JP4662154B2 - Photo printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographic printing apparatus having a plurality of parameters for determining printing conditions for image data to be printed and having a parameter management unit for managing a parameter group obtained by grouping the plurality of parameters.

  In a photographic printing apparatus having a plurality of parameters for determining printing conditions for image data to be printed, those having a print channel (parameter group), a print form (parameter group), etc. as a group of these parameters is there. The print channel setting items (parameters) and the print form setting items (parameters) are displayed as the "simultaneous print channel / form" setting mode on the same screen of the display. On this screen, the print channel and the print form are displayed. These items can be set (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, in this photo printing apparatus, when setting print conditions, a channel selection display unit for selecting a desired print channel from a plurality of preset channels, and a plurality of preset types A print form selection display section for selecting a desired print form from among the forms, a selection channel content display section for displaying the contents of the selected print channel, and a selection form for displaying the contents of the selected print form A content display section is displayed.

  When performing the print processing, the channel selection display unit divides the channel name, the type of paper magazine and negative mask to be used, the feed amount of the photographic paper, etc. into 135 films and 240 films, respectively. By selecting a desired channel number from among the channels, a print channel to be used is selected.

  In addition, when selecting a preset print channel (parameter group), a print including a plurality of parameters is selected instead of selecting a desired print channel from the list of print channels displayed in Patent Document 1 above. There has also been proposed a photo printing apparatus that employs a GUI (graphic user interface) that displays a start button linked to a channel on a monitor and starts a predetermined print process through a selection operation of the start button (for example, Patent Documents). 2).

JP 2001-305670 A (paragraph numbers [0015] to [0017], FIG. 3) JP 2004-173046 A (paragraph number [0027], FIG. 9 and FIG. 10)

  However, in the photo printing apparatus of Patent Document 1, the setting items (parameters) of the print channel (parameter group) displayed by the selected channel content display unit are complicated and detailed. Therefore, particularly in the case of an operator having a low level of skill, there are problems such as taking time for referring to and inputting various setting items, or causing selection errors.

  In the photographic printing apparatus of Patent Document 2, the parameters included in the print channel (parameter group) are set in advance. In the photographic printing apparatus in which the parameters included in the parameter group are fixed in this manner, There is also a problem that the operator is not flexible in terms of the configuration, and a highly skilled operator cannot set a use environment suitable for the purpose of use.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photographic printing apparatus excellent in operability for a wide range of operators.

In order to achieve the above object, a first characteristic configuration of a photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of parameters for determining printing conditions for image data to be printed, and a group of parameters obtained by grouping the plurality of parameters In the photo printing apparatus provided with the parameter management unit for managing the parameters, a parameter display unit for displaying the plurality of parameters, a selection unit for selecting a parameter to be grouped from the plurality of displayed parameters, and the plurality of parameters A parameter extraction unit that extracts the parameters selected by the selection unit, and a comprehensive parameter creation that groups the extracted parameters to form an extracted parameter group and creates a comprehensive parameter that includes the parameters included in the parameter group comprising a part, and said selecting means When a single parameter is selected, the parameter extraction unit extracts the parameter belonging to the same group as the selected parameter as a groupable parameter, and the parameter other than the parameters extracted as the groupable parameter There is a selection prohibiting means for prohibiting the parameter from being selected .

As in this configuration, parameters are extracted from the parameters of the photo printing device according to the operator's skill level and purpose of use, etc., and these are grouped to form an extracted parameter group, which is included in this extracted parameter group. By creating a new parameter (generic parameter) that encompasses the parameters to be generated, it is possible to set a usage environment suitable for the operator. In particular, by creating comprehensive parameters, the number of parameters to be used can be reduced, which makes it easier for operators with low skill levels to operate. In addition, many comprehensive parameters can be created according to the combination of parameters to be extracted, and comprehensive parameters corresponding to various cases such as operator skill and purpose of use can be created. Thereby, it is possible to configure a photo printing apparatus that is easy to operate for a wide range of operators. In addition, by providing a selection prohibition unit that prohibits selection of parameters that cannot be grouped, a selection error caused by an operator such as an unskilled operator selecting an unrelated (ungroupable) parameter without knowing it can be avoided. be able to.

