JP2006317994A - Image processor and image data selecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor and an image data selecting method that enable an operator to easily select only image data suitable for output of a photographic print etc. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor is equipped with an image data selecting means of providing an operation environment wherein the operator can optionally select an image to be read out, and the image data selecting means includes a longitudinal/lateral size acquiring means of acquiring longitudinal/lateral sizes of all image data stored in a specified storage area of a hard disk or recording media and a longitudinal/lateral size display means of listing and displaying the acquired longitudinal/lateral sizes. Consequently, a desired longitudinal/lateral size is selected from the displayed list to select information of all image data of corresponding sizes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention reads out image data recorded on a recording medium and the like, and performs various corrections such as color density correction on the read image data, and image data selection for selecting image data to be read out Regarding the method.

  In recent years, digital cameras have become widespread, and DPE stores and the like read image data (image files) from various recording media (for example, memory cards and CD-Rs) brought by customers, In addition, the provision of services for performing digital image processing such as color density correction and contrast correction and printing the image data after the processing is also widespread.

  A series of procedures related to the service will be described. First, the recording medium brought in by the customer is inserted into the media drive of the photo processing apparatus. Then, when the operator designates the type of the inserted recording medium (including the hierarchy designation of a folder or the like) via the operation screen displayed on the monitor, the information (file name) of the image data recorded on the recording medium. , File size, type, update date, etc.) are displayed on the monitor.

  Next, the operator refers to the image data information and selects desired image data to be subjected to photographic processing or the like. The image data selected here is displayed on a digital image processing operation screen (so-called “judge screen”) by a predetermined number (for example, 6 data). Next, the operator can perform digital image processing such as color density correction and contrast correction on the read image data, and set the number of outputs (number of prints) and the like via the judge screen.

  When the above image processing is completed, the operator inputs a print command. Then, in the print processing unit of the photo processing apparatus, exposure and development processing are performed based on the image data after the image processing, and the set number of photo prints are generated and output.

  Incidentally, there are cases where thumbnail image data is recorded on a recording medium brought in by a customer. The thumbnail image data is a list display image reduced in number of data (pixels) and reduced, and should be excluded from output purposes such as photo prints. In the above-described conventional photo processing apparatus (specifically, an image processing apparatus), a large amount of image data recorded on a recording medium having a large capacity is handled (the price of recording media is increasing and the capacity is increasing). In view of the current situation, it can be said that such cases tend to increase.) An environment is provided in which an operator can easily exclude only thumbnail image data and easily select only image data to be processed. There wasn't.

  Therefore, conventionally, when selecting image data, the thumbnail image data is temporarily displayed on the judge screen without being excluded. Then, the operator checks the images displayed on the judgment screen one by one, determines whether the image is thumbnail image data, and if it is determined that the image is thumbnail image data, for example, sets the number of prints to 0. For example, a print of a photo print or the like is not performed on the thumbnail image data.

  As described above, the conventional method in which the operator checks the images on the judgment screen one image at a time in order to exclude the thumbnail image data is not efficient and is overlooked and erroneous operation (by setting the number of prints to 1 or more. Etc.).

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image data selection method in which an operator can easily select only image data suitable for output such as a photographic print. And

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention reads image data recorded on a hard disk or a recording medium, and can perform desired correction on the read image data. An image data selection unit that provides an operation environment that can be arbitrarily selected by an operator is provided, and the image data selection unit has the vertical and horizontal sizes of all image data stored in a specified storage area of the hard disk or the recording medium. A vertical / horizontal size acquisition means for acquiring image information and a vertical / horizontal size display means for displaying a list of the acquired vertical / horizontal sizes, and by selecting a desired vertical / horizontal size from the displayed list, information on all image data of the corresponding size is obtained. It is possible to select.

  The image data selection method according to the present invention is an image data selection method for providing an operating environment in which an operator can arbitrarily select and read out image data recorded on a hard disk or a recording medium. Or, for all the image data stored in the specified storage area of the recording medium, a vertical and horizontal size acquisition step for acquiring the vertical and horizontal sizes, and a vertical and horizontal size display step for displaying a list of the acquired vertical and horizontal sizes, the list By selecting a desired vertical / horizontal size from the displayed information, it is possible to select information of all image data having a corresponding size.

  According to the above configuration, the operator can easily know how many vertical and horizontal sizes (image sizes) exist for all the image data recorded in the designated area, so that a reduced image such as thumbnail image data can be obtained. In addition, image data that is inappropriate for output due to vertical and horizontal sizes can be accurately excluded, and only image data suitable for output can be easily selected and read.

  A configuration may also be adopted in which a print size (for example, in inches or mm) corresponding to the vertical and horizontal sizes (for example, in pixels) of the read image data is also displayed.

  According to the above configuration, the operator can refer to, for example, image data having the same print size when collectively printing, and the print quality can be maintained.

