Image croppin and synthesizing method, and imaging apparatus

• US 20010048447A1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Jogo, Naozumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/620
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

By selecting a template, a crop boundary (98a) is displayed on an image on a screen. The crop boundary has a corresponding shape to that of a frame of the selected template, and is variable in size while keeping the same shape and being centered on a reference point (98e). Upper and lower horizontal lines (98b, 98c) are also displayed inside the crop boundary to define an internal zone (98d), and the center point on the upper horizontal line is defined as the reference point. By placing the reference point on the top of the head of a human subject contained in the displayed image and then moving the lower horizontal line to align it with the chin, the internal zone is adjusted to the head of the human subject. In cooperation with the movement of the lower reference line, the crop boundary is automatically enlarged or reduced so as to keep the internal zone in a predetermined proportion and position relative to the crop boundary.

Claims

1. A method of cropping and synthesizing an image on a screen, comprising the steps of:

displaying a crop boundary with a reference point on an image to synthesize on said screen, upon selecting a template having at least a frame, said crop boundary having a corresponding shape to that of said frame of said selected template and being variable in size while keeping the same shape and being centered on said reference point;

moving said crop boundary on said screen through an operation device, to place said reference point of said crop boundary on an appropriate point of said image to synthesize;

thereafter enlarging or reducing said crop boundary about said reference point, to bound an appropriate area of said image to synthesize;

cropping an image of said bounded area; and

pasting said cropped image in said frame of said template after enlarging or reducing said cropped image in accordance with the size of said frame of said template.

2. A method as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said reference point is located inside said crop boundary at a constant position relative to said crop boundary.

3. A method as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said cropped image is automatically enlarged or reduced in accordance with the size of said frame of said selected template.

4. A method as recited in

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of:

displaying reference lines inside said crop boundary, to define an internal zone within said crop boundary, said internal zone having a predetermined proportion and a predetermined position relative to said crop boundary; and

moving at least one of said reference lines on said screen through said operation device while keeping said reference point on said appropriate point of said displayed image, to adjust said internal zone to an appropriate portion of said displayed image, wherein said crop boundary is automatically enlarged or reduced in cooperation with the movement of said reference line, so as to keep said internal zone in the predetermined proportion and position relative to said crop boundary.

5. An image cropping method comprising the steps of:

displaying an image on said screen;

displaying a crop boundary with a reference point on said image on said screen, upon designating a frame size, said crop boundary having an equal aspect ratio to that of said designated frame size and being variable in size while keeping the same aspect ratio and being centered on said reference point;

moving said crop boundary on said screen through an operation device, to place a predetermined reference point of said crop boundary on an appropriate point of said image;

thereafter enlarging or reducing said crop boundary about said reference point, to bound an appropriate area of said image;

cropping an image of said bounded area; and

enlarging or reducing said cropped image in accordance with said frame size.

6. An image cropping method comprising the steps of:

displaying an image on said screen;

displaying a crop boundary with a reference point on said image on said screen, upon designating a frame size, said crop boundary having an equal aspect ratio to that of said designated frame size and being variable in size while keeping the same aspect ratio and being centered on said reference point;

displaying reference lines inside said crop boundary, to define an internal zone within said crop boundary, said internal zone having a predetermined proportion and a predetermined position relative to said crop boundary;

moving said crop boundary together with said reference lines on said screen through an operation device, to place said reference point of said crop boundary on an appropriate point of said image;

moving at least one of said reference lines on said screen through said operation device while keeping said reference point on said appropriate point of said image to synthesize, to adjust said internal zone to a portion of said image;

enlarging or reducing said crop boundary about said reference point automatically in cooperation with the movement of said reference line, so as to keep said internal zone in the predetermined proportion and position relative to said crop boundary;

cropping an image of an area of said image that is bounded by said crop boundary; and

enlarging or reducing said cropped image in accordance with said frame size.

7. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a template selecting device for selecting a template from among different kinds of templates;

a display device for displaying an image to synthesize and a crop boundary having a corresponding shape to that of a frame of said selected template;

an operation device for moving said crop boundary on said screen, to place a reference point of said crop boundary on an appropriate point of said image to synthesize, and for enlarging or reducing said crop boundary about said predetermined reference point while keeping said crop boundary in the same shape and keeping said reference point on said appropriate point of said image;

a cropping device for cropping an image from an area of said image to synthesize, said area being bounded by said crop boundary; and

an image synthesizing device for enlarging or reducing said cropped image in accordance with the size of said frame of said template, and thereafter pasting said cropped image in said frame of said template, to produce a synthesized image.

8. An imaging apparatus as recited in

claim 7

, wherein said display device further displays reference lines inside said crop boundary, to define an internal zone within said crop boundary, said internal zone having a predetermined proportion and a predetermined position relative to said crop boundary;

and wherein at least one of said reference lines may be moved on said screen through said operation device while keeping said reference point on said appropriate point of said image to synthesize, and said crop boundary is automatically enlarged or reduced in cooperation with the movement of said reference line, so as to keep said internal zone in the predetermined proportion and position to said crop boundary.

9. An imaging apparatus as recited in

claim 7

, wherein said display device displays samples of said different kinds of templates on said screen in a small size before one of said templates is selected.

10. An imaging apparatus as recited in

claim 7

, wherein said display device displays a plurality of images in a small size on said screen, among which said image to synthesize may be selected from and is displayed in a large size after being selected.

11. An imaging apparatus as recited in

claim 7

, wherein said display device displays said synthesized image on said screen after said image synthesizing device completes pasting said cropped image in said frame of said template.

12. An imaging apparatus as recited in

claim 7

, further comprising an image input device for inputting image data, and a printer for printing out said synthesized image.