JP2005354331A - Image output unit and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output an image while altering the size thereof so that an object in the image has an actual size when the image is outputted in accordance with the area size of an output medium (print size, display screen size). <P>SOLUTION: In a photograph image printing and selling apparatus, a CPU 1 acquires the actual size of an object in an image and the image size of the object when image print is designated at the time of throwing a recording medium on the client side, calculates the print magnification of the image so that the print size of the object substantially matches its actual size based on the actual size and the image size, and prints out the image from a photograph printer 8 while altering the image size according to the print magnification. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output apparatus and program for outputting an image in accordance with the area size of an output medium.

In general, when printing an image taken by a camera, if the print size is arbitrarily specified, the image size is changed so that the entire image becomes a size corresponding to the specified size. It was difficult to estimate the actual size of the subject simply by looking at the printed photo print. Therefore, conventionally, an image processing apparatus that displays the actual size of the subject on a scale is known (see Patent Document 1).
On the other hand, techniques for measuring the size of a subject by camera photography include, for example, the distance from the lens position to the subject measured by a distance sensor, an arbitrary portion of the subject displayed on the display, and the shooting angle of view of the lens. There is known a digital camera that measures the actual size of a subject based on the above (see Patent Document 2). In addition, the fish species discrimination is based on the display screen to determine the actual size of the fish shadow based on the focal length of the underwater camera and the distance to the fish captured by the transducer integrated in the underwater camera. An apparatus is known (see Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-209827 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-344311 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-31947

 However, in the technique of Patent Document 1 described above, it is difficult to intuitively grasp the actual size of the subject with the scale display, and problems such as misreading occur. Further, in Patent Documents 2 and 3 described above, a relatively accurate measurement result can be obtained. However, a distance sensor or a transducer is provided to measure the distance from the camera position to the subject. It was a premise.

  The subject of the first and second inventions is that when outputting an image in accordance with the area size of the output medium, the size of the image can be changed and output so that the subject in the image becomes the actual size. Is to do.

The invention according to claim 1 (first invention) is an image output device that outputs an image in accordance with the region size of an output medium, and that obtains actual size information of a subject included in the image. An acquisition unit; an image size acquisition unit that acquires image size information of the subject in the image; and an output size of the subject based on the acquired actual size information and image size information when the image is output. A calculation unit that calculates an output magnification of the image so as to substantially match the actual size; and an output unit that outputs the image by changing the size of the image to the size of the output magnification obtained by the calculation unit. It is characterized by that.
Furthermore, a program for realizing the main functions shown in the invention described in claim 1 is provided to the computer (the invention described in claim 14).

The invention described in claim 1 may be as follows.
When the actual size information of the subject is added as the attribute information of the photographed image, the actual size acquisition means reads out and acquires the actual size information from this image (the invention according to claim 2).

  When the subject distance from the camera position to the subject is added as the photographed image attribute information and the focal length at the time of photographing the subject, the actual size acquisition means sets the focal length and subject distance read from this image. Based on the ratio and the image size information of the subject, the actual size information of the subject is calculated and acquired (the invention according to claim 3).

  When the subject distance from the camera position to the subject is not added as the attribute information of the photographed image, the actual size acquisition unit responds to guidance to input the subject's actual size. Thus, the actual size information of the subject input by the user is acquired (the invention according to claim 4).

  When image size information of a subject is added as attribute information of a captured image, the image size acquisition unit reads out and acquires image size information from the image (the invention according to claim 5).

  When an arbitrary range is designated on the screen on which the image is displayed, the image size acquisition unit calculates and acquires the size of the specified range as image size information of a subject. ).

  Resolution acquisition means for acquiring the resolution of the output medium is provided, and the calculation means calculates an output magnification based on the acquired actual size information, image size information, and output resolution.

  In a state where a plurality of types of printing paper having different sizes are stored and managed, the output means automatically selects a paper having a size that fits on one sheet of the image whose size has been converted to the output magnification. Image printing is performed (the invention according to claim 8).

  If the entire image that has been converted to the size of the output magnification does not fit on a single sheet, the output unit divides and prints each image obtained by dividing the image into a number of sheets (claim). Item 9).

  If the entire image that has been converted to the output magnification size does not fit on the printing paper, the output means cuts out an image portion within a printable range with the paper size and performs partial printing. Described invention).

  Corresponding frame display means for displaying a corresponding frame of a size obtained by converting the paper size to the size on the screen in a screen on which the entire image whose size has been converted to the size of the output magnification is displayed, and the output means When the display position of the corresponding frame is arbitrarily changed, the image portion in the changed corresponding frame is cut out and partial printing is performed (the invention according to claim 11).

  When the output means displays an image whose size has been converted to the size of the output magnification, it cuts out an image within a range that can be displayed on the display screen and performs partial display, and the remaining image that is out of the display screen For the portion, the entire image is moved and displayed in accordance with the scrolling operation (the invention according to claim 13).

