JP2007124617A - Image combining apparatus and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image combining apparatus and a control method for an image combining apparatus that allows a user to write a handwritten image on a writing sheet while confirming the positional relations between the handwritten image and a photograph to be combined. <P>SOLUTION: In an image processing apparatus that prints a writing sheet having a handwriting area in which a user writes the handwritten image to be combined with a photograph, a reference image generated on the basis of the photograph is printed in the handwriting area, an image combining apparatus includes: a reference image generating means for generating a reference image on the basis of the photograph; and a printing means for printing, in the handwriting area, the reference image generated by the reference image generating means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an image composition apparatus, and more particularly to an image composition apparatus that inputs a photographic image, reads an original, records image data on a recording sheet, and synthesizes the input photographic image data and the read original image data. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling an image composition apparatus.

  In recent years, various usages of digital photographic images have been proposed with the spread of photographic image input devices such as digital cameras and color scanners and image output devices such as color printers.

  In many cases, a photograph is used not only by taking a photograph and printing it on a recording sheet as it is, but also by performing various processes and editing. For example, a message is drawn on a photographic image and sent as a letter, and a title or illustration is drawn and pasted on an album.

  As described above, several methods have been proposed as means for adding a message or an illustration by handwriting to a photographic image input from the image input device.

  For example, a method of displaying an input photographic image on a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, inputting a handwritten image by a touch panel input device provided in the display device, and synthesizing the photographic image and the handwritten image is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Also, a method is known in which a reading device reads a handwritten manuscript written on paper separately from an inputted photographic image and combines it with the photographic image (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP-A-63-040933 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-139832

  However, in the case of trying to draw a message or an illustration by selecting a background portion other than a person shown as a subject, for example, and aligning the position with respect to a photographic image, the conventionally proposed method has the following problems.

  In the touch panel system, handwritten characters and illustrations can be directly drawn on a photographic image while looking at a photographic image. However, since a display device and a touch panel input mechanism need to be provided, there is a problem that the hardware cost increases.

  Moreover, since the image resolution of handwritten input is defined by the resolution of the display device or the touch panel, there is a problem that the expressive power is limited.

  The manuscript reading method has an advantage that a handwritten manuscript can be easily and easily created, and various expressions can be made depending on the type of writing instrument. However, this method draws a handwritten manuscript on a photographic image and a separate manuscript sheet, so it cannot be accurately confirmed at the time of manuscript creation how the handwritten manuscript overlaps with the photographic image. There's a problem.

  In addition, when a background image is printed in light color (dropout color) with dye ink in a handwritten document area, depending on the type of pen used for the handwritten document, it mixes with the dye ink for background printing, and blurring occurs and becomes dirty. As a result, the color is different from the color intended by the user, and the printed background image may be reflected in the synthesis result.

  Furthermore, the same problem as described above occurs depending on the type of recording medium as well as the type of pen.

  The present invention provides an image synthesizing apparatus and a control method for the image synthesizing apparatus that can be drawn while confirming in what positional relationship the photographic image to be synthesized is synthesized at the time of drawing a handwritten document on paper. The purpose is to do.

An image composition device and an image composition device that can reduce the influence of the reference image on the handwritten document without impairing the visibility of the positional relationship between the reference image and the handwritten document in the handwritten document region of the document reading method. It is an object to provide a control method.

The present invention is an image processing apparatus that prints a manuscript sheet having a handwritten manuscript region in which a handwritten image to be handwritten by a user and into which a handwritten image to be combined with a photographic image is written. Further, the present invention provides an image having reference image generation means for generating a reference image based on the photographic image, and printing means for printing the reference image generated by the reference image generation means in the handwritten document area. It is a synthesizer.

  According to the present invention, at the time of drawing a handwritten manuscript on paper, there is an effect that it is possible to draw while confirming in what positional relationship the photographic image to be synthesized is synthesized.

Further, according to the present invention, in the handwritten document area of the document reading method, the influence of the reference image on the handwritten document can be reduced without impairing the visibility of the positional relationship between the reference image and the handwritten document. There is an effect.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image composition apparatus 1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The CPU 2 in the form of a microprocessor operates according to the control program stored in the program memory 4 in the ROM form connected via the internal bus 3 and the contents of the data memory 5 in the RAM form.

  The CPU 2 operates the reading mechanism 7 through the reading control unit 6 and stores document image data read by an image sensor (not shown) provided in the reading mechanism 7 in the reading buffer memory 8 in the data memory 5. .

  The document image data stored in the reading buffer memory 8 is read by the data conversion unit 9, converted into print record data, and then stored in the print buffer memory 10 in the data memory 5. The CPU 2 operates the print recording mechanism 12 through the recording control unit 11, reads out the print record data stored in the print buffer memory 10, sends the print record data to the print recording mechanism 12, and prints and records it on the recording medium. Realize operation.

  The data memory 5 is provided with an image memory 13, and various image data can be temporarily stored and edited in addition to the original image data read by the reading mechanism 7. The image data stored in the image memory 13 is read out by the data conversion unit 9, converted into print record data, and a print record operation is performed so that, in addition to the copy operation, a photographic image or other printing is performed. Can do.

  Note that the read buffer memory 8, the print buffer memory 10, and the image memory 13 on the data memory 5 dynamically change the capacity allocation of each memory according to the operation state such as the operation mode and user settings under the management of the CPU 2. Can be assigned and operated.

  The data conversion unit 9 also performs image processing such as image analysis, thumbnail creation, thumbnail correction, and output image correction.

  The image composition apparatus 1 is provided with an operation panel 16 including a display unit 14 such as an LED or an LCD and an operation unit 15 such as various keys, and executes various input operations by the operator and display of operation statuses. Can do.

