JPH117538A - Picture processor and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To apply a dynamic effect to a still picture by as few processings as possible. SOLUTION: A storage medium which can be read by a computer consists of a still picture data area 101 for storing still picture data, an effect information data area 103 for storing data which specifies picture a processing to be executed to the still picture and a procedure data area 104 for storing a dynamic processing procedure which dynamically executes the picture processing to the still picture. The picture processor reads out data in the effect information area 103 and the procedure data area 104 and applies the picture processing to the still picture based on those data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for adding information to a still image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image photographing techniques such as digital cameras have become widespread. In response to this, application programs such as electronic albums for storing and managing photographed still images have become widespread. Such a program has functions such as storing captured images in a desired order.

[0003]

In an electronic album, an effect has been conventionally added to a still image. For example, a rainy landscape is expressed by adding rain to a still image of the landscape. However, the effect added to the conventional still image was to create a still image in which the effect was added by changing the still image and express a static effect, and could not express a moving effect. . Creating a moving image from a still image has also been conventionally performed. However, when the content of the effect is changed, it is necessary to recreate the moving image. There is also a problem that the file size of the moving image becomes large. In these methods, a new image file is created separately from the original image file in order to express the effect on a still image.

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium for adding a dynamic effect to a still image with a small amount of processing.

[0005]

A first storage medium for image processing according to the present invention is a storage medium for storing data to be accessed by an image processing application program executed by a computer, and comprises: A still image data area for storing data, an effect information area for storing data specifying image processing to be performed on the still image, and procedure data for storing a dynamic processing procedure for dynamically performing the above image processing on the still image Area. An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that processes the above-described image data, reads out data in an effect information area and a procedure data area from the above-described image data, and uses the data to read the still image. Is subjected to image processing. A second storage medium according to the present invention is a storage medium in which a processing program for processing the above-described image data is stored, and the processing program reads the above-described image data from the effect information area and the procedure data area. The method includes a step of reading data and a step of performing image processing on the still image using the data. More specifically, the first storage medium stores a still image data file to be processed on a computer, and combines a main still image with additional information and a dynamic processing procedure for displaying a still image superimposed on the still image. Save and manage. This allows
Store and manage still images with additional information. This additional image is, for example, an image of an effect added to a still image. In the image processing apparatus, when the additional information is dynamically combined with the still image, the still image data file is accessed by the processing program in the second storage medium, and the additional information is stored in accordance with the dynamic processing procedure stored in the image data file. Is dynamically combined with a still image. In this way, by using the first storage medium extended to the existing image format, a dynamic effect can be added to a still image with as little processing as possible. Further, the effect can be expressed by making the size of the additional information smaller than the size of the still image and repeatedly expressing the additional information. As a result, the file size can be reduced. In the first or second storage medium or the information processing device, preferably, the data specifying the image processing is
This is additional image data to be combined with a still image. Alternatively, preferably, the data for specifying the image processing is data for specifying additional image data to be combined with a still image. Alternatively, preferably, the data for specifying the image processing is data for specifying an image processing method.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an image data format according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this image data format, in a still image data file handled by a computer, additional information and data of a dynamic processing procedure to be superimposed and displayed on a main still image are also stored. As a result, by extending the existing still image format, dynamic image expression can be performed with as little processing as possible. Specifically, this image data format includes an image data area 101, a format identification symbol area 102, and an effect information area 10
3. Processing procedure information area 104 and terminal symbol area 1
It consists of 05. The format identification symbol area 101 stores an identification symbol such as a sign indicating that the data is the format data of the present embodiment. The image data area 102 stores image data. The format of the image data is a conventional image format (BM
P, JPEG, etc.) is stored. The effect information area 103 stores effect information. For example, information on effects such as fog flowing and raining is stored. The processing procedure information area 104 stores information on the processing procedure of the effect information. For example, information for specifying the speed and amount of rain is stored. Terminal symbol area 1
05 stores data indicating the end of the entire data (still image file). The effect information may be the additional image itself to be superimposed, or may be data indicating the type of the additional image. When the effect information is constituted by data indicating the type of the additional information, the additional image itself may be stored in a storage medium of the system. An image processing program that handles a storage medium of this image data format includes:
As will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the additional information is dynamically combined with the still image. Since the storage medium stores the additional information and the dynamic processing procedure in addition to the main still image data (see FIG. 1), when the additional information is dynamically combined with the still image, The still image data file is accessed, and the additional information is dynamically combined with the still image according to the dynamic processing procedure stored in the image data file (see FIG. 6).