The invention according to claim 12 (second invention) is an image output device for outputting an image in accordance with a region size of an output medium, and obtains a subject distance from a camera position to a subject and at the time of photographing the subject. Acquisition means for acquiring the focal length of the subject, and when outputting the image, the output size of the subject is substantially matched to the actual size by adding the resolution of the output medium to the subject distance and the focal length. And an output means for outputting an image at an output magnification obtained by the calculation means.
Furthermore, a program for realizing the main functions shown in the invention described in claim 12 is provided to the computer (the invention described in claim 15).
The invention described in claim 12 may be the invention described in claim 13 described above.

  According to the invention of the first aspect (first invention), in the state of acquiring the actual size information of the subject included in the image and acquiring the image size information of the subject in the image, Based on the actual size information and the image size information, the output magnification of the image is calculated so that the output size of the subject substantially matches the actual size, and the image is output at this output magnification. When outputting an image in accordance with the output area (print size, display screen size), the subject can be reproduced in actual size, and the actual size can be grasped intuitively.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same effect as the first aspect of the invention described above, the actual size information of the subject is added as the attribute information of the photographed image. Since the size information is read out and acquired, the actual size information of the subject can be obtained without performing a special operation when outputting the image.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to having the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1, the focal distance when the subject is photographed and the subject distance from the camera position to the subject as the attribute information of the photographed image Since the ratio of the focal length read from this image and the subject distance is obtained, and the actual size information of the subject is calculated and acquired based on this ratio and the image size information of the subject. Even if the actual size information of the subject is not input in advance by a numerical value input operation, the actual size of the subject can be automatically calculated.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to having the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1, the focal length when the subject is photographed and the subject distance from the camera position to the subject as the attribute information of the photographed image Since the actual size information of the subject input by the user is acquired in response to the guidance for inputting the actual size of the subject when the actual size of the subject is not added, the actual size of the subject can be obtained when the image is output. .

  According to the invention described in claim 5, in addition to the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 described above, when image size information of the subject is added as attribute information of the photographed image, an image is obtained from this image. Since the size information is read and acquired, the image size information of the subject can be obtained without performing a special operation when outputting the image.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to the same effect as the first aspect of the invention described above, when an arbitrary range is designated on the screen on which the image is displayed, Since the size is calculated and acquired as the image size information of the subject, the image size of an arbitrary subject can be easily obtained by a user operation.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, in addition to the same effects as the first aspect of the invention described above, the resolution of the output medium (for example, the number of dots per inch) is acquired, and the actual size information of the subject Since the output magnification is calculated by adding the resolution of the output medium to the image size information, the output magnification can be calculated more accurately, and the subject can be reproduced in actual size.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, in addition to having the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 described above, in the state where a plurality of types of printing paper having different sizes are stored and managed, the size is set to the size of the output magnification. Since the converted image is automatically selected to print on a sheet that has a size that fits on a single sheet of paper, if the image is enlarged according to the output magnification, even if it is enlarged to the maximum size paper The entire image can be stored on paper.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, in addition to having the same effect as the first aspect of the invention described above, when the entire image converted into the size of the output magnification does not fit on one sheet, Since each image obtained by dividing this image is divided and printed on that number of sheets, when the image is enlarged and output according to the output magnification, the entire enlarged image is printed without being affected by the paper size. It becomes possible to do.

  According to the invention described in claim 10, in addition to the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 described above, when the entire image converted into the size of the output magnification does not fit on the printing paper, this paper is used. Since the image portion within the printable range in size is cut out and partially printed, the entire subject can be printed in its actual size.

  According to the invention described in claim 11, in addition to the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1, the paper size is displayed on the screen on which the entire image whose size is converted to the output magnification is displayed. A corresponding frame whose size is converted to the size on the screen is displayed, and when the display position of the corresponding frame is arbitrarily changed, the image portion in the changed corresponding frame is cut out and partially printed. Therefore, prior to printing, it is possible to confirm a printable range by the paper size and arbitrarily change the range.

  According to the invention described in claim 13, in addition to having the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1, the image can be displayed on the display screen when the image converted into the size of the output magnification is displayed and output. The image within the range is cut out for partial display, and the remaining image part that is off the display screen is moved and displayed in response to the scrolling operation. Also, the entire subject can be displayed.

According to the invention of the twelfth aspect (second invention), in the state in which the subject distance from the camera position to the subject is obtained and the focal length at the time of photographing the subject is obtained, the subject distance and the focal length The output magnification of the image is calculated so that the output size of the subject substantially matches the actual size by adding the resolution of the output medium, and the image is output at this output magnification. When an image is output in accordance with the area (print size, display screen size), the subject can be reproduced in actual size, and the actual size can be intuitively grasped.
Note that the invention of the twelfth aspect (second invention) also has the same effect as the invention of the thirteenth aspect described above.

