily setting a magnification for each of a plurality of original images; a trimming step of trimming a corresponding original image in accordance with the setting of the magnification setting step; A combining step of combining a plurality of images trimmed by the above as a multi-image of one screen. 15. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein, in the synthesizing step, the images to be synthesized are adjusted to the same size and then synthesized as the multi-image. 16. The image processing method according to claim 14, further comprising an image output step of outputting a video signal of a multi-image synthesized by the synthesizing step. 17. A photographing magnification detecting step for detecting a photographing magnification for each of a plurality of original images, and a specified original image having a predetermined size and a fixed size is determined according to the photographing magnification detected in the photographing magnification detecting step. A trimming step of trimming under a trimming condition that provides a subject magnification; and a combining step of combining each of the plurality of images trimmed by the trimming step with the predetermined size as a multi-image of one screen. Characteristic image processing method. 18. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein the trimming step includes means for automatically determining a trimming position in the specified original image. 19. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein the trimming step includes a step of determining a trimming position in the designated original image according to a user operation. 20. The image processing method according to claim 17, further comprising an image output step of outputting a video signal of a multi-image synthesized in the synthesis step. 21. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein the photographing magnification detecting step comprises a step of reading photographing magnification information magnetically recorded on the film. 22. An image processing method for generating a plurality of images by performing trimming from one original image and synthesizing the plurality of images into a multi-image of one screen, wherein the plurality of images are obtained by each trimming. A trimming condition determining step of determining a trimming size so that each has the same subject magnification at a predetermined size; and a trimming step of trimming each of the plurality of images with the trimming size determined by the trimming condition determining step. An image processing method comprising: a step; and a combining step of combining each of the plurality of images trimmed by the trimming step with the predetermined size as a multi-image of one screen. 23. The image processing method according to claim 22, wherein the trimming step includes a step of determining a position of each trimming in the original image according to a user operation. 24. The image processing method according to claim 22, further comprising an image output step of outputting a video signal of a multi-image synthesized by the synthesizing step. 25. The trimming condition determining step,
The photographing magnification detecting step of detecting a photographing magnification of an object to be trimmed, and a size determining step of determining the trimming size according to a detection result of the photographing magnification detecting step. Image processing method. 26. The image processing method according to claim 25, wherein the photographing magnification detecting step includes a step of reading photographing magnification information magnetically recorded on the film. 27. A magnification setting step capable of arbitrarily setting a magnification for each of a plurality of original images; a trimming step of trimming a corresponding original image in accordance with the setting of the magnification setting step; Composing a plurality of images trimmed according to a multi-image of one screen.
A storage medium for storing a program so that it can be read externally. 28. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein, in the synthesizing step, the images to be synthesized are adjusted to the same size and then synthesized as the multi-image. 29. The storage medium according to claim 27, further comprising an image output step of outputting a video signal of a multi-image combined by said combining step. 30. A photographing magnification detecting step of detecting a photographing magnification for each of a plurality of original images, and a specified original image having a predetermined size and a fixed size is determined according to the photographing magnification detected in the photographing magnification detecting step. Image processing comprising: a trimming step of trimming under a trimming condition that provides a subject magnification; and a synthesizing step of synthesizing each of the plurality of images trimmed by the trimming step with the predetermined size as a single-screen multi-image. A storage medium for storing a software program for performing the method in a manner that allows external reading thereof. 31. The storage medium according to claim 30, wherein said trimming step comprises means for automatically determining a trimming position in said designated original image. 32. The storage medium according to claim 30, wherein the trimming step includes a step of determining a trimming position in the designated original image according to a user operation. 33. The storage medium according to claim 30, further comprising an image output step of outputting a video signal of a multi-image synthesized by the synthesis step. 34. The storage medium according to claim 30, wherein said photographing magnification detecting step comprises a process of reading photographing magnification information magnetically recorded on a film. 35. An image processing method for generating a plurality of images by performing trimming from one original image, and synthesizing the plurality of images into a multi-image of one screen, comprising the steps of: A trimming condition determining step of determining a trimming size so that each has the same subject magnification at a predetermined size; and a trimming step of trimming each of the plurality of images with the trimming size determined by the trimming condition determining step. A software program for implementing an image processing method comprising: a step of combining each of the plurality of images trimmed by the trimming step with the predetermined size as a multi-image of one screen. A storage medium characterized by being stored in a storage medium. 36. The storage medium according to claim 35, wherein the trimming step includes a step of determining a position of each trimming in the original image according to a user operation. 37. The storage medium according to claim 35, further comprising an image output step of outputting a video signal of a multi-image combined in the combining step. 38. The trimming condition determining step includes:
38. The method according to claim 35, further comprising: a photographing magnification detecting step of detecting a photographing magnification of a trimming target; and a size determining step of determining the trimming size according to a detection result of the photographing magnification detecting step. Storage medium. 39. The storage medium according to claim 38, wherein the photographing magnification detecting step includes a process of reading photographing magnification information magnetically recorded on the film.