  As described above, according to the image processing apparatus and the image data selection method of the present invention, it is easy to select image data suitable for output, and the operator's work efficiency is improved. Further, it is possible to prevent image data that is not suitable for output, such as thumbnail image data, from being printed or output (recorded) to a recording medium. Therefore, it is possible to reduce loss paper and improve services.

  Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus and an image data selection method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a photographic processing apparatus provided with an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the photographic processing apparatus. The present photographic processing apparatus reads image data from a photographic film F or a recording medium M, performs digital image processing such as color density correction and contrast correction on the image data, and generates image data for output. 1 and a printing apparatus 2 that prints an image on the photosensitive material PA based on the image data output from the image processing apparatus 1.

  The image processing apparatus 1 includes a film scanner 3 that reads an image from a photographic film F, a media drive 4a that can read and write image data from and to a recording medium M such as a memory card and a CD-R, and a large number of images read from the recording medium M. A large-capacity hard disk 4b capable of recording the image file, a main controller 5 for controlling the entire photographic processing apparatus including the control of the image processing apparatus 1, and a monitor for displaying an image read from the photographic film F or the recording medium M 6 and an input device 7 (keyboard 7a and mouse 7b) for receiving operation commands from the operator. It is also possible to configure the monitor 6 so that touch panel input is possible, and to accept an operation command using a customer's finger, a dedicated input pen, or the like.

  The main control device 5 includes a CPU 8 that is a main body of the control and calculation, a ROM 9a that stores an image processing program, a RAM 9b that is used as a work area for processing, and various external devices (film scanner 3, media drive 4a). The hard disk 4b, the monitor 6 and the input device 7) are provided with an I / O processing unit 10 for performing I / O processing.

  The printing apparatus 2 includes an exposure processing unit 11 that performs exposure processing on the photosensitive material PA based on image data that has been subjected to image processing by the image processing device 1, and a development processing unit 12 that performs development processing on the exposed photosensitive material PA. The drying processing unit 13 performs drying processing on the developed photosensitive material PA, and the sorting processing unit 14 performs sorting processing on the photosensitive material PA that has been dried and turned into a photograph.

  The exposure processing unit 11 pulls out the photosensitive material PA from the pair of magazines 15 a and 15 b and conveys it to the downstream side by the conveying roller pair 16. Then, the photosensitive material PA is exposed by a PLZT type exposure device 17 constituted by a light source 17a composed of a halogen lamp or the like and an optical shutter 17c connected to the light source 17a via an optical fiber bundle 17b. The exposure device 17 is not limited to the PLZT method, and may be a laser method, a CRT method, or the like.

  The development processing unit 12 performs processing such as development, bleaching, fixing, and stabilization on the photosensitive material PA.

  The drying processing unit 13 performs a process of blowing hot air from the hot air device 18 to the photosensitive material PA sent from the development processing unit 12 to dry the phenomenon liquid adhering to the photosensitive material PA.

  The sorting processing unit 14 sorts the photosensitive material PA that has been subjected to the exposure processing, development processing, and drying processing according to size, and the small-sized photosensitive material PA sorted by the size sorting unit 19 for each order. And an order sorting unit 20 for sorting.

  The size sorting unit 19 discharges the photosensitive material PA having a large size to the tray 21 and conveys the photosensitive material PA having a small size to the conveyor 22. The order sorting unit 20 distributes the photosensitive material PA conveyed by the conveyor 22 to each tray 23 for each order.

  Next, image processing by the image processing apparatus 1 will be described. First, when the CPU 8 starts an image processing program installed in the ROM 9 a of the main control device 5, a main screen (not shown) is displayed on the monitor 6. The operator selects whether image data to be processed is read from the photographic film F or the recording medium M on the main screen.

  When reading from the recording medium M is selected (more specifically, the type of the recording medium M is selected), the image file selection screen shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, in the “image file information” field of the initial image file selection screen, the storage area designated by the recording medium M (for example, a memory card) selected on the main screen (default is the root folder). The information (file name, file size (capacity), update date / time, etc.) of all the image files (JPEG, BMP format files, etc.) stored in is displayed. Data other than the image file may be displayed.

  The “image size” field corresponds to all image files stored in the designated storage area (initially, the same as all image files displayed in the “image file information” field). All vertical and horizontal sizes (in other words, the height and width of the image) are displayed in a horizontal (width) × vertical (height) mode.

  The acquisition of the vertical and horizontal sizes is performed by the vertical and horizontal size acquisition means (provided by the main control device 5) prior to the display of the image file selection screen, and the result is obtained by the vertical and horizontal size display means (provided by the main control device 5). Displayed in the “Image Size” field.