(Example 1)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing basic components of a photographic image printing and selling apparatus.
This photographic image printing and selling apparatus is a vending machine that prints and sells photographic images (still images) on the digital camera side. In other words, the image printing / sales apparatus is installed in a convenience store, a city street, etc., and is a print vendor that prints a group of images taken by the camera with high quality and discharges and sells the printed matter (photo print).

  This photographic image printing and selling apparatus, when a captured image taken by a camera is externally supplied from a user via a recording medium, actual size information (vertical / horizontal size: cm) of a subject included in the captured image. ) And image size information (vertical / horizontal size: pixels) of the subject in the captured image, and the print size of the subject is abbreviated to the actual size based on the actual size information and the image size information. The output magnification (printing magnification) of the entire image is calculated so as to match, and the photographed image is printed at this printing magnification.

  The CPU 1 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the photographic image printing and selling apparatus according to the operating system and various application software in the storage unit 2, and the CPU 1 includes a storage unit 2 that is a fixed memory such as a hard disk. A detachable recording medium 3 such as a CD-ROM or DVD is connected. The program storage area in the storage unit 2 stores an application program for realizing the present embodiment in accordance with operation procedures shown in FIGS. Further, the CPU 1 includes a transmission unit 4, a recording medium reception device 5, a display unit 6 and an operation unit 7 constituting a display with a touch panel, a photographic printer device 8, and a money transfer device 9.

  The transmission unit 4 is an image communication unit for receiving a photographed image from a customer-side digital camera via the Internet. The recording medium reception device 5 reads the image data by accessing the recording medium when the recording medium is inserted, and each image data is given to the CPU 1. The display unit 6 and the operation unit 7 have a configuration in which a touch panel is attached to a display screen of a liquid crystal display device, a CRT display device, a plasma display device, or the like. The photographic printer device 8 prints each photographic image to be printed one by one while temporarily storing it in an internal memory (paper memory). For example, the photographic printer device 8 uses a multi-color laser printer or inkjet printer capable of high-quality and high-speed printing. It is configured. In the recording paper storage unit 10, for example, printing paper corresponding to each size of the DP plate, the L plate, the post card, the 2L plate, and the A4 plate is classified and stored. The money transfer device 9 has a normal configuration that counts and supplies the money to the CPU 1 and discharges change according to an instruction from the CPU 1.

  When image printing is instructed at the time of insertion of the recording medium on the customer side, the CPU 1 prints the captured image in the recording medium as usual, and the subject in the captured image becomes its actual size. In this way, a print menu screen that can arbitrarily designate “actual size print” for changing the size of the photographed image to be printed is displayed and output. When this `` Normal Print '' menu is selected, any image can be selected from this list display when the group of captured images in the recording media is displayed as a list (thumbnail display) as usual. Each time the image is designated, the selected image is printed on the sheet one by one.

  In addition, when the “actual size print” menu is selected, the focal length and subject distance added as attribute information to the photographed image are acquired, and the ratio between the focal length and subject distance is obtained. Based on this ratio and the image size information of the subject, the actual size information of the subject is calculated and acquired, and on the basis of the actual size information and the image size information, the entire captured image is set so that the print size of the subject substantially matches the actual size. The output magnification is calculated, and the captured image is printed at this output magnification.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing basic components of the digital camera in this embodiment.
This digital camera is a digital still camera that shoots still images, and can be switched between normal shooting mode and special shooting mode. When this special shooting mode is set, the subject is shot. The focal length and the subject distance from the camera position to the subject are measured, and the focal length and the subject distance are added as attribute information of the photographed image and recorded and stored in a recording medium.

  The CPU 11 controls the entire operation of the digital camera according to the operating system and various application software in the storage unit 12. The program storage area in the storage unit 2 stores an application program for realizing an operation specific to this embodiment in accordance with an operation procedure shown in FIG. A work memory 13 and a recording medium 14 are connected to the CPU 11, and programs, image data, and the like are exchanged between the memory 13 and the recording medium 14. The CPU 11 is connected with an operation unit 15, a display unit 16, and a camera photographing unit 17 that are input / output peripheral devices. The CPU 11 controls the operation of these input / output devices according to an input / output program. .

  The operation unit 15 has various function buttons such as a shirt button and a mode button, and operation signals thereof are given to the CPU 11. The display unit 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal display unit with a touch panel, and is used as a monitor screen / finder screen / image reproduction screen. The camera photographing unit 17 includes a photographing lens, a lens / mirror block such as a mirror, an image pickup device such as a CCD image sensor, a drive system thereof, and the like. A CPU 11 performs drive control of a zoom mechanism, drive control during autofocus, and shutter drive. Controls the control and captures captured images. The number of pixels of the captured image recorded in the image memory 18 is, for example, 1632 × 1224 pixels / 640 × 800 pixels.