The second characteristic feature of the photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention, prior Symbol selection inhibiting means, said parameter display section and displaying no or not selectable display parameters other than the extracted parameter as a parameter that can be the group It is in the point comprised by.

  When the photographic printing apparatus has many parameters, it is preferable that predetermined parameters can be efficiently extracted from these parameters. Therefore, as in this configuration, when the operator selects one parameter, parameters that can be grouped with this are extracted, and parameters other than these parameters are hidden or displayed in a non-selectable manner. The operator can easily select a desired parameter and can efficiently extract the parameter.

A third characteristic configuration of the photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention is that a photographic parameter icon creating unit for creating an icon indicating the holistic parameter is provided.

  By making it possible to display the comprehensive parameters as icons as in the present configuration, the created comprehensive parameters can be easily understood visually, and in particular, it is easy to handle even for a less skilled operator. Here, the case where each comprehensive parameter value is displayed as an icon in the case where each value of the comprehensive parameter (general parameter value) is a discrete value is also included.

A fourth characteristic configuration of the photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention is that a normal display mode for displaying parameters included in the parameter group and a simple display mode for displaying the comprehensive parameters can be switched.

  By providing the normal display mode and the simple display mode as in this configuration, it is possible to provide a single photo printing apparatus that can be used by a highly skilled operator and an unskilled operator.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Photo printing device]
1 and 2 show the overall configuration of a photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention. This photographic printing apparatus is also referred to as a digital minilab. The photographic printing apparatus is provided with an operating portion A outside the casing 10 having a dark box structure, and exposure of image data to photographic paper P (an example of a photosensitive material) inside the casing 10. An exposure processing unit Ex that performs the above processing, a vertical transport unit CV that reverses the photographic paper P from the exposure processing unit Ex and transports it upside down, and a development process for the photographic paper P from the vertical transport unit CV And a drying processing unit Dr for drying the photographic paper P from the development processing unit De. The photographic paper P dried by the drying processing unit Dr is disposed at the end of the casing 10. The sorter 13 is provided with a sorter 13 that is discharged from the discharge unit 11, is received by the transfer belt 12, is transferred in the horizontal direction, and is collected on an order basis on any of the plurality of trays 13 </ b> A.

[Operating Department]
The operating unit A functions as an operation terminal for an operator to acquire image data and perform operations necessary for print processing. The operating unit A includes an operating unit controller 21 composed of a general-purpose computer installed on the table unit 20, a display 22 installed on the upper surface of the operating unit controller 21, and image data from the frame image of the developed photographic film F. A film scanner 23 for acquiring the image data, two keyboards 24 and a mouse 25 are provided. A plurality of media drives 26 for accessing information between various semiconductor storage media and optical or magnetic storage media such as CD-ROM, DVD, and MO are provided on the front surface of the operating unit controller 21. I have.

  The film scanner 23 irradiates the photographic film F supported by the film carrier 23B with the light from the light source 23A arranged at the lower part, and the light from the photographic film F is applied from the lens unit 23C to the upper photoelectric conversion unit 23D. In this photoelectric conversion unit 23D, a digital image that is color-separated into three primary colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) by performing photoelectric conversion and A / D conversion of the frame image of the photographic film F. Get the image data of the type.

[Exposure processing section / Vertical transport section / Development processing section / Dry processing section]
The exposure processing unit Ex pulls up one of the long photographic papers P accommodated in a roll shape in the two photographic paper magazines M by the pressure-feeding type supply / conveying roller 41 and then sends it out in the horizontal direction. 42 is delivered from the discharge roller 43 of 42 to the chucker C. The chucker C is provided with a chuck member (not shown) that can be switched between a clamping state in which the photographic paper P is clamped and an open state in which the photographic paper P is opened. Start conveying in the direction. During the conveyance in the horizontal direction, the supply conveyance roller 41 and the discharge roller 43 are driven at a speed synchronized with the moving speed of the chucker C. When the length of the photographic paper P conveyed with reference to the cutting position of the cutter unit 42 reaches a predetermined print size, the conveyance of the photographic paper P is temporarily stopped and the photographic paper P is cut by the cutter unit 42. After this cutting, the chucker C is further moved in the horizontal direction, and the photographic paper P is transferred to the exposure transport mechanism Gc of the exposure unit G.

