Digital Camera Patent AbstractThe digital camera includes an image pickup unit, an image storing
unit, an image display unit, a reference image designating unit
with which one or more of at least partial areas of an image to
be referenced for image compositing are designated as a reference
image area and an image compositing unit which produces a composite
image such that a reference image within the reference image area
is displayed as superposed on an image being presently photographed.
The image processing method attaches first identification information
to one or more of at least partial areas of the specified image
and designated area information upon photographing, attaches second
identification information to an image in an shooting frame to be
composited with the reference image and prepares image data for
a composite image obtained by compositing the image with the reference
image based on the first and second identification information as
well as the designated area information.
Digital Camera Patent ClaimsWhat is claimed is:
1. A digital camera, comprising: an image pickup unit for imaging
a subject to obtain second digital image data of a photographed
image; an image storing unit for storing said second digital image
data of said photographed image that is obtained with said image
pick up unit and first digital image data of a first image to be
referenced for image compositing, or display image data of said
first image having a lower resolution than said first digital image
data; an image display unit for displaying a second image being
presently photographed which is not yet obtained as said photographed
image, based on display image data which has a lower resolution
than said second digital image data and which is not stored in said
image storing unit and said first image based on said display image
data having a lower resolution, which is obtained from said first
digital image data read out of said image storing unit or which
is directly read out of said image storing unit; a reference image
designating unit with which one or more of partial areas in said
first image that is displayed on said image display unit are selected
and designated as a reference image area on said image display unit;
and an image compositing unit which produces a composite image for
display such that a reference image within said reference image
area is displayed on said image display unit as superposed on said
second image, wherein, after said composite image for display displayed
on said image display unit is confirmed, said image pick up unit
photographs said second image as said photographed image and obtains
said second digital image data thereof, and said image storing unit
stores the thus obtained second digital image data of said photographed
image to which a second identification information indicating that
said photographed image is to be composited is attached, as well
as said image storing unit stores said first digital image data
or said display image data of said first image, to which a first
identification information indicating that said first image is to
be composited and a designated area information indicating that
said designated one or more of partial areas are said reference
image area designated by said reference image designating unit.
2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said first
digital image data of said first image is either said second digital
image data of said photographed image or said first digital image
data of a specified image to be quoted, and wherein said display
image data of said first image is said display image data of said
specified image to be quoted having a lower resolution than said
first digital image data of said specified image to be quoted.
3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said reference
image area is displayed in a specified position, a position on said
image to be referenced for image compositing or a designated position
on said image display unit.
4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said reference
image is processed by at least one processing step selected from
the group consisting of translation, rotation, resizing, density/color
retouching, binarization, edge enhancement, change in painting brushwork
and change in light transmittance.
5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said reference
image being displayed on said image display unit is automatically
enlarged or reduced in accordance with a magnification of an image
being presently photographed.
6. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said reference
image designating unit performs designation of said reference image
area by designating one or more of partial areas of said first image
that is displayed on said image display unit.
7. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said image
compositing unit produces said composite image for display such
that said reference image within said reference image area in said
first image is displayed on said image display unit as superposed
on said second image at a specified light transmittance.
8. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising
a camera control unit for performing control upon photographing
such that a principal subject in said reference image and a principal
subject in said image being presently photographed are equal to
each other in density and color tint.
9. A digital camera comprising: an image pickup unit for imaging
a subject to obtain digital image data; an image storing unit for
storing at least said digital image data of a photographed image
that is obtained with said image pick up unit; an image display
unit for displaying at least an image being presently photographed;
a reference image designating unit with which one or more of partial
areas in an image to be referenced for image compositing that is
displayed on said image display unit are selected and designated
as a reference image area on said image display unit; and an image
compositing unit which produces a composite image such that a reference
image within said reference image area is displayed on said image
display unit as superposed on the image being presently photographed,
said digital camera further including a function to focus on a large
number of rangefinding points, wherein a focused area of the subject
is allowed to be automatically clipped out as said reference image.
10. A digital camera, comprising: an image pickup unit for imaging
a subject to obtain digital image data; an image storing unit for
storing at least said digital image data of a photographed image
that is obtained with said image pick up unit; an image display
unit for displaying at least an image being presently photographed;
a reference image designating unit with which one or more of partial
areas in an image to be referenced for image compositing that is
displayed on said image display unit are selected and designated
as a reference image area on said image display unit; and an image
compositing unit which produces a composite image such that a reference
image within said reference image area is displayed on said image
display unit as superposed on the image being presently photographed,
said digital camera further including a stereophotographic mode,
wherein, if set to said stereophotographic mode, an area in which
a focal distance is at infinity is clipped out automatically as
said reference image.
11. An image processing method, comprising steps of: photographing
a subject to acquire second digital image data for a photographed
image in a shooting frame with a camera; and assembling it with
at least part of first digital image data for a specified first
image to be referenced for image compositing to prepare third digital
image data for a composite image; further comprising the steps of:
previously storing in a storing unit of said camera said first digital
image data for said specified first image or display image data
for said specified first image having a lower resolution than said
first digital image data; upon photographing, designating in said
image display unit of said camera selected one or more of at least
partial areas in said specified first image displayed based on said
display image data which is obtained from said first digital image
data read out of said storing unit or which is directly read out
of said storing unit as a reference image area; displaying a composite
image for display which is produced by superposing said reference
image within said reference image area on a second image being presently
photographed on said image display unit; after said composite image
for display displayed on said display unit has been confirmed, photographing
said second image to acciuire said photographed image in said shooting
frame with said camera or further to accjuire said second digital
image data thereof; attaching in said camera to said specified first
image first identification information indicating that said specified
first image is to be composited, and designated area information
indicating that said designated one or more of at least partial
areas are said reference image area of a reference image to be composited
and storing said first digital image data or said display image
data of said specified first image, together with said first identification
information and said designated area information; and attaching
in said camera to said photographed image in said shooting frame
which is to be composited with said reference image or said second
digital image data thereof second identification information indicating
that said photographed image in the shooting frame is to be composited
and storing in said storing unit said second identification information,
or said second digital image data and said second identification
information; as well as upon image outputting, reading out of said
storing unit of said camera said first digital image data or said
display image data for said specified first image, said first identification
information and said reference image area, as well as said second
identification information, or said second digital image data and
said second identification information; further, in case where said
second digital image data and/or said first digital image data is
not read out of said storing unit of said camera, separately obtaining
said second digital image data from said photographed image in said
shooting frame and/or said first digital image data which is previously
prepared for said specified first image; and preparing said third
digital image data for said composite image obtained by compositing
said photographed image in the shooting frame with said reference
image based on said first and second identification information,
said designated area information, as well as said first and second
digital image data.
12. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein,
upon photographing, in addition to said first and second identification
information, said storing unit in said camera stores processing
information which refers to what processing step is to be performed
or light transmittance information upon compositing which represents
a specified light transmittance for use when compositing said reference
image within said reference image area in said specified first image
with said photographed image, upon image outputting, in addition
to said first and second identification information, said processing
information or said light transmittance information upon compositing
is read out of said storing unit of said camera; and said third
digital image data for the composite image is prepared based on
said first and second identification information, said designated
area information and said processing information or light transmittance
information upon compositing, as well as said first and second digital
image data.
13. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein,
upon photographing, in addition to said first and second identification
information, said storing unit in said camera stores information
about order of image compositing, upon image outputting, in addition
to said first and second identification information, said information
about order of image compositing is read out of said storing unit
of said camera; and said information about order of image compositing
in addition to said first and second identification information
and said designated area information, as well as said first and
second digital image data is used to prepare said third digital
image data for the composite image.
14. The image processing method according to claim 11, further
including a stereophotographic mode, wherein, if said stereophotographic
mode is set, image data for a stereoscopic image is prepared after
any positional or angular offset between image areas in which a
focal distance is at infinity on frames which are to be used in
the stereophotographic mode is optionally corrected.
15. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein
said third digital image data for the composite image is used for
producing a composite print, recorded on an image data recording
medium and delivered through a telecommunication network.
16. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein
camera control is further performed upon photographing such that
a principal subject in said reference image and a principal subject
in said image being presently photographed are equal to each other
in density and color tint.
17. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein
adjustment is further performed when image compositing upon said
image outputting such that a principal subject in said reference
image and a principal subject in said image being presently photographed
are equal to each other in density and color tint.
18. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein
said reference image or said image to be composited with the reference
image is a motion image.
19. The digital camera according to claim 11, wherein said image
compositing unit produces said composite image for display such
that said reference image within said reference image area in said
image to be referenced for image compositing is displayed on said
image display unit as superposed on said image being presently photographed
at a specified light transmittance.
20. An image processing method, comprising steps of: photographing
a subject to acciuire digital image data with a camera; and assembling
it with at least part of image data for a specified image to be
referenced for image compositing to prepare image data for a composite
image; further comprising the steps of: upon photographing, designating
in said camera selected one or more of at least partial areas in
said specified image to be referenced for image compositing as a
reference image area; attaching in said camera to said specified
image to be referenced for image compositing first identification
information indicating that said specified image to be referenced
for image compositing is to be composited. and designated area information
indicating that said designated one or more of at least partial
areas are said reference image area of a reference image to be composited;
and attaching in said camera to an image in a shooting frame which
is to be composited with said reference image second identification
information indicating that said image in the shooting frame is
to be composited; as well as upon image outputting, preparing image
data for a composite image obtained by compositing said image in
the shooting frame with said reference image based on said first
and second identification information as well as said designated
area information, wherein information about a large number of rangefinding
points is further obtained and a focused area of the subject is
allowed to be automatically clipped out as said reference image
to prepare the third digital image data for the composite image.
21. An image processing method, comprising steps of: photographing
a subject to acquire second digital image data for a photographed
image in a shooting frame with a camera; and assembling it with
at least part of first digital image data for a specified first
image to be referenced for image compositing to prepare third digital
image data for a composite image, further comprising the steps of:
previously storing in a storing unit of said camera said first digital
image data for said specified first image or display image data
for said specified first image having a lower resolution than said
first digital image data; upon photographing, designating in said
image display unit of said camera selected one or more of at least
partial areas in said specified first image displayed based on said
display image data which is obtained from said first digital image
data read out of said storing unit or which is directly read out
of said storing unit as a reference image area; displaying a composite
image for display which is produced by superposing said reference
image within said reference image area on a second image being presently
photographed on said image display unit; after said composite image
for display displayed on said display unit has been confirmed, photographing
said second image to accluire said photographed image in said shooting
frame with said camera or further to acciuire said second digital
image data thereof; preparing in said camera editing information
including information about a name or a frame number of said specified
first image that is to be composited, designated area information
representing said designated one or more of at least partial areas
are said reference image area of a reference image to be composited,
and information about a name or a frame number of said photographed
image in said shooting frame to be composited with said reference
image; storing in said storing unit of said camera said editing
information and said first digital image data or said display image
data for said specified first image, further or said second digital
image data for said photographed image in said shooting frame; as
well as upon image outputting, reading out of said storing unit
in said camera said first digital image data or said display image
data for said specified first image, and said editing information,
or said editing information and said second digital image data;
further, in case where said second digital image data and/or said
first digital image data is not read out of said storing unit of
said camera, separately obtaining said second digital image data
from said photographed image in said shooting frame and/or said
first digital image data which is previously prepared for said specified
first image; and preparing said third digital image data for said
composite image obtained by compositing said photographed image
in the shooting frame with said reference image based on said editing
information, as well as said first and second digital image data.
22. The image processing method according to claim 21, wherein
said editing information further includes processing information
which shows what processing step is to be performed to a designated
area by said designated area information.
23. The image processing method according to claim 21, wherein
said editing information further includes information about order
of image compositing or light transmittance information upon compositing
which represents a specified light transmittance for use in image
compositing.
24. The digital camera according to claim 21, wherein said image
compositing unit produces said composite image for display such
that said reference image within said reference image area in said
image to be referenced for image compositing is displayed on said
image display unit as superposed on said image being presently photographed
at a specified light transmittance.