  Next, the operation concept of the photographic image printing and sales apparatus and the digital camera in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, each function described in these flowcharts is stored in the form of a readable program code, and operations according to the program code are sequentially executed. In addition, the operation according to the above-described program code transmitted via the transmission medium can be sequentially executed. This is the same in other embodiments described later, and in addition to the recording medium, an operation peculiar to this embodiment can be executed using a program / data supplied externally via a transmission medium.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital camera in the special shooting mode.
First, the CPU 11 operates the camera monitor (step A1) when the mode is switched from the “normal shooting mode” to the “special shooting mode” (step A1), and automatically controls the focus to the subject by the autofocus function (step 1) A2) A monitor image is acquired (step A3) and displayed on a monitor (step A4). Then, until the shutter button is operated (step A5), the process returns to the above-described step A2 and enters a shutter waiting state. In this special photographing mode, the photographer performs photographing while adjusting the camera direction so that the subject to be targeted is located at the center of the monitor.

When the shutter button is operated, the monitor image at that time is acquired and recorded and saved as an image file, and the current date and time (shooting date and time) is added as the file attribute (step A6). Then, the measurement distance from the camera position to the subject is acquired as the subject distance L (step A7), the focal length f1 at the time of the shutter operation is acquired (step A8), and the subject distance L and the focal length f1 are used as the file attribute. (Step A9) and the image file is stored in the recording medium 14 (step A10). Thereafter, the process returns to step A2, and the above-described operation is repeated.
FIG. 4 shows the contents of this image file. In this image file, in addition to “image data”, “shooting date”, “focal length f1”, and “subject distance L” are set as the file attributes. Is done.

5 to 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the photographic image print sales apparatus.
First, when a recording medium is inserted from a customer (step B1), the CPU 1 reads a group of captured images in the recording medium (step B2) and displays a list (thumbnail display) (step B3). When an image to be printed is arbitrarily selected and designated from the list screen (step B4), a print menu screen is displayed and output (step B5). This print menu screen is a screen for selecting the above-mentioned “normal print” and “actual size print”. When “normal print” is selected from the menu screen (YES in step B6), the print menu screen is desired. The print size can be designated, and the customer designates an arbitrary size from among the print sizes.

 Here, when an arbitrary print size is designated (step B7), the CPU 1 reads the selected print target image (step B8), and enlarges and changes the image size to the designated print size (step B8). B9) The enlarged image is printed out on the designated paper (step B10). Then, it is checked whether or not all the print target images have been printed (step B11), and after returning to step B8 and repeating the above printing operation until all the printing is completed (steps B8 to B11), the recording medium 14 is loaded. Discharge (step B13).

 On the other hand, when “normal print” is selected from the print menu screen (YES in step B6), the process proceeds to step B14 in FIG. 6, the selected print target image is designated, and the file attribute is read (step B15). ). Then, it is checked whether “focal length f1” and “subject distance L” are set in this file attribute (step B16). In other words, on the digital camera side, it is checked whether shooting is performed in the normal shooting mode or shooting in the special shooting mode. If shooting is performed in the special shooting mode, the file attribute includes “focal length f1”, Since “subject distance L” is set, the process proceeds to step B17 to specify the range of the subject portion in the monitor image. That is, in the monitor screen, when a range surrounding the subject is specified in order to identify an arbitrary subject (step B17), the designated range is specified and the size of the designated range is measured. Then, this measurement size is acquired as the subject image size “P1” (step B18).

FIG. 9 is a diagram for specifically explaining the size of a subject in a photographed image taken by the camera.
Now, assuming that the overall image size P0 is “640 × 800 pixels”, an image portion located at the center of the image is specified as a subject (vase) and an image corresponding to the height of the subject. The size P1 “280 pixels” is measured and acquired. Then, after reading “focal length f1” and “subject distance L” from the file attributes (step B19), the actual size “T” of the subject is calculated by the following calculation formula (step B20). In the example of FIG. 9, the actual size corresponding to the height of the subject is “25 cm”.
T = L / f1 * P1

 On the other hand, when shooting is performed in the normal shooting mode on the digital camera side, “focal length f1” and “subject distance L” are not set in the file attributes of the selected print target image (step S1). After the message for inputting the actual size of the subject is displayed and output (step B21), the CPU 1 acquires numerical data input in response thereto as the actual size “T” of the subject (NO in B16). Step B22).

 After the calculation / acquisition / acquisition of the actual size “T” of the subject in this way, the process proceeds to step B21 in FIG. 7 to acquire the printer resolution “D”. The printer resolution “D” is the number of dots per inch (2.54 cm) (dpi), and the printer resolution “D” is taken into account so that the print size of the subject in the print target image substantially matches the actual size. The print magnification of the image is calculated (step B22). In this case, the image printing magnification is calculated by the following calculation formula.