  The memory card control unit 17 controls access to the memory card 18 that is a data storage medium, and reads and writes image data and the like stored in the memory card 18. As a result, the photographic image data stored in the memory card 18 is read out, stored in the image memory 13, converted into print record data, and printed and recorded.

  The interface control unit 19 controls communication through the interface 20 and transmits / receives data to / from an external device 21 connected to the outside. A personal computer is connected as the external device 21 and print record data created by a printer driver operating on the computer is received and printed. In addition, a device such as a digital camera is connected to read out photographic image data, store it in the image memory 13, convert it into print record data, and record it.

  The communication control unit 22 includes a MODEM (modem / demodulation device), an NCU (network control device), and the like, and is connected to an analog communication line 23 to perform communication control and line control such as outgoing and incoming calls for the communication line. .

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the handwritten document sheet 24 in the first embodiment.

  Various setting areas 25 are provided at the uppermost part of the handwritten document sheet 24, and the user can select settings related to the synthesis result printing by painting the mark sheet frame described in the various setting areas 25.

  A paper size selection mark sheet frame 26 is arranged in the various setting areas 25, and the paper size of the recording medium on which the composite result is printed is selected by the user painting one of the paper size selection mark sheet frames 26.

  In the handwritten document sheet 24, a handwritten document region 28 is provided below the various setting regions 25, and the user can draw a handwritten document 29 in the handwritten document region 28 with an arbitrary writing tool. Further, in S102 of FIG. 3 to be described later, the photographic image selected by the user is printed as the reference image 27 in the handwritten document area 28.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the processing contents performed by the CPU 2 of the image composition device 1 when the handwritten document sheet 24 is printed in the first embodiment.

  The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is a process executed when the user selects “print handwritten document sheet” in the menu displayed on the operation panel 16.

  In S101, the image composition apparatus 1 reads a photographic image data file in the memory card 18, displays it on the display unit 14, monitors key operations of the operation unit 15, and checks whether a photographic image has been selected (S102). ).

  When a photographic image is selected, the selected photographic image is read out from the memory card 18 and stored in the image memory 13 in S103, and is referenced in S104 by a reference image creation process described in the flowchart shown in FIG. An image 27 is created.

  Next, in S <b> 105, the CPU 2 creates print data of the handwritten document sheet 24 by combining the reference image 27 created in S <b> 104 and various setting area printing data stored in advance in the program memory 4. Further, in S106, the handwritten document sheet 24 is printed by controlling the print recording mechanism 12 based on the created print data.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the image composition apparatus 1 when the completed handwritten document sheet 24 is read and the photographic image and the handwritten document 29 are combined and printed in the first embodiment.

  The process shown in FIG. 4 is a process executed when the user selects “read handwritten document sheet / composite print” in the menu displayed on the operation panel 16. In step S <b> 201, the image composition apparatus 1 controls the reading mechanism 7 to read the handwritten document sheet 24 to obtain handwritten document sheet image data (image data obtained by reading the document sheet).

  Next, paper size selection information is obtained by cutting out various setting area 25 portions from the read handwritten document sheet image data and analyzing the fill state of the mark sheet frame 26 (S202). Next, in S203, the image synthesizing apparatus 1 cuts out the image of the handwritten document area 28 from the handwritten document sheet image data read in S201, and sets it as handwritten document image data.

  Further, in S204, the CPU 2 extracts the handwritten document 29 from the handwritten document image data by the document extraction process described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Further, in S205, the same photographic image as the photographic image selected by the user in S102 of the handwritten document sheet printing process shown in FIG. 3 is read from the memory card 18 and synthesized with the handwritten document 29 extracted in the previous S204. This is composite image data.

  That is, in S204, the pixel determined to be the handwritten document portion is taken as the pixel data of the handwritten document image data, and the pixel determined to be the background portion is taken as the pixel data of the photographic image.

  Next, in S <b> 206, the image composition device 1 performs a process of enlarging or reducing the composite image data based on the paper size selection information acquired in S <b> 202, and controls the print recording mechanism 12 to display the composite image. And printing on the output paper (S207).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the detailed processing contents of the reference image creation step (S104 in FIG. 3).

  In the reference image creation process, the processes of S301 to S303 are repeated for all the pixels of the photographic image stored in the image memory 13.

  In S301, the CPU 2 acquires luminance data (Rorg, Gorg, Borg) of each pixel of the photographic image. In step S302, predetermined data conversion is performed to convert the data into cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y color planes that match the ink colors used for printing, and print pixel density data (Corg, Morg, Yorg) is obtained. Here, Corg, Morg, and Yorg are density data that take values from 0 to 255, respectively.

  In step S303, tone conversion is performed by the following equation (1) to obtain reference image print pixel density data (Cref, Mref, Yref).

以上の処理を、写真画像の全画素データについて繰り返すことによって、印刷の濃度が（Ｃｍａｘ、Ｍｍａｘ、Ｙｍａｘ）に制限された参照画像２７が生成される。

By repeating the above processing for all pixel data of the photographic image, the reference image 27 in which the printing density is limited to (Cmax, Mmax, Ymax) is generated.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the detailed processing contents of the document extraction step (S204 shown in FIG. 4).

  In the document extraction process, S401 to S404 are repeated for all the pixels of the handwritten document image data stored in the image memory 13.

  In S401, the CPU 2 acquires luminance data (Rscan, Gscan, Bscan) of each pixel of the handwritten document image data. In S402, it is checked whether the luminance of each plane of each pixel is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value (Rth, Gth, Bth). That is, it is examined whether or not all the inequality signs in the following formula (2) hold.

