Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Detail of image placement or content
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-02
2003-02-25
Rogers, Scott (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Detail of image placement or content
C358S450000, C358S487000, C382S283000, C382S284000, C382S294000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06525836
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of synthesizing a subject image on a template image, to produce a composite image.
2. Background Art
As a digital image technique has been developed, it has been possible to read a picture taken by a user through a scanner to accept and retain the picture as digital image data in a personal computer. It is also possible to accept a plurality of images in the personal computer and synthesize the images within the personal computer.
However, operations for such image synthesis are still difficult for an unexperienced person and a beginner of the personal computer. Therefore, a technique capable of achieving image synthesis relatively simply has been desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to perform operations for image synthesis relatively simply.
An image synthesizer according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a template image data storage (means) previously storing template image data representing a template image which is a background image of a subject image to be synthesized, a mask image data storage (means) storing mask image data representing a mask image corresponding to the template image for defining a synthesis position and the size of a synthesis area of the subject image to be synthesized on the template image, and an image synthesis processor or means for putting the subject image represented by fed subject image data in the synthesis position and the synthesis area, which are defined by the mask image data stored in the mask image data storage, on the template image stored in the template image data storage, to produce a composite image.
The present invention also provides an image synthesizing method. Specifically, the image synthesizing method according to the present invention is characterized by comprising the steps of previously storing template image data representing a template image which is a background image of a subject image to be synthesized and mask image data representing a mask image corresponding to the template image for defining a synthesis position and the size of a synthesis area of the subject image to be synthesized on the template image, and putting the subject image represented by fed subject image data in the synthesis position and the synthesis area, which are defined by the mask image data, on the template image previously stored, to produce a composite image.
According to the present invention, the template image data and the mask image data are previously stored. When the subject image data representing the subject image to be synthesized is fed, the subject image represented by the subject image data is positioned in the synthesis position defined by the mask image, to obtain the composite image. The subject image to be synthesized is merely positioned in the synthesis position, whereby the composite image can be produced relatively simply even by a user who is unaccustomed to operating a personal computer.
Data representing the produced composite image may be stored in a storage medium. The composite image can be displayed or printed by reading out the data representing the composite image stored in the storage medium.
Template image data for image display and template image data for printing having higher resolution than the resolution of the template image data for image display may be previously stored, and mask image data for image display and mask image data for printing having higher resolution than the resolution of the mask image data for image display may be previously stored. At this time, the image synthesis processor produces a composite image for image display based on the stored template image data for image display, the stored mask image data for image display, and the fed subject image data when image synthesis for image display is achieved, while producing a composite image for printing based on the stored template image data for printing, the stored mask image data for printing, and the fed subject image data when image synthesis for printing is achieved.
In this case, the composite image for image display will be displayed on a display device, and the composite image for printing will be printed.
When high-quality printing of the composite image is done, image data having high resolution is required. On the other hand, sufficiently high resolution to be required for printing is not generally required for display. If only image data having high resolution exists, thinning processing of the image data is required for display. Consequently, image display cannot be quickly made. If image data conforming to the resolution of the display device is used, quick display is made possible, while high-quality image printing cannot be expected.
Since the template image data for image display and the template image data for printing as well as the mask image data for image display and the mask image data for printing are previously stored, to perform image synthesis processing using various data for image display when the image display is made, while using various data for printing when the printing is done, quick image display and high-quality printing can be realized.
In this case, it is preferable that the subject image is positioned in order to produce the composite image for printing using positioning information used for positioning the subject image in order to produce the composite image for image display, to produce the composite image for printing.
Consequently, the composite image for printing can be quickly produced.
When there is subject image data representing a plurality of subject images, and there are a plurality of synthesis positions of the subject image which are defined by the mask image represented by the stored mask image data, the subject image selected out of the plurality of subject images represented by the fed subject image data may be positioned in the synthesis position selected out of the plurality of synthesis positions, to perform image synthesis processing.
In a case where the template image data previously stored represents a plurality of kinds of template images, the mask image data also represents a plurality of kinds of mask images in correspondence to the plurality of kinds of template images, the subject image represented by the fed subject image data is put at a position, which is defined by the mask image corresponding to the template image selected out of the plurality of kinds of template images, on the template image, to produce a composite image.
Consequently, the composite image can be produced upon positioning the plurality of subject images on one template image.
Character image data representing a character may be inputted, and the inputted character may be further synthesized on the composite image.
Synthesis information including the size of the subject image which can be synthesized on the template image may be previously stored in correspondence to the template image data, and it may be judged whether or not the subject image represented by the fed subject image data is not of the size which can be synthesized, to notify, when it is judged that the subject image is not of the size which can be synthesized, the judgment.
When the size of the subject image to be synthesized on the template image is smaller than the size of the synthesis area defined by the mask image, a white edge or a black edge is formed on the composite image. When the synthesis information is previously stored, and it is judged that the subject image is not of the size which can be synthesized, the judgment is notified. Even when the size of the subject image to be synthesized on the template image is smaller than the size of the synthesis area defined by the mask image, therefore, a white edge or a black edge can be prevented from being formed on the composite image.
The image synthesizer can be provided with an image medium reader for reading a subject image recorded on a visible image medium and outputting an image signal representi
Haneda Norihisa
Ito Atsushi
Ito Takeyoshi
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Rogers Scott
LandOfFree
Apparatus for and method of synthesizing image does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for and method of synthesizing image, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for and method of synthesizing image will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3163808