Here, the normal print size N (cm) is the overall image size P0 (pixels) / printer resolution D (dpi) * 2.54, and the overall image actual size S (cm) is the overall image size P0 (pixels). / Image subject size (pixels), so print magnification = actual image size S (cm) / normal print size N (cm) * actual subject size T (cm), print magnification = actual subject size T / subject Image size P1 * printer resolution D / 2.54.
Therefore, printing magnification = (P0 / P1 * T) /P0/D*2.54= (T * D) / (P1 * 2.54)

Next, the actual overall image size S (cm) is calculated by the following calculation formula (step B23). Here, the entire actual image size S (cm) is printing magnification * normal printing size N.
Therefore, S = P0 / P1 * T
After calculating the print magnification of the image and the actual size of the entire image in this way, the print size within which the actual size of the entire image (S) is accommodated is searched from the print size table 20 in FIG. 10 (step B24). This print size table 20 stores and manages the size information (mm) corresponding to the DP plate, L plate, post card, 2L plate, and A4 plate. The print size table 20 is searched while converting.

As a result, if there is a print size that can fit the entire image (YES in step B25), this print size is selected (step B26), the image data is enlarged and changed according to the print magnification (step B27), and after the enlargement Are printed out on the selected size paper (step B28).
FIG. 10 shows a state in which the original image is enlarged and printed according to the printing magnification on the selected size (A size) paper. When printing for one image is completed in this way, it is checked whether all the images selected as printing targets have been printed (step B29), and the process returns to step B14 in FIG. 6 until printing for all images is completed. Next, the next image is designated, and the above-described printing process is repeated. However, if there is no print size that can accommodate the entire image (NO in step B25), the process proceeds to step B31 and subsequent steps in FIG.

 First, a menu screen for selecting a print mode is displayed and output (step B31). This menu screen displays menu items of “1: division printing” and “2: area designation printing”. “1: division printing” indicates that one image is changed to the size of the print magnification. If the image does not fit on the required paper, specify the print mode to divide and print each image divided into a number of sheets, and “2: Specify area print” is changed to the size of the print magnification. When the entire image does not fit on a single sheet, a print mode is specified in which the image portion within the printable range is cut out and partially printed.

Now, when an arbitrary menu item is selected from this menu screen (step B32), the selected item is discriminated (step B33), and if it is “1: split printing”, the entire image actual size S is set. Divide into a plurality of A sizes (step B34). In other words, the actual size of the entire image is divided into a plurality of pieces according to the maximum size of the paper. You may get approval.
Of the divided images thus divided, the first divided image is enlarged at the printing magnification (step B35), and this enlarged image is printed out on A size paper (step B36). Thereafter, until all the divided images are printed (step B37), the divided images are sequentially enlarged and printed (steps B35 to B37). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step B29 in FIG.

When “2: area designation printing” is selected from the menu screen (NO in step B33), each print size is read from the print size table 20 in FIG. 11 (step B38), and for each print size. The size is converted into the size on the display screen (step B39).
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a calculation formula for converting each print size into a size on the display screen and its state. For each print size PS, the print size DPS on the display is the display size DS (pixel). / Total image actual size S (cm) = display size DPS (pixel) / print size PS (cm).
Therefore, DPS = DS / S * PS

 Next, an image selected as a printing target is displayed on the monitor (step B40). In this case, the image is enlarged according to the print magnification and the enlarged image is displayed on the monitor. At that time, if the entire enlarged image cannot be accommodated in the monitor screen, the monitor screen is based on the central portion. Data for the size is cut out and displayed on the monitor. At this time, with respect to the remaining image portion that is off the monitor screen, the entire image is moved and displayed in accordance with the scroll operation. A corresponding frame having a size corresponding to each display size DPS is displayed on the monitor screen (step B41).

 In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the corresponding frame is displayed in broken lines for each print size with the lower left of the monitor screen as the reference point. In this state, when an arbitrary corresponding frame (print size) is selected and designated (step B42), for example, as shown in FIG. 13A, only the designated frame designated and designated is displayed. Here, when the position movement of the designated frame is instructed, the designated frame is moved and displayed in accordance with the moving operation (step B43). FIG. 13B shows a display state after the designated frame is moved and displayed.

Then, in response to the confirmation instruction, the image portion within the designated frame is cut out (step B44). After the cutout image is enlarged to the printing magnification (step B45), the process proceeds to step B28 in FIG. 7, and the enlarged image is selected. Printed in print size. FIG. 13C shows a case where the image portion in the designated frame is cut out and enlarged.
When all the selected images to be printed have been printed in this way (YES in step B29 in FIG. 7), the process returns to step B12 in FIG.

 As described above, in the photographic image print sales apparatus of the first embodiment, the CPU 1 obtains the actual size of the subject in the image when the image printing is instructed when the recording medium on the customer side is inserted. The image size of the subject is acquired, the print magnification of the image is calculated based on the actual size and the image size so that the print size of the subject substantially matches the actual size, and the image is set to the size of the print magnification. Therefore, the subject can be reproduced in full size, and the actual size can be intuitively grasped.