上記式（２）の全てが成立する場合、手書き原稿画像データの着目画素の輝度が所定レベル以上（すなわち紙面上での濃度が所定レベル以下）であるので、ＣＰＵ２は、Ｓ４０３へ進み、着目画素は背景部分であると判定する。一方、式（２）のいずれかが不成立の場合、紙面上での濃度が所定レベル以上であるので、ＣＰＵ２は、Ｓ４０４へ進み、着目画素は手書き原稿部分であると判定する。

When all of the above formulas (2) are satisfied, the luminance of the target pixel of the handwritten document image data is equal to or higher than a predetermined level (that is, the density on the paper is equal to or lower than the predetermined level). Is determined to be the background portion. On the other hand, if any of the formulas (2) is not established, the density on the paper surface is equal to or higher than the predetermined level, so the CPU 2 proceeds to S404 and determines that the pixel of interest is a handwritten document portion.

  For each of the Rth, Gth, and Bth constants, the maximum density data of the reference image 27 created by the reference image creation process is printed by the print recording mechanism 12, and the luminance data value when this is read by the reading mechanism 7 is It is set so that it does not fall below the brightness of Rth, Gth, and Bth.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a synthesis result output example according to the first embodiment.

  As is apparent from FIG. 7, the photographic image 30 and the handwritten document 29 drawn in the handwritten document area 28 are combined so as to be overlapped, and enlarged and matched to the size selected by the paper size selection mark sheet 26. The resultant image is reduced and output to the recording medium 31.

With this configuration, when the user draws the handwritten document 29 in the handwritten document area 28 of the handwritten document sheet 24, the user can draw it on the reference image 27 printed in the handwritten document area 28. Therefore, the handwritten document 29 can be drawn while grasping the positional relationship when the images are superimposed and combined.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, when the reference image 27 is printed, only a specific color plane (here cyan) is used.

  In the second embodiment, the configuration of the handwritten document sheet 24, the processing content when the handwritten document sheet 24 is printed, and the processing content when the handwritten document sheet 24 is read and combined and printed are shown in FIGS. 2 and 2 described in the first embodiment. 3 is equivalent to FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the details of the detailed processing called from the reference image creation step in S104 of FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the detailed processing content of the reference image creation step in the second embodiment.

  In S501, the CPU 2 acquires luminance data (Rorg, Gorg, Borg) of each pixel of the photographic image. In S502, gray scale luminance data Lorg is obtained from the luminance of each RGB plane by the following equation (3).

Lorg = (Rorg + Gorg + Borg) / 3 (3)
In the above equation (3), the average of the RGB plane brightness data is simply set as the grayscale brightness data Lorg. However, the average may be obtained by multiplying each plane by a different coefficient.

  In step S503, predetermined data conversion is performed to obtain print pixel density data Dorg. Here, Dorg is density data that takes values from 0 to 255, respectively.

  In step S504, tone conversion is performed by the following equation (4) to obtain reference image print pixel density data (Cref, Mref, Yref).

以上の処理を、写真画像の全画素データについて繰り返すことによって、シアンのみを使用し、シアンインクの印刷の濃度がＣｍａｘに制限された参照画像２７が生成される。

By repeating the above processing for all pixel data of the photographic image, a reference image 27 is generated in which only cyan is used and the cyan ink printing density is limited to Cmax.

  The detailed processing content of the document extraction step in the second embodiment is the same as the document extraction processing content (FIG. 6) of the first embodiment. However, in the second embodiment, only cyan ink is used for reference image printing, and an image obtained by reading an image printed only with cyan mainly affects the R channel. Therefore, in Example 2, Gth and Bth can be set to larger values for Rth in the above equation (2).

  By configuring in this way, a threshold value other than the color plane used for printing the reference image 27 can be set larger, so that the handwritten document 29 can be more accurately obtained even when a writing instrument with a low density is used. Can be extracted.

  In the second embodiment, only cyan is used for printing the reference image 27, but other colors may be used, and this case is also effective.

Furthermore, when printing the handwritten document sheet 24, a step of selecting a color to be used for printing the reference image 27 may be provided. In this way, the user can select the color used for printing the reference image 27 in consideration of the color of the writing instrument to be used, and can extract the handwritten document 29 more accurately. it can.

  The third embodiment of the present invention is an embodiment in which contour extraction processing is added to the original photographic image when the reference image 27 is printed.

  In the third embodiment, the configuration of the handwritten document sheet 24, the processing content when the handwritten document sheet 24 is printed, and the processing content when the handwritten document sheet 24 is read and combined and printed are described in the first or second embodiment. It is equivalent to the content. The third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments only in the detailed processing contents of the reference image creation step.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the detailed processing content of the reference image creation step in the third embodiment.

  The reference image creation process in the third embodiment is different from the second embodiment only in that a contour extraction process (S601) is added before the reference image creation process. The processing of S602 to S605 in FIG. 9 is equivalent to S501 to S504 (FIG. 8) of the reference image creation processing in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the reference image 27 created in the third embodiment.

  FIG. 10A is a diagram showing original photographic image data, and FIG. 10B is an example of the reference image 27 created by the reference image creation processing described in the second embodiment. As described above, when the original photographic image is printed with the density lowered as it is, the gradation is deteriorated and the original image becomes difficult to read.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10C, after performing the contour extraction process on the original photographic image data, a reference image 27 as shown in FIG. 10D is generated.

  That is, FIG. 10C is a diagram showing data obtained by performing contour extraction processing on the original photographic image data, and FIG. 10D is a reference image in which contour enhancement is performed on the reference image 27 whose density has been reduced. It is a figure which shows 27a.