25. An image processing method, comprising steps of: photographing
a subject to acquire second digital image data of each photographed
image with each of a plurality of cameras; and assembling it with
at least part of first digital image data for a specified first
image to be referenced for image compositing to prepare third digital
image data for each composite image for each of said plurality of
cameras; further comprising the steps of: previously storing in
a storing unit in at least one of said plurality of cameras said
first digital image data for said specified first image or display
image data for said specified first image having a lower resolution
than said first digital image data; upon photographing, designating
at least one reference image within at least one partial area in
said specified first image displayed on said image display unit
of at least one of said plurality of cameras based on said display
image data which is obtained from said first digital image data
read out of said storing unit or which is directly read out of said
storing unit with said at least one of said plurality of cameras;
attaching reference image designation data to the reference image
in said at least one of said plurality of cameras and storing in
said storing unit said first digital image data for the reference
image or said display image data, as well as said reference image
designation data; sending and receiving said first digital image
data or said display image data for said designated at least one
reference image among said plurality of cameras; displaying on respective
display units in said plurality of cameras composite images for
display which are produced by superposing said reference image on
respective second images to be composited being presently photographed
with said plurality of cameras, respectively; after said composite
images for display displayed on said respective display units in
said plurality of cameras have been confirmed, respectively, photographing
said respective second images to acciuire photographed images with
said plurality of cameras, respectively, or further to acquire respective
second digital image data thereof, respectively; and attaching respectively
in said plurality of cameras to said photographed images respectively
photographed with said plurality of cameras which are to be composited
with the reference image group identification information indicating
that said photographed images belong to a unique group and storing
in said respective storing units of said plurality of cameras said
group identification information, or said respective second digital
image data of said photographed images and said group identification
information, as well as on image outputting, reading out of said
storing unit in at least one of said plurality of cameras said first
digital image data or said display image data for said reference
image and said reference image designation data, as well as reading
out of said respective storing units of said plurality of cameras
said group identification information, or said respective second
digital image data of said photographed images and said group identification,
respectively; further, in case where said respective second digital
image data of said photographed images is not read out of said respective
storing units in said plurality of cameras, respectively and/or
said first digital image data is not read out of said storing unit
in said at least one of said plurality of cameras, separately obtaining
said respective second digital image data of said photographed images
from said photographed images in said plurality of cameras, respectively,
and/or said first digital image data which is previously prepared
for said specified first image; and compositing the photographed
images respectively photographed with said plurality of cameras
with said at least one reference image by using said respective
second digital imaged data of said photographed images respectively
photographed with said plurality of cameras, said first digital
image data for said at least one reference image, said reference
image designation data and said group identification information
to obtain respective composite images.
26. An image processing method, comprising steps of: photographing
a subject to acquire digital image data with a camera; and assembling
it with at least part of image data for a specified image to be
referenced for image compositing to prepare image data for a composite
image; further comprising the steps of: upon photographing, designating
in said camera selected one or more of partial areas in said specified
image to be referenced for image compositing as a reference image
area; and preparing in said camera editing information including
information about a name or a frame number of said specified image
to be referenced for image compositing that is to be composited,
designated area information representing said designated one or
more of at least partial areas are said reference image area of
a reference image to be compo sited, and information about a name
or a frame number of an image in a shooting frame to be composited
with said reference image, as well as upon image outputting, preparing
image data for a composite image obtained by compositing said image
in the shooting frame with said reference image based on said editing
information, wherein information about a large number of rangefinding
points is further obtained and a focused area of the subject is
allowed to be automatically clipped out as said reference image
to prepare the third digital image data for the composite image.
27. An image processing method, comprising steps of: photographing
a subject to acquire digital image data with each of a plurality
of cameras; and assembling it with image data for a specified image
to be referenced for image compositing to prepare image data for
a composite image; further comprising the steps of: upon photographing,
designating at least one reference image within at least one partial
area in said specified image to be referenced for image compo siting
with at least one of said plurality of cameras; attaching reference
image designation data to the reference image in said at least one
of said plurality of cameras; sending and receiving image data for
said designated at least one reference image among said plurality
of cameras; and attaching respectively in said plurality of cameras
to photographed images respectively photographed with said plurality
of cameras which are to be composited with the reference image group
identification information indicating that the photographed images
belong to a unique group, as well as on image outputting, compositing
the photographed images respectively photographed with said plurality
of cameras with said at least one reference image by using the photographed
images respectively photographed with said plurality of cameras,
said reference image designation data and said group identification
information, wherein information about a large number of rangefinding
points is further obtained and a focused area of the subject is
allowed to be automatically clipped out as said reference image
to prepare the image data for the composite image. Digital Camera Patent DescriptionBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a digital camera and an image processing
method for preparing composite images such as composite prints obtained
by compositing images of two or more subjects.
Digital exposure is a technology by which image information recorded
on a film is read photoelectrically and converted to digital image
data which are then subjected to various steps of digital image
processing before image recording is carried out. This technology
has recently been commercialized as the digital photoprinter which
generates characters and other image data by image data processing
and combines them with the image data of film images, thereby facilitating
the production of composites of the film images with the characters,
etc.
In the recently developed digital electronic still camera (hereunder
referred to simply as the digital camera), an image captured by
shooting is recorded as digital image data in a recording medium
such as the internal memory built in the digital camera or an IC
card and on the basis of the recorded digital image data, the captured
image is displayed on a printer or monitor or a composite image
is created within the camera. A model is known that can make a single
composite by pasting a template to an image taken with the digital
camera. Exemplary templates include images such as frames and illustrations
and characters such as those in calendars and greeting cards.
If desired, digital image data may be input into the digital photoprinter
direct from the recording medium in the digital camera by an image
input means so that compositing and various other steps of image
processing are performed in the digital photoprinter.
Various methods of image compositing have been known in the art.
To mention one approach, an image taken by an image pickup means
and additional information as received by a dedicated means from
an external device are stored in separate regions and images are
presented on a display means as switched between an individual image
and a composite. Another approach is for assembling two consecutive
images into a panoramic image and involves comparing the overlaps
of the two images in lightness and correcting them to have a lightness
match.
Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application (kokai) No. 304227/1198
discloses a digital camera in which the subject being photographed
is Presented on the display unit of the camera and overlaid with
an already recorded image to facilitate shooting from a fixed position;
the disclosed camera has another feature of adding a splice mark
to the displayed image so that a big enough panoramic picture can
be taken easily. Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application
(kokai) No. 142682/1993 discloses a digital camera which, when caking
a panoramic picture, shifts an already recorded image horizontally
so that an end of it is displayed within the viewfinder of the camera
to facilitate registration for the picture to be taken next.
According to another method, a plurality of photographed images
are composited by image processing with personal computers or the
digital photoprinter using commercial image processing software
such as Adobe's Photoshop.RTM..
However, these prior art methods have had various problems. Consider,
first, the case of creating a composite image by pasting a template
to a picture taken with the digital camera; usually, the template
is preliminarily stored in the camera or recording medium as image
data under such conditions as to produce an appropriate output image
but the picture is not necessarily an appropriate image and often
requires retouching of density, color and gradation due to unsatisfactory
exposure conditions, shooting light source and subject's scene.