  In this case, when a subject distance from the camera position to the subject is added as a file attribute of the photographed image, the CPU 1 calculates the focal length read from this image and the subject distance. Since the ratio is obtained and the actual size of the subject is calculated and acquired based on the ratio and the image size of the subject, the actual size can be calculated without inputting the actual size of the subject in advance by numerical input operation. It can be calculated automatically. In addition, when the focal length and the subject distance are not added, the actual size of the subject input by the user is acquired in response to the guidance for inputting the actual size of the subject. Real size can be obtained.

  In addition, when the customer designates a range surrounding the subject in order to identify an arbitrary subject on the monitor screen, the designated range is identified and the size of the designated range is measured and this measurement is performed. Since the size is acquired as the subject image size “P1”, the subject image size can be obtained when the image is output.

When calculating the printing magnification, the CPU 1 obtains the printer resolution in advance and calculates the printing magnification by adding the printer resolution to the actual size and image size of the subject. The printing magnification can be calculated more accurately according to the number of dots), and the subject can be reproduced at full size.
Also, when multiple types of printing paper of different sizes are stored and managed, the paper is automatically selected so that the image whose size is converted to the size of the printing magnification can fit on one paper is printed. As a result, when the image is enlarged according to the printing magnification, the entire image can be stored in the paper even if the image is enlarged to the maximum size.

  If the entire image that has been converted to the size of the print magnification does not fit on one sheet of paper, and “1: division printing” is selected and designated from the menu screen, the CPU 1 divides the image into a plurality of divisions. Since the image is divided and printed on that number of sheets, when the image is enlarged according to the printing magnification, the enlarged image can be printed without being affected by the sheet size. In addition, if the entire image that has been converted to the size of the print magnification does not fit on the specified print paper, the image portion within the printable range with this specified paper size is cut out and partially printed. For example, if the ratio of the subject to the entire image is small and there is room around the subject, even if only the image portion within the printable range is cut out and the image is printed, the entire subject is at its actual size. It becomes possible to print.

  When “2: Print area specified” is selected from the menu screen, the paper size is converted to the size on the screen in the monitor screen where the entire image converted to the print magnification size is displayed. When displaying the corresponding frame of the size and when the display position of this corresponding frame is arbitrarily changed, the image portion is cut out from the corresponding frame after the change and partial printing is performed. The printable range can be confirmed by the paper size, and the range can be arbitrarily changed. Here, in a state where the corresponding frame corresponding to each print size is displayed as a guide, any one of the corresponding frames can be selected as the designated sheet, so that the entire subject can be printed on an appropriately sized sheet.

 In this case, an enlarged image corresponding to the print magnification is displayed on the monitor. At that time, if the entire enlarged image cannot be accommodated in the monitor screen, data for the monitor screen size is cut out based on the central portion. In addition to displaying on the monitor, the remaining part of the image that is off the monitor screen is moved and displayed in response to the scroll operation, so that the entire subject can be displayed no matter how large the screen is. Can do.

In the first embodiment described above, on the digital camera side, “focal length f1” and “subject distance L” are set as the file attributes of the captured image, but this “focal length f1” and “subject distance” are set. In addition to “L”, “actual subject size T” and “subject image size P1” may be set.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the characteristic operation on the digital camera side in this case. Similar to the first embodiment, when the shutter button is operated in the special shooting mode (step A11). The monitor image at that time is acquired and recorded and saved as an image file, and the current date and time (shooting date and time) is added as the file attribute (step A12). Then, the camera “subject distance L” is acquired (step A13), and the “focal length f1” at the time of the shutter operation is acquired (step A14).

  Then, the subject portion located at the center in the monitor image is automatically specified, the image size within the specified range is measured (step A15), and this is acquired as “subject image size P1” (step A16). . When the subject portion is automatically specified, the subject is specified by paying attention to the central portion in the image and comprehensively considering the continuity of the image. As a result, when “subject distance L”, “focal length f1”, and “subject image size P1” are aligned, the “subject actual size T” is calculated (step A17). Also in this case, it is calculated by T = L / f1 * P1. Then, together with the actual size T of the subject, “subject distance L”, “focal length f1”, and “subject image size P1” are recorded as file attributes (steps A 18 and A 19), and then the image file is stored in the recording medium 14. (Step A20).