As described above, by generating an image with reduced density after extracting the contour, the position legibility of the reference image 27 can be improved.

  In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, when the reference image 27 is printed, the reference image data is stored, and in the document extraction process, the difference between the stored reference image 27 and the handwritten document image data is obtained. In this embodiment, the document 29 is extracted.

  In the fourth embodiment, the configuration of the handwritten document sheet 24, the processing content when the handwritten document sheet 24 is printed, and the processing content when the handwritten document sheet 24 is read and combined and printed are shown in FIGS. 3 and the processing contents shown in FIG. The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the detailed processing content of the reference image creation step (S104 shown in FIG. 3) and the detailed processing content of the document extraction step (S204 shown in FIG. 4).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the detailed processing content of the reference image creation step in the fourth embodiment.

  In S701, the CPU 2 acquires luminance data (Rorg, Gorg, Borg) of each pixel of the photographic image. In step S702, predetermined data conversion is performed to convert the color planes into cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y that match the ink colors used for printing, and reference image print pixel density data (Cref, Mref, Yref) is obtained.

  Here, Cref, Mref, and Yref are density data taking values from 0 to 255, respectively. This is used as reference image print pixel density data, and is stored in the image memory 13 in S703.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the detailed processing content of the document extraction step according to the fourth embodiment.

  In S801, the CPU 2 acquires luminance data (Rscan, Gscan, Bscan) of each pixel of the handwritten document image data. In S802, data conversion similar to that at the time of creating the reference image is performed, and converted into C, M, and Y planes to obtain reference image print pixel density data (Cscan, Mscan, Yscan). In S803, it is compared with the reference image data stored in the image memory 13, and it is checked whether all the following formulas (5) are satisfied.

上記式（５）の全てが成立する場合、手書き原稿画像データの着目画素と、参照画像２７の着目画素との濃度レベル差が、所定レベル以内であるので、ＣＰＵ２は、着目画素は背景部分であると判定する（Ｓ８０４）。一方、式（５）のいずれかが不成立である場合、手書き原稿画像データと、参照画像２７との濃度差が、所定レベル以上であるので、ＣＰＵ２は、着目画素は手書き原稿部分であると判定する（Ｓ８０５）。

When all of the above formulas (5) hold, the density level difference between the target pixel of the handwritten document image data and the target pixel of the reference image 27 is within a predetermined level, so the CPU 2 determines that the target pixel is the background portion. It is determined that there is (S804). On the other hand, if any of the formulas (5) is not established, the density difference between the handwritten document image data and the reference image 27 is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, so the CPU 2 determines that the target pixel is a handwritten document part. (S805).

  With this configuration, processing can be performed without reducing the density of the reference image 27, so that the visibility of the reference image 27 when the handwritten document 29 is written can be improved.

In the fourth embodiment, when the reference image 27 is printed, the print data is saved, and a difference from the reference image 27 saved at the time of document extraction is obtained. However, without saving the reference image 27 data, the same processing as that for creating the reference image 27 is executed again when the document is extracted to generate image data, and the difference between the image data and the handwritten document image data is compared. You may make it do. Even if it does in this way, there exists an effect similar to the above.

  The fifth embodiment of the present invention is an embodiment having an overlay composition mode in which a photographic image and a handwritten document 29 are superimposed and a layout composition mode in which the photographic image and the handwritten document 29 are laid out and combined.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a synthesis result output example in the fifth embodiment.

  FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating a synthesis result output example in the overlap synthesis mode. As is clear from FIG. 13A, the photographic image 30 and the handwritten document 29 drawn in the handwritten document area 28 are combined so as to overlap each other, so as to fit the size selected by the paper size selection mark sheet 26. The result is enlarged / reduced, and the result is output to the recording medium 31.

  FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating an example of a synthesis result output in the arrangement synthesis mode. As shown in FIG. 13B, the photographic image 30 and the handwritten document 29 drawn in the handwritten document area 28 are arranged side by side and combined. Then, the size is enlarged / reduced to fit the size selected by the paper size selection mark sheet 26 in the various setting areas 25 and the result is output to the recording medium 31.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the contents processed by the CPU 2 of the image composition device 1 when the handwritten document sheet 24 is printed in the fifth embodiment.

  In S901, the CPU 2 reads the photographic image data file in the memory card 18, displays it on the display unit 14, monitors the key operation of the operation unit 15, and checks whether a photographic image is selected (S902). When a photographic image is selected, the process proceeds to S903, and the selection screen displays which of the overlay composition mode and the array composition mode is used, and one of the modes is selected by a key operation of the operation unit 15. Wait for

  When the overlay composition mode is selected in S904, the CPU 2 proceeds to S905, reads the selected photographic image from the memory card 18, stores it in the image memory 13, and creates the reference image 27 in S906.

  Note that the reference image creation processing in S906 may be the same as the reference image creation processing in any of the first to fourth embodiments.

  Next, in S907, the CPU 2 creates print data of the handwritten document sheet 24 by combining the reference image 27 created in S906 and the data for printing various setting areas stored in the program memory 4 in advance. In step S908, the handwritten document sheet 24 is printed by controlling the print recording mechanism 12 based on the created print data.

  On the other hand, if the layout composition mode is selected in S904, the CPU 2 proceeds to S907 and creates print data of the handwritten document sheet 24. At this time, the reference image 27 is not printed in the handwritten document area 28 of the handwritten document sheet 24. Further, the CPU 2 proceeds to S908, and prints the handwritten document sheet 24 by controlling the print recording mechanism 12 based on the created print data.