Unless the template is simple enough, it is difficult to distinguish
between the template and the picture in the composite and the template
image and the pictured image cannot be retouched independently of
each other. On the other hand, if one attempts to retouch the whole
composite image, the template which has been appropriate is not
so any longer. This problem can be dealt with by checking the picture
on the liquid-crystal screen of the digital camera, making the necessary
adjustments and taking another picture of the scene but this approach
is not practically feasible since the photographer either misses
the shutter release opportunity or spends an undesirably long time
before the final composite is output.
Consider next the case where the picture taken with an image pickup
means and the additional information received from an external device
are presented on a display means as switched between an individual
image or a composite. If a personal computer (PC) is wired as the
external device, the picture may be clipped from the composite with
a template on the PC screen and subjected to subsequent image processing
but this simply requires a lot of manpower. What is more, the image
retouched on-screen does not always agree in quality with he image
from an output device, indicating the inadequacy of retouching on
the display device of the PC which is not calibrated for the output
image. The third approach of compositing two consecutive images
by matching them in lightness has the problem of limited applicability
to the purpose of compositing a photographed image with a preliminarily
stored template image.
The digital camera disclosed in Unexamined Published Japanese Patent
application (kokai) No. 304227/1998 is primarily intended for achieving
registry in taking pictures from a fixed position or shooting a
panoramic picture and therefore unsuitable for selecting more than
one subject in a scene to create a composite image. The digital
camera disclosed in Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application
(kokai) No. 142682/1993 is also unsuitable for assembling two or
more subjects since its principal objective is to achieve registry
in taking a panoramic picture by simply presenting an end of the
photographed image.
The use of commercial image processing software on a personal computer
or digital photoprinter tends to produce composite images that do
not look natural if individually photographed images of subjects
are to be assembled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished under these circumstances
and has as an object providing a digital camera which facilitates
not only the preparation of composite images, especially composite
prints obtained by compositing images of two or more subjects but
also the taking of stereoscopic pictures.
Another object of the invention is to provide an image processing
method capable of attaining the same result as described above.
In order to attain the object described above, the first aspect
of the present invention provides a digital camera comprising: an
image pickup unit for imaging a subject to obtain digital image
data; an image storing unit for storing at least the digital image
data of a photographed image chat is obtained with the image pick
up unit; an image display unit for displaying at least an image
being presently photographed; a reference image designating unit
with which one or more of at least partial areas of an image to
be referenced for image compositing are designated as a reference
image area; and an image compositing unit which produces a composite
image such that a reference image within the reference image area
is displayed on the image display unit as superposed on the image
being presently photographed.
Preferably, image data for the image to be referenced for image
compositing is data for either the photographed image or a specified
image to be quoted.
Preferably, the reference image area is displayed in a specified
position, a position on the image to be referenced for image compositing
or a designated position on the image display unit.
Preferably, the reference image is processed by at least one processing
step selected from the group consisting of translation, rotation,
resizing, density/color retouching, binarization, edge enhancement,
change in painting brushwork and change in light transmittance.
Preferably, the reference image being displayed on the image display
unit is automatically enlarged or reduced in accordance with a magnification
of an image being presently photographed.
It is preferable that the digital camera further includes a function
to focus on a large number of rangefinding points, wherein a focused
area of the subject is allowed to be automatically clipped out as
the reference image.
It is also preferable that the digital camera further includes
a stereophotographic mode, wherein, if set to the stereophotographic
mode, an area in which a focal distance at infinity is clipped out
automatically as the reference image.
Preferably, the reference image designating unit performs designation
of the reference image area by designating one or more of at least
partial areas of the image to be referenced for image compositing
that is displayed on the image display unit.
Preferably, the image storing unit further stores the image data
for the image to be referenced for image compositing.
It is further preferable that the digital camera further comprises
a camera control unit for performing control upon photographing
such that a principal subject in the reference image and a principal
subject in the image being presently photographed are equal to each
other in density and color tint.
In order to attain another object described above, the second aspect
of the present invention provides an image processing method, comprising
steps of: photographing a subject to acquire digital image data;
and assembling it with image data for a specified image to be referenced
for image compositing to prepare image data for a composite image;
further comprising the steps of: upon photographing, attaching to
one or more of at least partial areas of the specified image to
be referenced for image compositing first identification information
indicating that the one or more of at least partial areas are a
reference image to be composited, and designated area information;
and attaching to an image in an shooting frame which is to be composited
with the reference image second identification information indicating
that the image in the shooting frame is to be composited; as well
as upon image outputting, preparing image data for a composite image
obtained by compositing the image in the shooting frame with the
reference image based on the first and second identification information
as well as the designated area information.
Preferably, the attaching step upon photographing further attaches
processing information which refers to what processing step is to
be performed or light transmittance information upon compositing
which represents a specified light transmittance for use in image
compositing and the image data for the composite image is prepared
based on the first and second identification information, the designated
area information and the processing information or light transmittance
information upon compositing.
Preferably, in addition to the first and second identification
information, information about order of image compositing is used
to prepare the image data for the composite image.
Preferably, information about a large number of rangefinding points
is further obtained and a focused area of the subject is allowed
to be automatically clipped out as the reference image to prepare
the image data for the composite image.
It is preferable that the image processing methods further includes
a stereophotographic mode, and, if the stereophotographic mode is
set, image data for a stereoscopic image is prepared after any positional
or angular offset between image areas in which a focal distance
is at infinity on frames which are to be used in the stereophotographic
mode is optionally corrected.
Preferably, the image data for the composite image is used for
producing a composite print, recorded on an image data recording
medium and delivered through a telecommunication network.
Preferably, camera control is further performed upon photographing
such that a principal subject in the reference image and a principal
subject in the image being presently photographed are equal to each
other in density and color tint.
Preferably, adjustment is further performed when image compositing
upon the image outputting such that a principal subject in the reference
image and a principal subject in the image being presently photographed
are equal to each other in density and color tint.
Preferably, the reference image or the image to be composited with
the reference image is a motion image
In order to attain another object described above, the third aspect
of the present invention provides an image processing method, comprising
steps of: photographing a subject to acquire digital image data;
and assembling it with image data for a specified image to be referenced
for image compositing to prepare image data for a composite image;
further comprising the steps of: upon photographing, preparing editing
information including information about a name or a frame number
of an image in a frame to be quoted as a reference image to be composited
that is within the specified image to be referenced for image compositing,
designated area information representing one or more of at least
partial areas of the image in the frame to be quoted, and information
about a name or a frame number of an image in a shooting frame to
be composited with the reference image; and upon image outputting,
preparing image data for a composite image obtained by compositing
the image in the shooting frame with the reference image based on
the editing information.