[0007] The image processing program can add a dynamic effect to a still image with as little processing as possible using the above-mentioned image data format extended to the existing image data format. For example, a case will be described in which the effect information (dynamic processing content) and the way of moving the additional image (dynamic processing procedure) are specified. If the image data area 101 stores, for example, image data of a landscape still image, In the effect information area 103, the content of the dynamic processing (for example, “rain falls”) is stored. Further, in the processing procedure information area 104, information on how to move (for example, designation of the speed and amount of rain) is stored.
By accessing this still image file, for example, rain,
It can dynamically express effects such as wind, falling leaves, snowstorm, and lightning. In addition, the lighting effects of flash, spotlight, stage light, and mirror ball can be dynamically expressed. Expressions include, for example, a process of spraying fog, a process of blowing wind, a shaking process of moving the entire image, and a shaking process of moving a part of the image. For example, in the blurring process and the shaking process, the effect of the afterimage is expressed by changing the transparency of an image obtained by processing the original image and combining the images. Further, the file size of the additional image can be reduced. When the effect of "rain (or wind, falling leaves, falling snow) falls" is given to a still image, rain, wind, falling leaves, or falling snow is 1/2, 1/4, 1/16 of the size of the still image. Display a small size such as spread over the whole. Also,
When adding the effect of “Lightning flashes” or “Illuminated by flash (or spotlight or stagelight)” to a still image, lightning, flash, spotlight, and stagelight filter the entire still image. Only the effect part is displayed in white. When the effect of “illuminate with a mirror ball” is added to a still image, the mirror ball applies a filter to the entire still image and converts the moving image to １ ／, ４, 1/16 of the size of the still image. Etc. are spread over the entire screen and displayed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an information processing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a system). The system includes a central processing unit (CPU) as a center, a control device 1 for controlling the entire system, a display 2 for displaying images, characters, and the like, a keyboard 3 for performing various inputs and instruction operations, and a mouse. 4, a flexible disk 5 and a hard disk 6, which are data storage media, a printer 7 for outputting image data or drawings created by image organization, a scanner 8 for capturing image data, and a CD-ROM device 9. , A speaker 10 for voice output and a microphone 11 for voice input.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system centered on the control device 1 of FIG. The control device 1 is configured around a central processing unit (CPU) 201. CPU2
01, a ROM 203 storing a program for controlling the present system via a bus 220; a RAM 204 for storing data and programs; a display control circuit 205 for displaying images, characters, and the like on the display 2; It is connected to a keyboard control circuit 206 for controlling input transfer, a mouse control circuit 207 for controlling input transfer from the mouse 4, and a clock circuit 202 for generating a reference clock for operating the present system. Similarly, the CPU 201 controls the flexible disk control circuit 208 for controlling the flexible disk 5, the hard disk control circuit 209 for controlling the hard disk 6, the printer control circuit 210 for controlling the output to the printer 7, and the scanner 8 via the bus 220. A scanner control circuit 211 for controlling the CD-ROM device 9, a CD-ROM control circuit 212 for controlling the CD-ROM device 9, and the speaker 10
Control circuit 213 for controlling microphone 11 and microphone control circuit 214 for controlling microphone 11
Connected to. The CPU 201 further includes a data bus 2
20, it is connected to an expansion slot 215 for connecting various expansion boards. By connecting a SCSI board to the expansion slot 215, a flexible disk 5, a hard disk 6, a scanner 8, a CD
-A ROM device 9 or the like may be connected. In this system, a flexible disk and a hard disk are used as image data storage media of the format shown in FIG.
O) Another information storage device such as a device may be used. Further, as an image data input device, a scanner 8 and a CD-
Although the ROM device 9 is used, another image input device such as a still video camera may be used. Although a printer is used as an output device, another output device such as a digital copying machine may be used. In this system, the program for controlling the system is stored in the ROM, but may be read and executed by a device such as a personal computer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main routine of an image processing program in the system shown in FIGS. When the program is started, first, an initialization process for initializing flags and the like necessary for the following processes and displaying an initial screen is performed (step S1). next,
It is determined whether a menu has been selected on the initial screen (step S2). If "data saving" is selected, the process proceeds to a data saving process (step S3), and a process of storing the selected image data or the image data under various processes in a storage device such as a hard disk in a designated image format is performed. Do. If "data display" is selected, the process proceeds to data display processing (S4), and processing such as displaying the selected or specified image data is performed. If the menu of "other processes" is selected, the process proceeds to other menu processes (S5). After these processes, the process proceeds to step S6 to execute other processes. If there is no menu selection in step S2, the process proceeds to step S6 without doing anything. Step S3
The detailed processing of step S4 will be described later. When all the processes are completed, the process returns to step S2, and the same processes are repeated thereafter. Note that other menu processing (S
5) and other processing (S6) are basically the same as those of the conventional system, or are not directly related to the present invention, so that the description is omitted here.