  With this configuration, the reference image 27 can be printed in the handwritten document area 28 only when the user selects the overlap synthesis mode.

In the fifth embodiment, the reference image 27 is not printed on the handwritten document sheet 24 when the user selects the layout synthesis mode. However, the reference image 27 is printed outside the handwritten document area 28 of the handwritten document sheet 24 in the layout composition mode so that the position and orientation of the photographic image can be confirmed even in the layout composition mode. Also good. In this case, the creation process of the reference image 27 is made different between the overlap synthesis mode and the side-by-side synthesis mode, whereby the visibility of the reference image 27 can be optimized in each case.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the memory card 18 is used as an image input means for inputting photographic image data.

The sixth embodiment of the present invention is an embodiment in which photographic image data is input using the same reading means as the reading means for reading a document. Photo image data may be acquired from an external device via the communication line 23 or the interface 20.

  In the seventh embodiment of the present invention, when printing a reference image, a negative / positive inversion process is performed on the original photographic image as necessary.

  In the seventh embodiment, the configuration of the handwritten document sheet, the processing content when the handwritten document sheet is printed, and the processing content when the handwritten document sheet is read and combined and printed are the same as those in the first or second embodiment. .

  The seventh embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments only in the detailed processing contents of the reference image creation step.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the detailed processing content of the reference image creation step in the seventh embodiment.

  The reference image creation processing in the seventh embodiment is only the point that the histogram processing (S1001), the negative tendency determination processing (S1002), and the negative / positive inversion processing (S1003) are added before the reference image creation processing in the second embodiment. Different.

  Further, the processing of S1004 to S1007 shown in FIG. 15 is equivalent to S501 to S504 (FIG. 8) of the reference image creation processing in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference image created in the seventh embodiment.

  FIG. 16A is a diagram showing the original photographic image data. FIG. 16A shows a photographic image with a negative tendency (a photographic image with a high ratio of pixels having a high density), and has a negative tendency like a night scene photograph, for example.

  FIG. 16B is an example of a reference image obtained by performing the reference image creation process described in the second embodiment on the image of FIG. In this way, when the original photographic image is printed with the density reduced as it is, the photographic image data having a negative tendency like the original image shown in FIG. 16A is printed although the density is reduced. More area.

  If there are many areas to be printed, depending on the original photographic image, for example, the background portion may be emphasized rather than a human image, and it may be difficult to read the original image.

  In addition, when handwritten over the reference image, the color of the handwritten original handwritten by the user is affected by the color of the reference image, and therefore, the reference image has many filled portions, which is not preferable.

  In addition, it is not preferable that the reference image portion has a large print area in terms of the accuracy of extraction processing for extracting a handwritten document from the handwritten drawing area.

  Therefore, in the seventh embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16C, when it is determined in the negative tendency determination process (S1002) that the reference image data indicates the characteristic of the negative tendency by the histogram process (S1001). Only negative / positive inversion processing (S1003) is performed.

  FIG. 16D is a diagram illustrating a reference image in which the density of the reference image that has been subjected to negative / positive inversion in FIG.

  However, if it is determined in the negative / positive determination process (S1002) shown in FIG. 15 that the reference image is image data having a positive tendency, the negative / positive determination process (S1003) shown in FIG. 15 is not performed.

As described above, after executing the histogram process and the negative / positive determination process, by generating an image with a reduced density only for a photographic image having a negative tendency, the reference image is always an image having a positive tendency. As a result, it is possible to improve the position readability between the reference image and the handwritten document, the color reproducibility of the handwritten document, and the accuracy of the handwritten document extraction process.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an outline of the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

  The eighth embodiment is an embodiment in which handwritten character / illustration composition is executed while removing an image or marker printed as a reference image as a reference image in the document reading method.

  In addition, the eighth embodiment is an embodiment in which the contour line or the color of the closed region is changed if the setting is to add a contour line to a handwritten character or the setting is to fill the closed region.

  In the eighth embodiment, when a composite image is obtained while removing a base printed image as a reference image, “1” is assigned to a pixel that uses a handwritten document area image, and “ Mask data 34 to which “0” is assigned is generated. Then, the handwritten document 32 and the photographic image 33 are combined with reference to the mask data 34 to obtain a combined print result 35. Further, when generating the mask data, the image processing instructed by the handwritten document sheet is taken into consideration.

  Next, in the eighth embodiment, a process until obtaining the composite print result will be described.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating the overall operation of the eighth embodiment.

  The composite printing process by the document reading method is roughly divided into three steps. That is, a step of creating a handwritten document sheet (S1101), a step of filling in a handwritten document sheet (S1102), and a step of analyzing and printing the handwritten document sheet (S1103).

  First, a handwritten document sheet is created.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which the CPU 2 creates a handwritten document sheet.

  In step S1201, photographic image data to be combined is selected. The target photographic image data is designated and determined from the arbitrary image data stored in the memory card connected to the card interface via the operation unit and the display unit.

  By specifying photographic image data in S1201, the storage location of the photographic image data can be printed on the handwritten document sheet as identification information such as a barcode. Since the storage location of the photographic image data is included in the handwritten document sheet, the photographic image data can be automatically selected when the handwritten document sheet is later analyzed.

  Next, in order to print on the handwritten document area 28, in S1202, a grayscale image for performing background printing is generated as a reference image from the photographic image data selected in S1201.

  In a reference image removal process to be described later, gradation conversion is performed so that the processing effect is optimally obtained, and a grayscale image is generated by thinning out every predetermined pixel. For example, it is assumed that this region is binarized to generate mask data, and this threshold value is t (0 <t <255). In this case, the grayscale image for the reference image is generated by performing tone conversion to the luminance value of t + 1 to 255 and thinning out the data for each p (> 1) pixel.