Preferably, the editing information further includes processing
information which shows what processing step is to be performed
to a designated area by the designated area information.
Preferably, the editing information further includes information
about order of image compositing or light transmittance information
upon compositing which represents a specified light transmittance
for use in image compositing.
In order to attain another object described above, the fourth aspect
of the present invention provides an image processing method, comprising
steps of: photographing a subject to acquire digital image data;
and assembling it with image data for a specified image to be referenced
for image compositing to prepare image data for a composite image,
further comprising the steps of: upon photographing, designating
at least one reference image within a specified image to be referenced
for image compositing with at least one of a plurality of cameras
and attaching reference image designation data to the reference
image; sending and receiving image data for the at least one reference
image designated among the plurality of cameras; attaching to photographed
images respectively photographed with the plurality of cameras which
are to be composited with the reference image group identification
information indicating that the photographed images belong to a
unique group; and on image outputting, compositing the photographed
images respectively photographed with the plurality of cameras with
the at least one reference image by using the photographed images
respectively photographed with the plurality of cameras, the reference
image designation data and the group identification information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram outlining an embodiment of a camera (digital
still camera) according to the present invention;
FIG. 2A illustrates how a subject is photographed with the camera
shown in FIG. 1 in an embodiment of an image processing method according
to the present invention;
FIG. 2B illustrates the display on the monitor of the camera;
FIG. 2C illustrates how the reference image is outlined;
FIG. 3A illustrates how another subject is photographed with the
camera in the same embodiment;
FIG. 3B illustrates how two subject images are displayed in superposition
on the monitor of the camera;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram outlining an embodiment of the photoprinter
which performs compositing of images and outputting of composite
images in an image processing method according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates the final print obtained by the method of the
invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates now a panoramic picture is taken using the method
of the invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates a monitor display presented during the taking
of a panoramic picture using the method of the invention; and
FIG. 8 illustrates how a stereoscopic picture is taken using the
method of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The digital camera and image processing method of the invention
are now described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments
shown in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram outlining an embodiment of the digital
still camera according to the first aspect of the invention.
In FIG. 1, the digital still camera (hereunder referred to simply
as the camera) generally indicated by 10 includes a CCD image pickup
device (hereunder referred to simply as CCD) 14 which takes a picture
of a subject to obtain digital image signals (data), an image memory
16 for storing the image data obtained by the CCD 14, an image compositing
section 18 by which the already photographed image (image data)
stored in the image memory 16 and an image (image data) being presently
photographed are composited for monitor display, and a monitor 12
for displaying a composite image.
The camera 10 also includes an image processing section 20 which
performs various steps of image processing to create an output image,
an recording section 22 for recording the image data for output
on an image data recording medium (hereunder referred to simply
as recording medium) R such as smart media and memory sticks, a
CPU 24 for controlling the overall capabilities of the camera 10
including the sections (units) mentioned above, and a manipulating
section 26 with which the photographer designates for the camera
10 a reference image or reference image area used for creating a
composite image and gives it other instructions.
The camera 10 further includes a camera controlling section 28
for performing camera control such as automatic exposure control
and automatic focusing control based on the control by the CPU 24.
The camera controlling section 28 includes, although not shown,
various types of sensor required for camera control such as automatic
exposure control and automatic focusing control, a device for focusing
by means of imaging lenses, a device for adjusting a shutter speed,
a device for controlling a storage time of the CCD 14, a device
for adjusting a diaphragm etc. as required, a node selecting device
for selecting any one from among the stereophotographic mode, the
sequential shooting (motor driven shooting) mode and the video (motion
picture) shooting mode, and the like.
The camera 10 may also include a communication section 30 for performing
the inter-camera communication or the communication through a telecommunication
network such as the Internet.
We now describe the first embodiment of the image processing method
according to the second and third aspects of the present invention
with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 which illustrate how the camera
is used in this embodiment of the image processing methods of the
invention. FIG. 2A shows how subject A is photographed with the
camera 10 as the image being taken is displayed on a monitor 12
on the back surface of the camera 10 (see FIG. 2B).
When the subject A is photographed with the camera 10, the image
signals (data) representing the image (frame) of the subject A are
obtained by the CCD 14 and stored in the image memory 16. The image
data of the frame carrying the taken image (designated the Nth frame)
is read out of the image memory 16 upon taking of the next image
(frame N+1) and inputted to the monitor 12 after subjected to the
thinning(2) processing to reduce the pixel density corresponding
to the monitor display, then displayed on the monitor 12. Looking
at the display of the monitor 12, the photographer designates a
reference area 40 as the part which he wants to reference, that
is, he wants to use as composited with the image being taken (frame
N+1) by encircling it, as shown with the dashed line P in FIG. 2C.
The designation of the reference area 40 is performed by means of
the manipulating section 26. If the manipulating section 26 is equipped
with an electronic pen, for example, the photographer may use it
to designate the reference area 40 on the monitor 12 either manually
or by encircling with a suitable shape such as a rectangle, a circle
or an ellipse. Needless to say, for the designation of the reference
area 40 by means of the manipulating section 26, any method other
than one using an electronic pen may also be employed. In addition,
a single image (frame) may be wholly designated as the reference
area 40 or more than one reference area 40 may be designated within
a single image (frame).
In the next step, a subject B is photographed with the camera 10
to obtain frame N+1 which is to be composited with the already photographed
frame N (see FIG. 3A). In response to a photographer's command from
the manipulating section 26, the image compositing section 18 composites
two images, one being the image in the reference area 40 of the
image in the already photographed frame N and the other being the
image of the subject B being presently taken, namely the image read
by the CCD 14 for displaying on the monitor 12 and subjected to
the thinning processing to have the pixel density suitable for display,
and the composite image is displayed on the monitor 12 (see FIG.
3B).
When the composite of the image in the reference area 40 (the reference
image) and the image of the subject B (the image being taken) is
being displayed on the monitor 12, the percentage of each image
can be altered by the photographer who designates a desired value.
In practice, the light transmittance of the reference image is varied
so that the image being taken can be readily distinguished from
it on the monitor 12. Therefore, in the region of the monitor 12
in which the reference image is being displayed, the composite of
the translucent reference image and the actual image being taken
can be displayed at varying stages of the scale ranging from 100%
reference image to 100% image being taken. The light transmittance
may vary stepwise in the reference area 40. For example, the light
transmittance is higher (that is, the weight of the reference image
for compositing is smaller) as nearer to the periphery of the reference
area 40.