FIG. 5 shows a data saving process (step S in FIG. 4).
It is a flowchart which shows the detail of 3). First, a process of inputting the name of the data file is performed (step S3).
1) Next, the storage destination (drive / folder) of the data file is specified (step S32). Next, the format of the data file is specified (step S3).
3). Next, the format specified in step S33 is determined (step S34). This determination is made by accessing the format identification symbol area shown in FIG. If it is determined that the format is the effect information attached format according to the present embodiment (see FIG. 1), the process proceeds to step S35, and a process of inputting the effect information attached to the image data is performed (step S35). For example, the user selects effect information such as fog, lightning, snow, and stars moving. Next, a process of inputting the processing procedure of the effect information is performed (step S36). For example, a processing procedure method of moving from right to left, moving from top to bottom, moving at random, or the like is selected by the user. Finally, the image data, the effect information, and the dynamic processing procedure are described by the file name input in step S31 in the storage destination previously specified in step S32 according to the regulation of the effect information attached format (see FIG. 1 for the storage form). Save in the format shown in 1,
To return. In step S33, other formats (conventional formats such as BMP and JPEG)
If it is determined that the still image is the same, the process proceeds to step S38, and the still image (the image data area in FIG. 1) is processed according to various conventional format rules. This processing is not directly related to the present embodiment, and thus the description is omitted.

FIG. 6 shows a data display process (step S in FIG. 4).
It is a flowchart which shows the detail of 4). First, the format of the currently selected image data file is determined (S41). If the format is the effect information attached format (the format shown in FIG. 1), the process proceeds to step S42. This determination is made by accessing the format identification symbol area of FIG. Next, the effect information (effect information area in FIG. 1) is read from the data file in accordance with the definition of the effect information attached format (see FIG. 1 for the storage form) (step S42), and the dynamic processing procedure (FIG. 1 is read (step S43), and image data (the image data area in FIG. 1) is read (step S44). Then, the image data is displayed according to the effect information obtained in steps S42 and S43 and the dynamic processing procedure specified by the effect indicated by the dynamic processing procedure. As a result, the effect is dynamically combined with the still image. For example, if “spotlight moves” is obtained as the effect information in step S42 and “random moves” is obtained as the processing procedure method in step S43, the process in which the spotlight moves randomly is synthesized and displayed on the image data. Become. In step S41, the format of the currently selected image data file is not in the format attached to the effect information (BMP, JPEG
If it is determined that the format is a conventional format, the process proceeds to step S45, and the image data is read and displayed according to the specification of the format.

FIG. 7 shows an example of processing for displaying still image data to which an effect has been applied (step S44 in FIG. 6). First, the still image data is displayed (step S44).
1) The content of image processing (effect) of still image data and how to move the still image data are read (step S442). Next, the effect is displayed on the still image data (step S
443). And how to move the effect (processing procedure)
(Step S44)
4). Next, it is determined whether or not the processing procedure has been completed (step S445).
Return to step 4 and continue the image processing. If completed, return.