As described above, if “subject distance L”, “focal length f1”, “subject image size P1”, and “subject actual size T” are set in the recording medium as file attributes, All of the “subject distance L”, “focal length f1”, “subject image size P1”, and “subject actual size T” can be read and acquired from this recording medium, and a special operation is performed during image printing. Instead, “subject image size P1” and “subject actual size T” can be obtained.
(Example 2)

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
In the first embodiment described above, the case where image printing is performed by the photographic image printing / sales apparatus is exemplified. However, the second embodiment is applied to the case where an image is displayed by a digital camera. In the first embodiment, the print magnification of the image is calculated based on the actual size and the image size of the subject so that the print size of the subject substantially matches the actual size. This second embodiment In this case, the subject distance from the camera position to the subject is obtained, and the focal length at the time of photographing the subject is obtained. The output magnification of the image is calculated so as to substantially match.
Here, the same or the same names in both embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, the description thereof will be omitted, and the following description will focus on the features of the second embodiment. .

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a characteristic operation on the digital camera side.
The CPU 11 operates the camera monitor when the power is turned on (step A21), automatically controls the focus to the subject by the autofocus function (step A22), acquires a monitor image (step A23), and monitors the monitor. Display (step A24). Then, the process returns to step A22 until the shutter button is operated, and the shutter wait state is entered.
If a shutter operation is performed (YES in step A25), the monitor image at that time is acquired and recorded and saved as an image file (step A26). Here, the presence / absence of a button operation for instructing the actual size display is checked (step A27). If there is no button operation, the process returns to step A22 and the normal shooting mode is maintained, but the actual size display button is operated. In this case, the measurement distance from the camera position to the center of the subject is acquired as the subject distance L (step A28), and the focal length f1 during the shutter operation is acquired (step A29).

Then, after acquiring the preset display resolution D (step A30), the CPU 11 calculates the output magnification (display magnification) of the image (step A31). In this case, since the actual subject size T is T = L / f1 * P1, the output magnification of the image is T / P1 * D / 2.54 = L / f1 * P1 / P1 * D / 2.54.
Therefore, output magnification = L / f1 * D / 2.54

 After enlarging the entire image with the output magnification calculated in this way (step A32), an image portion of the display screen size is cut out from the enlarged image (step A33), and the cut-out image portion is reproduced on the display screen. It is displayed (step A34). As a result, the subject can be displayed in a size corresponding to the actual size. However, when the subject is too large to fit entirely within one screen, scroll display of the entire screen is possible. Here, the presence or absence of a scroll operation is checked (step A35), and each time the scroll operation is performed, the displayed clipped image is moved in the operation direction by the operation amount (step A36), but the end button is If operated (YES in step A37), the process returns to the automatic focus control up to the subject (step A22).

  As described above, in the digital camera of the second embodiment, the CPU 11 obtains the subject distance from the camera position to the subject and also obtains the subject distance and the focal point in the state of obtaining the focal length at the time of photographing the subject. By adding the display resolution to the distance, the image display magnification is calculated so that the output size of the subject substantially matches the actual size, and the image is displayed at this display magnification. Can be reproduced in real size, and the actual size can be intuitively grasped.

  In this case, when displaying the image whose size has been converted to the display magnification, the CPU 11 cuts out an image within the range that can be displayed on the display screen and performs partial display, and the remaining image that has left the display screen. With respect to the image portion, the entire image is moved and displayed in accordance with the scroll operation, so that the entire subject can be displayed regardless of how large the screen is.

In the above-described first embodiment, the present invention is applied to a photographic image printing and sales apparatus, and in the second embodiment, the present invention is applied to a digital camera. However, the first embodiment is applied to a general printer apparatus and display apparatus. The digital camera may be a digital video camera capable of capturing a still image or a digital still camera capable of capturing a moving image.
Further, the subject may be a person, a pet, a building, a landscape, or the like. Further, two or more subjects included in the photographed image may be output at their actual sizes.

  On the other hand, a recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a RAM card, etc.) on which program codes for executing the above-described units are recorded may be provided to the computer. That is, a recording medium having a computer-readable program code, a function of acquiring actual size information of a subject included in an image, and a function of acquiring image size information of the subject in the image A function of calculating the output magnification of the image so that the output size of the subject substantially matches the actual size based on the acquired actual size information and image size information when the image is output; You may make it provide the computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program for implement | achieving the function which changes the size of the said image to the magnitude | size of an output magnification, and performs an image output.

  Further, the recording medium has a computer-readable program code, and obtains the subject distance from the camera position to the subject and the focal length at the time of photographing the subject, and when outputting the image A function of calculating the output magnification of the image so that the output size of the subject substantially matches the actual size by adding the resolution of the output medium to the subject distance and the focal length, and the size of the calculated output magnification Further, a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for realizing the function of changing the size of the image and outputting the image may be provided.