The light transmittance as above may be set differently between
cases of displaying on the monitor 12 and actually outputting images
as prints, for example. Accordingly, the reference image being displayed
on the monitor 12 may be translucent so that the subject B can easily
have registry on the monitor 12 whereas, upon outputting of reproduced
images such as prints, the percentage of the reference image may
be 100%.
After confirming that the monitor 12 displays the composite showing
the image being taken and the reference image in superposition (see
FIG. 3B), the photographer takes the image of the subject B. The
composite image is only displayed on the monitor 12 and the picture
of the subject B actually taken does not include the reference image.
The taken picture of the subject B is stored in the image memory
16.
At the same time, in response to a photographer's command from
the manipulating section 26 is attached compositing-editing information
such as identification information (data) indicating that the image
in frame N is to be referenced for image compositing or identification
information (data) indicating that the image in frame N+1 is to
be composited with the reference image. Attached to the image of
frame N are (the first) identification information indicating that
this image is to be referenced for image compositing and designated
area information which represents the designated reference image
area (the reference area), or information such as processing information
which shows what processing is to be performed on the reference
image in the reference area 40 and after-compositing light transmittance
information which represents the light transmittance of the reference
image upon outputting of images as prints etc. Attached to the image
in frame N+1 is (the second) identification information which indicates
that this image is to be composited with the reference image.
The shape data in the designated area information may be expressed
by various methods and if an area so any shape is designated, applicable
methods include the information for the pixels around it (defining
the pixel positions or pixel linking information such as a chain
code), a table assigning different area numbers to the positions
of the pixels within the designated area, and a table assigning
light transmittance data to the positions of the pixels within the
designated area.
In the camera 10, the image data for the taken image of the subject
A in the Nth frame and the image data for the taken image of the
subject B in the (N+1)th frame are read out of the image memory
16, subjected to various image processing steps such as color/density
correction and converted corresponding to the recording medium R
to the image data for the output in the image processing section
20, then recorded on the recording medium R in the recording section
22.
To the image data recorded on the recording medium R is attached
the compositing-editing information as stated above. In particular,
to the image data for the taken image in frame N used for image
compositing are attached (the first) identification information
indicating that the usage includes the reference image and designated
area information or information such as processing information and
after-compositing light transmittance information concerning the
reference image whereas to the image data for the taken image in
frame N+1 used for image compositing is (the second) identification
information indicating that the image is to be composited with the
reference image.
In this way, upon photographing, the image data for the taken images
as above are acquired and to such image data is attached the compositing-editing
information in the camera 10.
In accordance with the invention, upon image outputting, the taken
image data acquired on photographing and the compositing-editing
information attached thereto are employed in the photoprinter.
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the photoprinter used upon image
outputting in the image processing method of the invention.
The photoprinter 50 as shown includes a driver 52 for reading out
of the recording medium R the image data such as the image data
for the taken image to be composited with the reference image and
the image data for the taken image to be referenced for image compositing
as well as the compositing-editing information such as the first
and second identification information and designated area information
or processing information and after-compositing light transmittance
information concerning the reference image; a frame memory 54 for
storing the image data read out by the driver 52; an information
acquiring section 56 which acquires and stores the compositing-editing
information read out by the driver 52; an image processing section
56 for reading out the image data stored in the frame memory 54
and subjecting it to various processing steps required for image
outputting; an image composition section 60 which assembles the
image data for the taken image to be composited with the reference
image with the image data for the reference image incorporated into
the image data for the taken image to be referenced for image compositing,
based on the compositing-editing information from the information
acquiring section 56; a quoted image acquiring section 62 for acquiring
the quoted image data which is used instead of the image data for
the taken image to be referenced for image compositing; and an image
outputting section 64 which outputs a reproduced image or a reproduced
image data obtained from the composite image data prepared in the
image compositing section 60.
The image compositing section 60 assembles the image data for tine
image to be composited with the reference image with the image data
for the reference image incorporated into the image data for the
image to be referenced for image compositing, using the light transmittance
of the reference image based on the after-compositing light transmittance
information from the information acquiring section 56. The image
data for the image to be composited with the reference image is
based on the second identification information from the information
acquiring section 56 and the image data for the image to be referenced
for image compositing is based on the first identification information
from the information acquiring section 56, whereupon the reference
image is designated on the basis of the designated area information
or processing information concerning the reference image. The image
compositing section 60 may acquire, based on the compositing-editing
information from the information acquiring section 56, the quoted
image data which provides the reference image from the quoted image
acquiring section 62, instead of the image data for the taken image
to be referenced for image compositing, which data obtained from
the frame memory 54 through the image processing section 58. Further,
the image data or the compositing-editing information may be read
not out of the recording medium R by the driver 52 but directly
cut of the image memory 16 of the camera 10.
The image outputting section 64 includes a printer 66 which outputs
a reproduced image prepared by image compositing as a photographic
print P; a communication device 68 for distributing the image data
for a reproduced image prepared by image compositing through a telecommunication
network N such as the Internet; and a media driver 70 which records
the image data for a reproduced image prepared by image compositing
on an image data recording medium, RO such as MO, CD-R, FD or the
like and outputs the recording medium RO having such data recorded
thereon.
According to the present invention, the image data for a reproduced
image prepared by image compositing can be outputted in any of three
output forms as above. In the following, the case of being outputted
as a photographic print P by the printer 66 is considered as typical
and the procedure performed by the photoprinter 50 upon image outputting
in the image processing method of the invention will be described
in more detail on the basis of the first embodiment stated as above.
In the print mode, the identification information which indicates
that the reference image and the image being taken are to be composited,
as well as outlining information such as frame number, outline's
position, shape data and after-compositing light transmittance are
used in the photoprinter 50 such that the reference image (of frame
N) and the image being taken (of frame N+1) are composited by weighted
averaging to create a composite image which, as shown in FIG. 5,
is of the same scene as was previously displayed on the monitor
12
As already mentioned, the print light transmittance may differ
from the value for monitor display. If no special processing is
to be performed on the reference image boat 100% reference image
is to be composited with the image being taken, the photographer
has only to give a command for compositing and there is no need
to set processing information or light transmittance information.
The compositing mode may be so set that it can be turned on or off
after taking all pictures to be composed and the photographer may
choose not to create a composite.
In the foregoing description, identification information and all
other necessary information are attached to each image frame. Alternatively,
editing information including information about the name or number
of the frame to be quoted as the reference image, designated area
information, information about the name or number of the frame to
be composited with the reference image, and optionally processing
information and after-compositing light transmittance information
may he created, stored and subsequently used to produce a print
showing the composite of the two images.