  Next, in S1203, a standard layout is created. The “standard layout” is a layout of a handwritten document sheet. This layout may be the handwritten manuscript sheet shown in FIG. 2, and the handwritten manuscript region and the grayscale image for the reference image are arranged so that both sizes are substantially the same and are arranged adjacent to each other. Also good.

  Subsequently, if necessary according to the type of the standard layout, in S1203, the photographic image data selected in S1201 is laid out in an arbitrary area of the created standard layout. For example, in S1203, the photographic image data designated in S1201 is overwritten on the designated data area of the standard layout developed in the image memory 13.

  Note that the timing for selecting photographic image data is not particularly defined. For example, if the specification omits the processing in S1201, the processing for including the photographic image data in S1204 in the layout may be omitted.

  In step S1205, a handwritten document sheet is printed.

  When the reference image is generated for the base printing, the thinning process and the gradation conversion process are executed, but only one of them may be executed.

  As described above, the MFP prints a handwritten document sheet for the user to instruct the character / illustration composition in accordance with the operations of S1201 to S1205.

  The user interface for instructing the print control command is not particularly defined. For example, in the eighth embodiment, the user interface for instructing printing is provided by a handwritten document sheet, but may be provided by key input of the MFP. Furthermore, it is not always necessary to issue a print instruction within the MFP apparatus. For example, a print instruction command may be issued from a digital camera or the like connected via a USB interface.

  Further, on the handwritten document sheet, a photographic image to be synthesized and a background image generated from the photographic image may be printed in the handwritten document area.

  Since the user can easily estimate where the handwriting is generated and in what positional relationship from these print images, the handwriting is performed while considering the positional relationship of the handwritten document in the combining result. .

  Processing is performed according to the operation shown in FIG. 19 to create a handwritten document sheet.

  Next, a description will be given of a process in which the MFP analyzes the filled-in handwritten document sheet and performs composite printing according to the analyzed contents.

  FIG. 20 is an overall flowchart illustrating a series of processing procedures from handwritten document sheet analysis to composite printing.

  First, in S1301, a handwritten document sheet is read. The detailed reading operation of the handwritten document sheet is not particularly defined in the present invention. However, for example, it may be read as 8-bit RGB color data to be stored in an arbitrary read image memory with a resolution sufficient for mark sheet analysis.

  In step S1302, the handwritten document sheet is analyzed. In the embodiment, a method for determining whether or not the read image is a handwritten document sheet is not particularly defined. However, for example, depending on whether or not a predetermined characteristic point (feature pixel) unique to the handwritten document sheet can be detected based on the image stored in the image memory, the read image is the handwritten document sheet. It may be determined whether or not.

  Further, the print instruction area is analyzed. In the embodiment, the method for analyzing the print instruction area is not particularly defined. However, for example, in Example 8, since the mark sheet method is adopted for the print instruction area, based on the number of pixels with a certain density or more detected in the mark area of a predetermined coordinate, Determine fill of mark. If it is determined that the analysis result is not a handwritten document sheet or the sheet entry method is incorrect (S1303), the process proceeds to S1314, an error is notified to the user, and the process is terminated. If everything is correct, the process proceeds to the next normal step S1304.

  In step S1304, a rough handwritten document area is extracted. In the handwritten manuscript sheet analysis performed in S1302, the mark sheet method is used, but a rough handwritten manuscript region completely including four + marks (not shown) is extracted relatively from the positions of these marks. Then, an actually valid handwritten document area is re-extracted from the rough handwritten document area extracted in S1305, the effective area is analyzed, and mask data is generated for the pixels in the effective area.

  When a valid handwritten document area is re-extracted from the rough handwritten document area in S1305, it is re-extracted as follows. That is, after binarizing and detecting all the above + marks, based on each detected + mark position, an effective handwritten document area is relatively re-created so as to be inside the handwritten document area frame. Extract.

  Here, looking at the binarized image for detecting the + mark, the image that is underprinted as a reference image in this region remains as an isolated point pixel because it is a pixel-thinned image. On the other hand, characters, figures and the like handwritten by the user remain as a lump of continuous pixels. By performing isolated point removal filter processing such as median filtering on this binary image, it is possible to remove the image printed as the background and obtain a binary image in which the user's handwritten original remains. Can do. Then, the binary image (black pixel = 1, white pixel = 0) after the filtering process is set as mask data.

  In step S1309, an image obtained by synthesizing the user's handwritten document and a photographic image is generated. At that time, referring to the mask data generated in S1305, the pixel of the handwritten document area image is used at the position where the mask data is 1, and the pixel of the photographic image is used at the position where the mask data is 0. Thereby, a composite image is generated.

  In the process so far, the mask data has been subjected to the isolated point removal filter process, so there is no influence of the base image printed on the handwritten document area. However, the image corresponding to the handwritten manuscript used for the composition still has an image printed as a reference image as a reference image.

  Therefore, before generating the composite image in S1309, in S1306, referring to the mask data, all the pixels that are determined to be pixels other than the handwritten document are painted in white. Here, white is specified as the color to be filled, but the color to be filled may be changed by adding a color selection item on the handwritten document sheet, or by performing a color instruction on the operation unit 15. You may make it fill with another color.

  In this way, by filling the handwritten document area with pixels other than the handwritten document pixel, it is possible to remove the image printed as the reference image from the image of the handwritten document used for composition.