  Each of the two photographic paper magazines M is provided with an ID plate 19. The ID plate 19 records information such as the width, total length, and surface quality of the photographic paper housed in the magazine (the quality of the surface of the photographic paper such as gloss or semi-gloss). Magazine sensors MS are arranged in close proximity to these ID plates 19, and information on photographic paper recorded on each ID plate 19 can be acquired from the magazine sensors MS.

  The exposure unit G performs main scanning by the exposure head Gh while transporting the received photographic paper P in the horizontal direction (sub-scanning direction) by an exposure transport mechanism Gc having three rollers that can be switched between a crimping state and an open state. The exposure mode is set so as to perform line exposure along the direction. As the exposure head Gh, phosphors in the form of dots are arranged in a line in three types of vacuum cases corresponding to the three primary colors R (red), G (green), and B (blue). The phosphors configured to emit light independently are used. Instead of this, line exposure is performed by introducing light rays from a light source to a photosensitive surface of a photographic paper P from a shutter such as a liquid crystal type that controls pixel units, R (red), G (green), You may use what performs line exposure in the form which scans the laser beam of the three primary colors of B (blue).

  The exposure processing unit Ex controls cutting, exposure, and conveyance of the photographic paper P in the exposure processing unit Ex, and also conveys the photographic paper P in a vertical conveyance unit CV, which will be described later, and a development processing unit De. Is provided with a processing unit controller 36 having a microprocessor for controlling the conveyance of the printing paper P and management of the developing processing liquid, and the conveyance and temperature management of the printing paper P in the drying processing unit Dr.

  The vertical conveyance unit CV receives the photographic printing paper P exposed by the exposure processing unit Ex by the pressure-bonding type roller 15, exchanges the front and back by changing the posture of the pressure-bonding type roller 15, and conveys it upward along the guide rail 16. And functions to be sent to the development processing unit De.

  The development processing unit De includes a development processing tank 30 in which a plurality of processing tanks including a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, and a stabilization tank are integrally formed of a resin, and the photographic paper P supplied from the exposure processing unit Ex, A development transport mechanism 31 having a plurality of pressure-bonding type rollers is provided for transporting the development processing liquid to the respective development processing tanks.

  The drying processing unit Dr supplies a plurality of pressure-bonding rollers 32 that transport the photographic paper P sent out from the development processing unit De, and supplies dry air to the photographic paper P that is transported by the pressure-bonding rollers 32. And a blower 33.

[Control structure]
As shown in FIG. 3, the control system of this photographic printing apparatus is configured. The operating unit controller 21 includes a microprocessor CPU and an input / output interface (I / O) 70 connected to the data bus of the microprocessor CPU. A display 22 and a film scanner 23 are connected to the input / output interface 70. A signal system for accessing information is formed among the film carrier sensor 23S for discriminating the film carrier 23B set in the film scanner 23, the keyboard 24, the mouse 25, the media drive 26, and the hard disk HD. In addition, a communication system for accessing signals is formed between the input / output interface 70 and the processing unit controller 36.

  With respect to the data bus of the microprocessor CPU, a semiconductor memory 71 composed of RAM or ROM, a GUI control unit 72, an image data acquisition unit 73, an image processing unit 74, a print execution unit 75, and a print condition setting unit 76. And a parameter management unit 77 are connected. Further, the GUI control unit 72 is a parameter display unit 72A, the image processing unit 74 is a comprehensive parameter icon creation unit 74A, the print condition setting unit 76 is a print channel setting unit 76A and a print detail setting unit 76B, and the parameter management unit 77 is It has a parameter extraction unit 77A and a comprehensive parameter creation unit 77B.

  The GUI control unit 72 displays various information such as the print channel setting item display screen 50 on the display 22 and is displayed on the display 22 based on the operation of the mouse 25 or the keyboard 24 on the screen. A process of acquiring information via the screen is executed. The parameter display unit 72 </ b> A executes processing for displaying a plurality of parameters of the photographic printing apparatus on the screen of the display 22.

  The image data acquisition unit 73 executes processing for acquiring image data from the film scanner 23, the media drive 26, and the like. The image processing unit 74 executes image processing such as correction and synthesis of the acquired image data. The comprehensive parameter icon creation unit 74A performs processing for creating an icon indicating a comprehensive parameter, which will be described later. In this case, the icon indicating the comprehensive parameter may be created not only from scratch but also by associating the icon with the icon already possessed. The print execution unit 75 executes print processing by transmitting image data and order information to the processing unit controller 36.