Thus, in the first embodiment, one of the two images to be referenced
for image compositing is partially designated as the reference image
and superposed as a translucent image on the image being taken,
with the resulting composite being displayed on the monitor as shown
in FIG. 3B. This provides ease of attaining registry between the
images to be composited and therefore has potential use in various
applications as set forth below. Images need not be displayed on
the monitor but may be presented within the viewfinder of the camera.
In the foregoing embodiment, a picture already taken with the camera
is used as the reference image but this is not the sole case of
the invention and a background template, a character pattern, a
computer graphics (CG) image and the like may be held within the
image memory 16 of the camera 10 or captured from a communication
means such as the Internet for subsequent use. For example, the
image of a rare animal or the like is displayed on the monitor with
a controlled light transmittance and a child is photographed as
his image is overlaid with the animal's image on the monitor to
take a scene showing the child holding the animal in his arms. By
checking the composite image on the monitor, the photographer can
easily get the child pose as if he were holding the animal in his
arms. In such a case, in the image memory 16 of the camera 10 may
be stored only the reference image data having a lower pixel density
for monitor display and in the quoted image acquiring section 62
of the photoprinter 50 may be stored the reference image data having
a higher pixel density corresponding to the output pixel density
of a photographic print P.
In the foregoing embodiment, the reference image is designated
by the photographer who outlines it with an electronic pen. Manual
input is not the sole method of designating the reference image
and, alternatively, the area of the subject at nearest distance
or the area in focus may be regarded as the principal subject and
clipped out automatically.
In the foregoing embodiment, the reference image is directly composited
with the image being taken to create a composite. If desired, the
reference image may be subjected to various processing steps such
as shift, rotation, resizing, density/color retouching, binarization,
edge enhancement, as well as artistic changes in the brushwork of
painting (e.g. paint in oils or watercolors) on the basis of commercial
image processing software such as Photoshop.RTM., in the image processing
section 20 of the camera 10 or the image processing section 58 of
the photoprinter 50.
If desired, the final composite of the images in frames N and N+1
may be stored in the internal memory of the camera and further used
as the reference image to be composited with the images in frames
N+2 onward.
In another modification, the size or the reference image is adjusted
automatically in accordance with the magnification of the image
being taken and the resulting composite is displayed on the monitor
(size comparison and scale compositing).
If desired, information about the order of compositing may be added
to the identification information so that individual images are
composited together and printed in a specified order.
In the conventional method of compositing, individually photographed
image frames are clipped and pasted by performing image processing
on a personal computer. Compared to this technique, the method above-described
as the first embodiment of the method of the invention provides
the photographer with flexibility in determining the right composition
for taking pictures that are to be composited together and this
goes a long way to offer a lot of amusement. As an ancillary advantage,
the views displayed on the monitor can be used for simple size comparison
and measurement.
If desired, the camera control may be performed upon photographing
in the camera 10 or the image compositing processing may be performed
in the photoprinter 50 such that the principal subject in the reference
image to be used for image compositing and the principal subject
in the image being taken or in the already taken image to be composited
with the reference image are equal to each other in density, color
or both of them.
In the camera 10, for example, the camera controlling section 29
may be controlled by the CPU 24 to control the automatic exposure
of the camera 10 by the adjustment of an aperture of the diaphragm
(not shown), a shutter speed or a storage time of the CCD 14 such
that the density of the principal subject such as a face of a person
in the image being taken is almost the same as the density of the
principal subject such as a face of a person in the reference image.
Alternatively, the camera control data on photographing of the image
including the reference image to be used for image compositing may
be recorded and subsequently employed for the camera control on
photographing of the image to be composited with the reference image.
In the photoprinter 50, image compositing may be performed in the
image compositing section 60 after the color density is adjusted
in the image processing section 58 based on the principal subject
in the reference image or the image being taken, or based on simple
averaging or weighted averaging of two images as above to achieve
the same density or color tone between these two images. Such a
color tone adjustment as above-mentioned may also be performed in
the image compositing section 60.
The concept of the invention finds another important application
if, in the image processing method of the invention, the reference
image is adjusted to have a varying light transmittance on the monitor
as it is superposed on the image being taken. This technique provides
ease in taking panoramic pictures as described below.
To take panoramic pictures, the photographer sets a panoramic mode
by the manipulating section 26 of the camera 10. Then, as shown
in FIG. 6, he shoots successive frames N and N+1 of the subject
at varying views of angle. In this case, an edge image of the previous
frame is displayed translucent as indicated by the dashed lines
Q in FIG. 7.
In the case shown in FIG. 6, the camera 10 is moved from left to
right to take pictures of the subject and when shooting frame N+1,
the edge image which is right of frame N is displayed at the left
end of the screen of the monitor 12 as indicated by the dashed lines
Q in FIG. 7. If necessary, the tilt of the camera 10 may be detected
automatically so that the monitored image is flipped vertically
depending on the result.
All that is required for the photographer to take pictures is determining
the angle of view at which the areas of interest of the previous
image (frame N) and the image being actually taken (frame N+1) overlap.
This can be easily done by looking at the screen of the monitor
12.
To print with the photoprinter 50, the overlapping portions of
the two images are linked to produce one final panoramic picture,
which may be used for monitor display.
If desired, the camera 10 may be adapted to perform automatic matching
so that it tells an optimum angle of view. This contributes to efficient
panoramic photography.
We now describe the second embodiment of the image processing method
of the invention in which the concept of the invention is applied
to stereoscopic photography.
To take a stereoscopic picture, the photographer sets a stereoscopic
mode by the manipulating section 26 of the camera 10. He then translates
the camera 10 and takes two successive frames N and N+1, the first
being the image as viewed with the left eye and the second with
the right eye (see FIG. 8).
A portion of the afterimage of the previous image (frame N) is
displayed either on the monitor 12 or within the viewfinder. From
the image of frame N (which was viewed with the left eye in the
case shown in FIG. 8), the area having the largest camera-to-subject
distance (which is a mountain 80 as seen from afar in FIG. 8) is
clipped out automatically and displayed on the monitor screen, deliberately
in the same position as in the image of frame N+1 which is currently
taken (as viewed with the right eye in the case shown in FIG. 8).
In landscape photography, a mountain and other subjects that are
seen from afar can essentially be regarded as points at infinity;
as for a point at infinity, the right and left eyes can safely be
regarded as seeing it at substantially the same view of angle (with
parallel optical axes) as indicated by lines L and M in FIG. 8,
so the image of that point at infinity (the image of the mountain
80) generally appears to be in the same position in each of frames
N and N+1.