  In the eighth embodiment, since the thick outline addition + closed area filling mode is selected, the process advances to step S1312. Then, the mask data is expanded by executing a morphological process on the mask data. Further, by performing flood fill processing on the mask data, mask data in which the closed region pixels of the black pixels are replaced with black pixels can be generated.

  As a result, the image synthesized in S1309 is added with the outline of the color filled in S1306, and the closed region is filled with that color. Finally, in S1310, the synthesized image synthesized in S1309 is printed, and the process ends.

  Incidentally, if the thin outline addition mode is selected for the handwritten document sheet, the mask data can be expanded and the outline can be added to the synthesized image by executing a morphological process on the mask data in S1308. .

  If simple composition is selected, no processing is applied to the mask data generated in step S1305, and a composite image can be generated and printed by referring to the mask data.

By processing as described above, when printing a photographic image on a handwritten document area, it is possible to perform background printing with pigment ink without using light color printing (dropout color printing) with conventional dye ink. it can. As a result, it is possible to obtain a beautiful composite print result that does not limit the type of pen used for handwriting and is not affected by the base printing.

  The ninth embodiment is an embodiment where the print medium for printing the composite image is a disc such as a CD or a DVD.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a CD / DVD handwritten document sheet 24a that is a handwritten document sheet when the print medium is a CD or a DVD in the ninth embodiment.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a CD / DVD handwritten document sheet 24a according to the ninth embodiment.

  Although there are items of “effect processing setting” for the composite image and “color setting” for contour line addition and closed area filling for the handwritten document, the CD / DVD handwritten document sheet 24a includes these two items. You may make it provide functions other than a function.

  In addition, a marker indicating a CD / DVD printing area is printed on the handwritten document area of the CD / DVD handwritten document sheet 24a. Of course, as described in the eighth embodiment, the marker indicating the print area of the CD / DVD is printed as a thinned image. If the binarization threshold at the time of handwritten document area analysis is t (0 <t <255), the luminance value of the print area marker image of the CD / DVD for base printing generated here is t + 1 (< The value is larger than 255).

  When the user looks at the handwritten document sheet 24a for CD / DVD, the user can easily recognize where the handwritten document can be properly printed on the CD / DVD label.

  If the process described in the eighth embodiment is executed, a composite print result as shown in FIG. 22 can be obtained. The results shown in FIG. 22 are obtained by the CD / DVD handwritten document sheet setting shown in FIG. 21 (that is, a thick outline is added to the handwritten document + the closed region is painted in white). Therefore, when a thick outline is added around the handwritten document, closed areas such as “00” and “B” are filled.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a handwritten manuscript sheet 24b for star-shaped cards.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a star card.

  When it is desired to make a star-shaped card, a star-shaped handwritten manuscript sheet 24b shown in FIG. 23 is used. Then, after performing the same processing as described above, after printing a composite image on a rectangular print medium, the card is cut out with scissors or the like as printed, and the star-shaped card shown in FIG. It can be created easily.

  As described above, it is possible to obtain a beautiful composite print result with no restrictions on the type of pen used for handwriting with atypical print media. A composite print result can be obtained.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the handwritten document drawn in the handwritten document area 28 is combined with the photographic image 30, but different image processing is performed based on the figure drawn in the handwritten document area 28. You may make it add. For example, trimming processing of the photographic image 30 may be performed using a region surrounded by the drawn figure as a trimming frame.

  In the first to fifth embodiments and the seventh embodiment, the combined result of the photographic image 30 and the handwritten document 29 is printed and recorded on a recording medium by the print recording mechanism 12, and the combined result is displayed on the operation panel 16. May be displayed on the display unit 14. Even if it does in this way, there exists an effect similar to the effect of this invention. The effect of the present invention is also achieved when the synthesized result is written and stored in a storage medium such as the memory card 18 or when image data is transferred to another device via the communication line 23 or the interface 20. Has the same effect as.

  In other words, according to the above-described embodiment, when a handwritten document is drawn on paper, it can be drawn while confirming in what positional relationship it is combined with the photographic image to be combined.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, the influence of the reference image on the handwritten document can be reduced without impairing the visibility of the positional relationship between the reference image and the handwritten document in the handwritten document area of the document reading method. .

  And according to the said Example, even if it does not use a dropout color, the image by which base printing was carried out as a reference image can be removed.

  Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to reduce the restriction on the recording medium used for the handwritten document.

In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to provide a user with easy alignment according to the shape of the print medium by performing base printing on the marker indicating the shape of the print medium.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image composition device 1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a handwritten document sheet 24 in Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing contents performed by the CPU 2 of the image composition device 1 when a handwritten document sheet 24 is printed in the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing contents of the image composition device 1 when a completed handwritten document sheet 24 is read and a photographic image and a handwritten document 29 are combined and printed in the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed processing content of a reference image creation step (S104 of FIG. 3). 5 is a flowchart showing detailed processing contents of a document extraction step (S204 shown in FIG. 4). 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a synthesis result output in Embodiment 1. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of a reference image creation step in Embodiment 2. 14 is a flowchart showing details of a reference image creation step in Embodiment 3. It is a figure which shows the example of the reference image 27 produced in Example 3. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of a reference image creation step in Embodiment 4. 10 is a flowchart illustrating details of processing of a document extraction step in Embodiment 4. In Example 5, it is a figure which shows the example of a synthetic result output. 10 is a flowchart illustrating contents processed by the CPU 2 of the image composition device 1 when a handwritten document sheet 24 is printed in the fifth embodiment. In Example 7, it is a flowchart which shows the detailed processing content of a reference image preparation step. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference image created in Example 7. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of Example 8 of this invention. 10 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of an eighth embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in which CPU2 produces a handwritten manuscript sheet. 10 is an overall flowchart illustrating a series of processing procedures from handwritten document sheet analysis to composite printing. In Example 9, it is a figure which shows the example of the handwritten manuscript sheet 24a for CD / DVD which is a handwritten manuscript sheet in case printing media are CD and DVD. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a CD / DVD handwritten document sheet 24a according to a ninth embodiment. It is a figure which shows the handwritten manuscript sheet | seat 24b for star-shaped cards. It is a figure which shows a star-shaped card.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Image composition device,
2 ... CPU,
4 ... Program memory,
5. Data memory,
6 ... Reading control unit,
7: Reading mechanism,
8: Read buffer memory,
9: Data converter,
11: Recording control unit,
12 ... print recording mechanism,
13: Image memory,
14 ... display part,
15 ... operation part,
16 ... operation panel,
17 ... Memory card control unit,
18 ... Memory card,
21 ... External device,
24, 24a, 24b ... handwritten manuscript sheets,
25. Various setting areas,
26: Paper size selection mark sheet frame,
27 ... Reference image,
28: Handwritten manuscript area,
29, 32 ... handwritten manuscripts,
30, 33 ... photographic images,
34 ... Mask data,
35 ... Composite print result.