  In the initial “input media” field, the media type of the recording medium M selected on the main screen is displayed. However, the “input media” field is configured as a list box, and other recording media M are displayed. (For example, when the recording medium M is changed, it is not necessary to return to the main screen and select again.) Similarly, the “folder” field has a list box shape, and a folder constructed in the recording medium M selected in the “input medium” field can be arbitrarily designated. In the “input medium” field, there is also an item “hard disk”. When this item is selected, the image file supply source (ie, input medium) is changed to the hard disk 4b.

  When the operator changes to another recording medium M or folder in the “input media” field or “folder” field, information on all the image files stored in the storage area newly designated by the change is stored. Displayed in the “image file information” field, and in the “image size” field, all corresponding vertical and horizontal sizes are displayed for those image files.

  In addition, any of the vertical and horizontal sizes displayed in the “image size” field is selected (multiple selections are possible), and a “non-display” item (in the form of a radio button together with a “display” item described later). When the “Select” button is pressed in a state where there is a check mark in (), the information of the image file corresponding to the selected vertical / horizontal size can be hidden. On the other hand, when the “Select” button is pressed while the “Display” item is checked, only the information of the image file corresponding to the selected vertical / horizontal size can be displayed. Since the “display” item and the “non-display” item are configured in a radio button shape, when one of them is checked, the other check is removed.

  When the image file selection screen having the above configuration is used, for example, the vertical and horizontal sizes are very small (for example, “80 × 60”), and those that can be determined to be unsuitable for output (for example, thumbnail images) By selecting the “Size” field and checking the “Hide” item, by pressing the “Select” button, only the information of the image file corresponding to the small vertical and horizontal size (“80 × 60”) is displayed. Can be hidden. Then, by pressing the “YES: OK” button in such a state, the image data relating to the information of the image file displayed in the “image file information” field (ie, corresponding to the vertical and horizontal sizes determined to be suitable for output). Only image data) is displayed as image data to be output such as print on a judgment screen (not shown) (screen that can perform digital image processing such as color density correction on image data desired to be output). it can.

  As described above, according to the image processing apparatus and the image data selection method according to the present embodiment of the present invention, the operator accurately excludes image data that is small in vertical and horizontal sizes such as thumbnail image data and is not suitable for output, Only image data suitable for output can be easily selected.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, only the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image data are displayed in the “image size” field, but the print size corresponding to the acquired vertical and horizontal size (specifically, resizing (size The minimum print size that does not need to be changed, or the print size that minimizes the resizing width, etc.) may be displayed.

  The image file selection screen in FIG. 3 is merely an example, and the arrangement and layout of each field, button, and the like can be freely changed. Further, for example, additional information included in the image file (the header of the image file) Already provided on a conventional image file selection screen such as a check box that enables selection of whether or not to perform automatic correction using information relating to shooting conditions such as aperture value and shutter speed recorded in Naturally, it is possible to provide the operating means provided on the image file selection screen of FIG.

1 is an external view of a photographic processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the photographic processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image file selection screen displayed on a monitor in the embodiment. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image processing apparatus, 2 ... Printing apparatus, 3 ... Film scanner, 4a ... Media drive, 4b ... Hard disk, 5 ... Main controller, 6 ... Monitor, 7 ... Input device, 8 ... CPU, 9a ... ROM, 9b ... RAM, 10 ... I / O processing unit, 11 ... exposure processing unit, 12 ... development processing unit, 13 ... drying processing unit, 14 ... sorting processing unit, 15a, 15b ... magazine, 16 ... conveying roller pair, 17 ... exposure 17a ... light source, 17b ... optical shutter, 18 ... hot air device, 19 ... size sorting unit, 20 ... order sorting unit, 21 ... tray, 22 ... conveyor, 23 ... dish

Claims (4)

In an image processing apparatus capable of reading image data recorded on a hard disk or a recording medium and performing a desired correction on the read image data,
Image data selection means for providing an operation environment in which an operator can arbitrarily select image data to be read;
The image data selection means includes:
Vertical and horizontal size acquisition means for acquiring the vertical and horizontal sizes of all the image data stored in the specified storage area of the hard disk or the recording medium;
A vertical and horizontal size display means for displaying a list of the acquired vertical and horizontal sizes,
By selecting a desired vertical and horizontal size from the list displayed, it is possible to select information of all image data of the corresponding size.
An image processing apparatus.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vertical / horizontal size display unit also displays a print size corresponding to the acquired vertical / horizontal size. An image data selection method for providing an operation environment in which an operator can arbitrarily select and read image data recorded on a hard disk or a recording medium,
A vertical and horizontal size acquisition step for acquiring the vertical and horizontal sizes of all image data stored in the specified storage area of the hard disk or the recording medium;
A vertical and horizontal size display step for displaying a list of acquired vertical and horizontal sizes,
By selecting a desired vertical and horizontal size from the list displayed, it is possible to select information of all image data of the corresponding size.
A method for selecting image data.   4. The image data selection method according to claim 3, wherein in the vertical and horizontal size display step, a print size corresponding to the acquired vertical and horizontal size is also displayed.

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