  The print condition setting unit 76 performs processing for setting various conditions for print processing. Among these, the print channel setting unit 76A performs processing for setting a print channel for image data to be printed, and the print detail setting unit 76B performs processing for setting various items such as image correction and the number of prints on the pre-judge screen. Execute.

  The parameter management unit 77 performs processing for managing a plurality of parameters of the photo printing apparatus and a parameter group obtained by grouping the parameters. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the management structure of the parameter management unit 77. A plurality of parameters are collected to form a parameter group. For example, parameters A1, A2, and A3 are grouped to form parameter group A, and parameters B1, A2, and B3 are grouped to configure parameter group B. ing. It is allowed that the same parameter is included in a plurality of parameter groups (for example, parameter A2 in FIG. 4). The parameter management unit 77 manages parameters and parameter groups in such a hierarchical structure.

  Further, the parameter extraction unit 77A executes a process of extracting a predetermined parameter. The comprehensive parameter creation unit 77B groups the parameters extracted by the parameter extraction unit 77A to form an extracted parameter group, and executes a process of creating a comprehensive parameter that includes the parameters included in the parameter group. The extracted parameters and the extracted parameter group thus extracted are also managed by the parameter management unit 77. For example, in FIG. 4, the parameters A1, A3, A4 and the like extracted by the parameter extraction unit 77A are grouped. An extraction parameter group (general parameter) α, an extraction parameter group (general parameter) β, and the like, which are obtained by grouping extracted parameters A2, B3, B6, and the like, and an extraction parameter group (generic parameter) are shown.

  The GUI control unit 72, the image data acquisition unit 73, the image processing unit 74, the print execution unit 75, the print condition setting unit 76, and the parameter management unit 77 are configured by software. These may be configured by hardware or a combination with hardware.

  The processing unit controller 36 is a cutting / conveying control unit that manages the entire conveying system from the supply conveying roller 41 of the exposure processing unit Ex to the pressure roller 32 of the drying processing unit Dr and the cutting of the printing paper P in the exposure processing unit Ex. 36A, an exposure control unit 36B that controls the exposure head Gh to manage exposure of image data on the photographic paper P, and performs temperature management and liquid level management of the development processing liquid in the development processing tank 30, and the drying processing unit Dr. And a development / drying control unit 36C for performing temperature management. The processing unit controller 36 is configured to receive a signal from a magazine sensor MS that detects information on the ID plates 19 provided in the two photographic paper magazines M.

[Print processing form]
A print processing mode of the photo printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. In addition to normal simultaneous printing, this photo printing device can perform various printing processes such as simultaneous printing at special print sizes, image composition printing with text messages and other images, and album-like printing with multiple frame images laid out. It is configured to be possible. For this reason, it has a print channel (parameter group) in which a plurality of parameters required to execute and control each print process are grouped. Specifically, the print channel includes the width of the photographic paper P used for the printing process, the feed length of the photographic paper P (the feed amount of the photographic paper P until it is cut by the cutter unit 42: Ratio), the surface quality of the photographic paper P (surface quality of the photographic paper such as gloss or semi-gloss), the printing method (automatic printing, pre-judge printing, etc.), and the type of input media. .

  The print conditions are set by determining the print channel and print detail setting items such as image correction and the number of prints on the pre-judge screen described later. Based on the set print conditions, the film scanner 23 uses the photographic film F. Or the media drive 26 acquires image data from a semiconductor-type storage medium or the like. Based on the acquired image data, the exposure processing unit Ex exposes the print image data to the photographic paper P and develops it. A development process is performed in the section De, and a printing process is started in which the photographic paper P after the development process is dried by the drying section Dr and then discharged.

  Next, the print condition setting described above will be described taking print channel setting and image correction on the pre-judge screen as an example.

[Print channel settings]
FIG. 5 shows a print channel setting item display screen 50. In this display screen, many setting items (parameters) such as the input medium 51, the printing method 52, the number of prints 53, the print size 54, the index print 55, and the media output 56 are displayed. (Parameter) is referred, and if necessary, an appropriate input value (parameter value) is input to determine the print channel. That is, this display screen is suitable for an operator with high skill level, and is complicated and difficult to operate for an operator with low skill level.