FIG. 8 shows that the effect content is “spray fog”.
FIG. 9 shows the flow of the display processing (step S44 in FIG. 6) of the still image data to which the fog effect is added in the case of the processing;
Indicates a change in the image in this processing. First, the still image data is displayed (see FIG. 9A), and fine white dots are synthesized on the still image. Then, the address of the white dot is shifted to the left and redrawn. This redrawing is repeated until the processing procedure is completed (see (b), (c) and (d) of FIG. 9). In the fogging process, the density data of the original image may be converted instead of synthesizing a white point image as follows. Specifically, new concentration = original concentration + (maximum concentration-original concentration) x
a (where a is a random number less than or equal to 1) This process is characterized by performing image processing (density conversion in this example) on the original image instead of synthesizing another image.
The region to be subjected to this image processing is shifted, for example, from left to right. In this example, the effect information is data indicating the type of image processing.

The additional image to be combined with the still image includes a still image component, a moving image frame, a component image, and the like.
Still image components, moving image frames, component images, and the like can be stored in the effect information area. The still image component is an image of a small still image that is combined with the original still image. When a still image component is synthesized on a still image in a predetermined manner, a dynamic effect is expressed. A moving image frame is a set of still images expressing a series of operations when continuously moved. For example, when a still image frame or a moving image frame expressing the movement of lightning is created and repeatedly displayed, a dynamic effect of causing lightning to shine on the still image is expressed.

[0016]

As described above, a dynamic effect can be easily added to a still image. If a viewer corresponding to the file format according to the present invention is used, a still image having a motion effect can be displayed. Viewers that do not support this file format will only display still images,
Images can be viewed with a conventional viewer. Further, depending on the content of the effect, the file size can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a still image file format.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an information processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a main routine of a program of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a data saving process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a data display process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a display process of still image data to which an effect has been added.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow of an example of display processing of still image data to which a fog effect is applied in the case of a fog effect;

FIG. 9 is a diagram sequentially showing changes in an image in the flow of FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 control device, 5 flexible disk, 6 hard disk, 8 scanner, 9 CD-ROM device, 201 central processing unit (CPU), 203 RO
M.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A storage medium for storing data to be accessed by an image processing application program executed by a computer, comprising: a still image data area for storing still image data; and an image processing to be performed on the still image. A storage medium for image processing, comprising: an effect information area for storing data for performing image processing; and a procedure data area for storing a dynamic processing procedure for dynamically performing the image processing on a still image. 2. The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the data for specifying the image processing is additional image data to be combined with a still image. 3. The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the data for specifying the image processing is data for specifying additional image data to be combined with a still image. 4. The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the data for specifying the image processing is data for specifying an image processing method. 5. A still image data area for storing still image data, an effect information area for storing data for specifying image processing to be performed on the still image, and a dynamic information area for dynamically performing the image processing on the still image. An image processing apparatus for processing image data composed of a procedure data area for storing a processing procedure, and reads data in an effect information area and a procedure data area from the image data, and reads the data in the effect information area and the procedure data area. An image processing apparatus for performing image processing on a still image. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the data specifying the image processing is additional image data to be combined with a still image. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the data specifying the image processing is data specifying additional image data to be combined with a still image. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the data specifying the image processing is data specifying an image processing method. 9. A still image data area for storing still image data, an effect information area for storing data for specifying image processing to be performed on the still image, and a dynamic information area for dynamically performing the image processing on the still image. A storage medium storing a processing program for processing image data composed of a procedure data area for storing a processing procedure; and reading data in the effect information area and the procedure data area from the image data. Subjecting the still image to image processing based on the data. 10. The data specifying the image processing,
The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the storage medium is additional image data to be combined with a still image. 11. The data for specifying the image processing,
10. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the data is data for specifying additional image data to be combined with a still image. 12. The data for specifying the image processing,
10. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the data is data for specifying an image processing method.