The block diagram which showed the basic component of the photograph image printing sales apparatus. The block diagram which showed the basic component of the digital camera. The flowchart which showed operation | movement in the special imaging | photography mode of a digital camera. The figure which showed the content of the image file produced | generated by the digital camera side. The flowchart which showed operation | movement of the photograph image printing sales apparatus. The flowchart which showed the operation | movement of the photographic image printing sales apparatus following FIG. The flowchart which showed the operation | movement of the photographic image printing sales apparatus following FIG. The flowchart which showed the operation | movement of the photographic image printing sales apparatus following FIG. The figure for demonstrating concretely the magnitude | size of the to-be-photographed object in the picked-up image imaged with the camera. The figure which showed a mode that the original image was expanded and printed according to printing magnification on the paper of the selection size (A size). The figure which showed the content of the print size table. The figure which showed the state by which the corresponding frame was displayed with the broken line for every print size by making the lower left of a monitor screen into a reference point. (A) shows the selected designated frame displayed, (B) shows the display state after the designated frame is moved, and (C) shows the image in the designated frame cut out and enlarged. The figure which showed the case where it printed. The figure for demonstrating the modification application example in 1st Example, and the flowchart which showed the characteristic operation | movement by the side of a digital camera. 9 is a flowchart showing a characteristic operation on the digital camera side in the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1,11 CPU
2, 12 Storage unit 5 Recording media receiving device 6, 16 Display unit 7, 15 Operation unit 8 Photo printer device 10 Recording paper storage unit 17 Camera photographing unit 20 Print size table

Claims (15)

An image output device that outputs an image in accordance with an area size of an output medium,
Actual size acquisition means for acquiring actual size information of the subject included in the image;
Image size acquisition means for acquiring image size information of the subject in the image;
Calculating means for calculating the output magnification of the image so that the output size of the subject substantially matches the actual size based on the acquired actual size information and image size information when outputting the image;
Output means for changing the size of the image to the size of the output magnification obtained by the calculation means and outputting the image;
An image output apparatus comprising: When the actual size information of the subject is added as the attribute information of the captured image, the actual size acquisition unit reads out and acquires the actual size information from the image.
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. When the subject distance from the camera position to the subject and the focal length when the subject is photographed and the subject distance from the camera position are added as the attribute information of the photographed image, the actual size acquisition means And calculating and acquiring the actual size information of the subject based on the ratio and the image size information of the subject.
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. When the subject distance from the camera position to the subject is not added as the attribute information of the photographed image, the actual size acquisition unit responds to guidance to input the subject's actual size. To obtain the actual size information of the subject input by the user,
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. When image size information of a subject is added as attribute information of a captured image, the image size acquisition unit reads and acquires image size information from this image.
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. When an arbitrary range is designated on the screen on which the image is displayed, the image size acquisition unit calculates and acquires the size of the specified range as the image size information of the subject.
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. Providing a resolution acquisition means for acquiring the resolution of the output medium;
The calculating means calculates the output magnification by adding the resolution of the output medium to the actual size information and the image size information of the subject;
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. In a state where a plurality of types of printing paper having different sizes are stored and managed, the output means automatically selects a paper having a size that fits on one sheet of the image whose size has been converted to the output magnification. Print images,
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. If the entire image that has been converted to the size of the output magnification does not fit on a single sheet, the output means divides and prints each image obtained by dividing the image into a plurality of sheets.
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. The output means cuts out an image portion within a printable range with the paper size and performs partial printing when the entire image converted into the size of the output magnification does not fit on the printing paper.
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. In the screen on which the entire image whose size has been converted to the size of the output magnification is displayed, there is provided a corresponding frame display means for displaying a corresponding frame having a size obtained by converting the paper size to the size on the screen,
The output means, when the display position of the corresponding frame is arbitrarily changed, cut out the image portion in the changed corresponding frame, and performs partial printing,
The image output apparatus according to claim 1, which is configured as described above. An image output device that outputs an image in accordance with an area size of an output medium,
An acquisition means for acquiring a subject distance from the camera position to the subject and acquiring a focal length at the time of photographing the subject;
Calculating means for calculating the output magnification of the image so that the output size of the subject substantially matches the actual size by adding the resolution of the output medium to the subject distance and the focal length when outputting the image;
Output means for changing the size of the image to the size of the output magnification obtained by the calculation means and outputting the image;
An image output apparatus comprising: When the output means displays an image whose size has been converted to the size of the output magnification, it cuts out an image within a range that can be displayed on the display screen and performs partial display, and the remaining image that is out of the display screen For the part, the entire image is moved and displayed according to the scroll operation.
13. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image output apparatus is configured as described above. Against the computer,
A function to acquire the actual size information of the subject included in the image;
A function of acquiring image size information of the subject in the image;
A function of calculating the output magnification of the image so that the output size of the subject substantially matches the actual size based on the acquired actual size information and image size information when outputting the image;
A function of changing the size of the image to the calculated output magnification and outputting the image;
A program to realize Against the computer,
A function for acquiring a subject distance from a camera position to a subject and a focal length at the time of photographing the subject;
A function of calculating the output magnification of the image so that the output size of the subject substantially matches the actual size by adding the resolution of the output medium to the subject distance and the focal length when outputting the image;
A function of changing the size of the image to the calculated output magnification and outputting the image;
A program to realize

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