  For this reason, it is preferable that an operator with a low skill level has a display screen on which the contents of the setting items of these print channels are easy to understand and the print channels can be easily selected. Therefore, in FIG. 6, four parameters of input media, print size, number of prints, and printing method are extracted from a plurality of setting items (parameters) of the print channel (parameter group), and these parameters are grouped. A print icon creation screen (general parameter creation screen) 60 for creating a print channel display parameter (generic parameter) that is a parameter that includes each parameter for a group is shown.

  First, extraction of each setting item (parameter) on the print icon creation screen 60 of FIG. 6 will be specifically described. In order to extract parameters, first, the parameter list display screen PT shown in FIG. 7A is displayed by a predetermined operation, and by checking the check box of each parameter displayed on the parameter list display screen PT, the operator Selects the desired parameters.

  This photographic printing apparatus has a large number of parameters and is equipped with the following means for easy selection. That is, when one parameter desired by the operator is selected, a parameter related to this parameter (which can be grouped) remains displayed in a selectable state, whereas it is not related to this parameter (cannot be grouped). Parameters are grayed out (not selectable) so that the check box cannot be checked. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, when an input medium is selected as a parameter, parameters such as contrast, saturation, and sharpness that cannot be grouped with this are grayed out, and the operator can select from the remaining selectable parameters. As a result, the operator can efficiently select parameters. Here, in addition to setting parameters that can be grouped in advance, for example, whether the parameters can be grouped or not can be determined based on whether or not the preset parameter groups including the parameters are the same. May be.

  In addition, as a selection prohibition unit that disables selection of parameters that cannot be grouped as described above, in addition to hiding parameters that cannot be grouped, or when selecting parameters that cannot be grouped in combination, Means such as displaying an error message may be used.

  The parameters selected in this manner are extracted by the parameter extracting unit 77A, and further, the parameters are grouped to form an extracted parameter group, and comprehensive parameters that include each parameter are generated in the comprehensive parameter generating unit 77B. The In the present embodiment, by further selecting a print size, a printing method, and the number of prints as parameters from the screen of FIG. 7B, a print channel display parameter (general parameter) including these parameters is created.

  As described above, on the print icon creation screen 60 of FIG. 6, the input media 61, the print method 62, the number of prints 63, and the print size 64, which are extracted parameters, are displayed as setting items (parameters). The operator inputs values (parameter values) for each of these setting items (parameters) so that each value of the print channel display parameter (generic parameter) corresponding to these parameter values (generic parameter value) Can be set. Then, in correspondence with each value of the print channel display parameter, a print icon is created in the comprehensive parameter icon creation unit 74A, and the print icon is displayed on the print icon creation display unit 65. That is, one print icon is created for different values of the print size, input medium, number of prints, and print method parameters.

  FIG. 8 shows each print icon (icon corresponding to each value of the print channel display parameter) created in this way. These print icons 67A are displayed on the print selection section 67 of the order screen (print processing selection screen) 66, and are associated with the corresponding print channels. Therefore, the operator can set the print channel only by selecting one of these print icons 67A. Since the icon is visually displayed in this way, the operation can be performed even for an unskilled operator. It is easy to do. Note that by operating the print selection determination button 68, the print channel corresponding to the selected print icon 67A is set in the print channel setting section 76A. Further, when the pre-judge method is selected as the print method, the screen shifts to a pre-judge screen shown in FIG. 9, and the image can be manually corrected for each image on the pre-judge screen.

  As described above, the display screen of FIG. 5 is for a highly skilled operator (advanced person), and the display screen of FIG. 8 is a display screen for a less skilled operator (beginner). Then, it is possible to switch to the screen of FIG. 8 by operating the simple display button 57 in FIG. 5 and to the screen of FIG. 5 by operating the normal display button 69 in FIG. As described above, since the display screens for the advanced user and the beginner are provided and can be switched to each other, it is possible to cope with a wide range of operators with this one photographic printing apparatus.