Claims (20)

In an image processing apparatus that prints a manuscript sheet having a handwritten manuscript region that is a handwritten image to be handwritten by a user and into which a handwritten image to be combined with a photographic image is written,
Reference image generation means for generating a reference image based on the photographic image;
Printing means for printing the reference image generated by the reference image generating means on the handwritten document area;
An image synthesizing apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
A document sheet on which a handwritten document is written superimposed on the reference image is read, the image data in the handwritten document area is extracted from the read image data, and only the handwritten document is extracted from the extracted image data. Handwritten manuscript extraction means;
Combining means for combining the handwritten original extracted by the handwritten original extracting means with the photographic image;
An image synthesizing apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The image synthesizing apparatus, wherein the reference image generating means is means for generating the reference image by reducing the density of the reference image so that the maximum density of the reference image is a predetermined level or less. In claim 1,
The reference image generation means analyzes the density of the reference image so that the density characteristic of the reference image always has a positive tendency, and only when the reference image is determined to have a negative tendency, the reference image is negatively positive. An image synthesizing apparatus which is means for performing inversion processing. In claim 2,
The image synthesizer according to claim 1, wherein the handwritten document extracting means is a means for extracting a portion exceeding a predetermined level from the cut image data as a handwritten document. In claim 2,
The handwritten document extraction means is a means for extracting a difference between the image data obtained by cutting out the handwritten document area from the image data obtained by reading the document sheet and the reference image data printed by the printing means as a handwritten document. An image synthesizing apparatus characterized by the above. In claim 1,
The image synthesizing apparatus, wherein the reference image generating means is means for generating a reference image using only a specific color component based on density information of the photographic image. In claim 2,
The image synthesizer characterized in that the handwritten document extraction means is means for extracting a handwritten document by cutting only a specific color component from the cut image data. In claim 7,
An image synthesizing apparatus, comprising: a specific color component changing unit capable of changing the specific color component according to a user's designation. In claim 1,
The reference image generation means is means for performing contour extraction processing on the photographic image data,
The image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is a unit that prints the reference image on which the reference image generation unit has performed the contour extraction process in the handwritten document area. In a control method of an image processing apparatus that prints a manuscript sheet that is a handwritten image to be handwritten by a user and includes a handwritten manuscript region in which a handwritten image to be combined with a photographic image is written,
A reference image generation step of generating a reference image based on the photographic image;
A printing step of printing the reference image generated in the reference image generation step on the handwritten document area;
A control method for an image composition apparatus, comprising: In claim 11,
A document sheet on which a handwritten document is written superimposed on the reference image is read, the image data in the handwritten document area is extracted from the read image data, and only the handwritten document is extracted from the extracted image data. A handwritten manuscript extraction process;
A combining step of combining the handwritten document extracted in the handwritten document extracting step with the photographic image;
A control method for an image composition apparatus, comprising: In claim 11,
The reference image generation step is a step of generating the reference image by reducing the density of the reference image so that the maximum density of the reference image is equal to or lower than a predetermined level. Method. In claim 11,
The reference image generation step analyzes the density of the reference image so that the density characteristic of the reference image always has a positive tendency. Only when the reference image is determined to have a negative tendency, the reference image is negatively positive. A method for controlling an image composition device, which is a step of performing inversion processing. In claim 12,
The method of controlling an image composition apparatus, wherein the handwritten document extraction step is a step of extracting a portion exceeding a predetermined level from the cut image data as a handwritten document. In claim 12,
In the handwritten document extraction step, a difference between the image data obtained by cutting out the handwritten document region from the image data obtained by reading the document sheet and the reference image data printed in the printing step is extracted as a handwritten document. A method for controlling an image composition apparatus, which is a process. In claim 11,
The method of controlling an image composition device, wherein the reference image generation step is a step of generating a reference image using only a specific color component based on density information of the photographic image. In claim 12,
The method of controlling an image composition apparatus, wherein the handwritten document extraction step is a step of extracting a handwritten document by cutting only a specific color component from the cut image data. In claim 17,
A control method for an image synthesizing apparatus, comprising: a specific color component changing step capable of changing the specific color component according to a user designation. In claim 11,
The reference image generation step is a step of performing contour extraction processing on the photographic image data,
The method of controlling an image composition apparatus, wherein the printing step is a step of printing the reference image subjected to the contour extraction process in the reference image generation step on the handwritten document area.

Images