All that is required for the photographer to shoot frame N+1 is
determining the view of angle at which the afterimage of the previous
frame N and the area of interest of the image of frame N+1 being
actually taken overlap. The overlapping area of frame N+1 is indicated
by 82 in FIG. 8. In short, the photographer only needs to shoot
the two frames such that they overlap in the same area of the subject.
Registry between the two images can be achieved quite easily if
an edge of the afterimage of the previous frame is made translucent.
To print, the photographer may produce a stereoscopic image in
which two relevant frames (showing the images viewed with right
and left eyes, are put side by side or he may produce one final
stereoscopic picture using a lenticular process.
Stereoscopic photography has conventionally required the use of
a dedicated camera, adapters such as mirrors and lenses, and application
of special equipment as by coupling two cameras. This is no longer
the case with the second embodiment as stated above and optical
axis alignment can be achieved positively without extra devices
such as a compass, thus providing great ease in taking stereoscopic
pictures.
The above-described stereophotographic technique in which registry
between two images is achieved with the aid of monitor display has
a problem in that if the precision of monitor display is not high
enough or if the camera shakes, the image of the point at infinity
might be positionally offset between the two frames. This results
in failure to meet the prerequisite for the stereophotographic mode,
i.e., the production of two images, one being viewed with the right
eye and the other with the left eye, that can safely be regarded
to have parallel optical axes.
It is therefore desirable to make a positional correction in the
process of preparing stereoscopic prints with the photoprinter 50
at a laboratory. An exemplary corrective procedure is as follows.
Suppose two frames N and N+1 are shot in the stereophotographic
mode. From the image of frame N, the area where the camera-to-subject
distance is at infinity is clipped out automatically; then, pattern
matching between frame N and frame N+1 which is to be combined with
frame N to create a stereoscopic print is effected by positional
offsetting to detect an offset correcting vector that provides best
fit between the two frames with respect to said area at infinity.
In the next step, the whole image of frame N is translated by an
amount corresponding to the offset correcting vector until it has
no positional offset from frame N+1 with respect to the area at
infinity; the images of the two frames can now be used to produce
a stereoscopic print.
While the above description concerns the correction of the positional
offset between the two frames by translation, a similar method may
be employed to correct offsets in rotational angle.
We next describe the third embodiment of the image processing method
of the invention In this embodiment, the concept of the invention
is applied to the motion picture shooting mode.
This third embodiment can be achieved by adding to the various
procedures performed to still pictures in the first and second embodiments
of the image processing method of the invention as described before
the information for designating the start and the termination of
the reference image or the image to be composited with the reference
image (image being taken) in the motion picture mode, as well as
the editing information as stated before.
In this case, it is preferable that the motor driven shooting (sequential
shooting) mode or the video shooting mode can be set in the camera
10. Alternatively, the camera 10 itself may be preferably a digital
video camera.
We now describe the forth embodiment which represents the image
processing method according to the forth aspect of the invention.
In this embodiment, the image processing method of the invention
is applied to a plurality of cameras which can communicate with
one another.
In the fourth embodiment, each camera 10 used includes the communication
section 30 (see FIG. 1). Reference image data is sent and received
among a plurality of cameras 10 and to reference images for image
compositing or images to be composited with the reference image
in the respective cameras 10 is assigned the group identification
information (ID) indicating that the images constitute a unique
group. Upon image compositing in the photoprinter 50, the taken
images of respective cameras 10 are composited with the reference
image, using such group ID.
In a first example of this embodiment, a reference image is designated
with a first camera 10 and the reference image data is transferred
to a second camera 10 by wire or by radio. The reference image data
has group ID added thereto which may be provisionally set. Since
the reference image data transferred is for monitor display, the
resolution represented by the data may be lower than that of an
original image such as a taken image.
Next, a subject is photographed with the second camera 10 while
displaying the reference image received from the first camera 10
on the monitor 12. The image data for the image thus photographed
with the second camera 10 is recorded after adding of group ID.
It is not necessary to record the reference image data received
itself.
Upon image compositing, the image compositing is performed in the
photoprinter 50 using the taken image data of the first and second
cameras 10, the reference image designation data and group ID.
In a second example of this embodiment, the original image data
(representing a higher resolution) is used as the reference image
data to be transferred from a first camera 10 to a second camera
10. In this case, the reference image data may be recorded together
with the taken image data, so that the image compositing process
can be performed in the photoprinter 50 solely using the data of
the second camera.
In a third example of this embodiment, the designation of the reference
image as well as the sending and receiving of the reference image
data may be performed among more than two cameras 10, then a composite
image prepared in the photoprinter 50.
In a forth example of this embodiment, images grouped with the
procedures in the first to third examples as above may he used for
preparing index images or motion images for sequential frame reproduction,
in addition to image compositing in the photoprinter 50 as stated
above.
In the image processing method of the invention, the camera in
which taken images are obtained upon photographing and various types
of compositing-editing information are attached to the taken images
is not limited to the digital camera 10 of the invention. Conventional
optical cameras which record taken images on an image recording
medium such as photographic film F, so-called analogue cameras,
may be also used as long as provided with components capable of
carrying out the image processing method of the invention. An analogue
camera used in the image processing method of the invention is provided
with all components of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG. 1 but
the recording section 22, for example. It may include, instead of
the recording section 22, a recording section in which various types
of compositing-editing information are recorded in association with
a shooting frame of a film, recorded on a magnetic layer formed
on a film in case of an APS photographic film, in an IC chip in
case of a film cartridge with an IC chip, and in an IC card in case
that the camera is equipped with an IC card.
While the digital camera and image processing method of the present
invention have been described above in detail referring to various
embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is by no
means limited to the foregoing embodiments and various improvements
and modifications can be made without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention.
As described on the foregoing pages, the present invention may
be used to create a composite of two or more images and it provides
the photographer with flexibility in determining the right composition
for taking pictures that can be easily assembled to produce an effective
composite image, that offers a lot of amusement. The invention can
also be used in simple size comparison and measurement. Another
application of the invention is in stereoscopic photography and,
in accordance with the present invention, the desired stereoscopic
pictures can easily be taken without using any complex equipment.
The present invention may be applied to motion pictures, and in
accordance with the present invention, it is possible to commonly
use one and the same image among a plurality of cameras or photographers,
to give variety to the photographing technique, and to output images
which offer a lot of amusement as a result of image compositing.
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