(Image correction settings)
Next, an example of image correction on the pre-judge screen will be described. As described above, when a print channel in which the pre-judge method is selected as the print method is set, the pre-judge screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed and manual correction becomes possible. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, each image in the order is sequentially displayed in the image display column 81 on the pre-judge screen 80. In this image display column 81, images are displayed for the number of frames set in advance, and as an example, six frames of images are displayed in FIG. A print number input area 82 for inputting the number of prints of each image is arranged below each frame image 81A in the image display field 81.

  To perform image correction on each image, click each frame image to display an image correction selection screen (not shown), select a desired type of image correction from this selection screen, and select the type of image selected. An image correction setting screen for inputting correction values and the like for image correction is displayed. FIG. 10 shows an example of the image correction setting screen selected and displayed in this way. An image correction setting screen 90 in FIG. 10 is a setting screen used when correcting an image in an analog paper tone. As correction items, contrast 91, sharpness 92, saturation 93, and grain suppression 94 are shown. Each of these correction items is extracted from the parameter list display screen PT in FIG. 7, and therefore corresponds to the extracted parameter. Note that selection and extraction of these correction items (parameters) are the same as in the case of creating the print icon described above. In order to perform correction based on the image correction setting screen 90 in FIG. 10, the operator may input a value (parameter value) in the input area in the right column for each correction item (parameter).

  In the image correction example of FIG. 10, a plurality of extracted parameters (extracted parameter group) are displayed instead of a preset parameter group. However, even in such an extracted parameter group, an input operation to the parameter is complicated and difficult to understand for an operator having a low skill level. Therefore, it is preferable to create a parameter that includes these parameters as an analog paper tone and that the comprehensive parameter value has 10 integer values from 1 to 10. That is, the contrast value, sharpness, saturation, and graininess suppression value corresponding to each of the analog paper tone 1 to 10 values are set, and 10 analog paper tone correction values are set.

  As a result, a new correction item “analog paper tone” having a correction value of 1 to 10 can be created. Then, analog paper tones are selected as correction items, the image correction setting screen 97 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed, and any one of values 1 to 10 is input as an input value in the input area 98 of this setting screen. The desired image correction can be performed. That is, only one parameter for inputting a value is required, and it is easy for an operator with a low skill level to operate. Note that these image correction setting screens can also be displayed so as to be switchable between advanced users and beginners.

  In the above-described embodiment, the print channel icon and analog paper tone image correction have been described as examples. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other items such as other types of image correction that require input of a plurality of parameters. Can be applied.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, one comprehensive parameter is created for one extracted parameter group, but it is of course possible to create a plurality of comprehensive parameters.

1 is an external view showing a photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention. Schematic explanatory diagram of the photo printing apparatus of FIG. Block diagram showing the control structure Explanatory drawing showing the parameter management structure Figure showing the print channel setting item display screen Figure showing the parameter list display screen Figure showing the print icon creation screen Diagram showing the print processing selection screen Figure showing the pre-judge screen The figure which shows an example of an image correction setting screen (for advanced users) The figure which shows an example of the image correction setting screen (for beginners)

Explanation of symbols

72A Parameter display section 77 Parameter management section 77A Parameter extraction section 77B Comprehensive parameter creation section

Claims (4)

In a photographic printing apparatus having a plurality of parameters for determining print conditions for image data to be printed, and having a parameter management unit for managing a parameter group obtained by grouping the plurality of parameters,
A parameter display unit for displaying the plurality of parameters;
Selecting means for selecting a parameter to be grouped from the plurality of displayed parameters;
A parameter extraction unit that extracts a parameter selected by the selection unit from the plurality of parameters;
Configure the extracted parameter group by grouping the extracted parameters comprises a comprehensive parameter creation unit that creates a comprehensive parameters that comprise the parameters included in the parameter group, a
When one parameter is selected by the selection means,
The parameter extraction unit extracts the parameters belonging to the same group as the selected parameter as parameters that can be grouped,
A photo printing apparatus comprising selection prohibiting means for prohibiting selection of parameters other than the parameters extracted as parameters that can be grouped . Before Symbol selection prohibiting means, the photograph printing device according to configured claim 1 by the parameter display section is displayed not or not selectable display parameters other than the extracted parameter as a parameter that can be the grouping. Photographic printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 including a comprehensive parameter icon creation unit that creates an icon indicating the global parameters. Photographic printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3 in which the simple display mode is configured to be switchable to display a normal display mode and the comprehensive parameter to display the parameters included in the parameter set.

Images