Image processing device and method of image processing

• US 20050140993A1
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kuwata, Naoki
• Granted Patent: US 7,768,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.900
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6027 Correction or control of colour gradation or colour contrast H04N1/6058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6077 Colour balance, e.g. colour cast correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/88 for colour balance, e.g. white-balance circuits or colour temperature control

Abstract

A CPU 200 obtains and analyzes one or multiple image data GD, which are to be laid out on ornamental image data FD. The CPU 200 also obtains and analyzes desired ornamental image data FD to acquire a color distribution characteristic (representative color Fc). The CPU 200 sets an analyzed correction level according to the result of the analysis of the image data GD and modifies the analyzed correction level based on the acquired color distribution characteristic, so as to set a modified color balance correction level. The CPU 200 adjusts the color balance of the image data GD with the modified color balance correction level and pastes the color balance-adjusted image data GD onto the ornamental image data FD according to layout control information LI to generate output image data.

Claims

1. An image processing device that executes image processing of objective image data, which is to be laid out on ornamental image data, said image processing device comprising:

an ornamental image data acquisition module that obtains the ornamental image data;

an objective image data acquisition module that obtains the objective image data, wherein the objective image data is to be laid out on a layout location of the ornamental image data;

a layout control information acquisition module that obtains layout control information, wherein the layout control information is related to the obtained ornamental image data and specifies a layout location and layout dimensions of the objective image data to be laid out on the ornamental image data;

an ornamental image color distribution characteristic acquisition module that acquires a color distribution characteristic of the obtained ornamental image data;

an image quality adjustment module that adjusts a color balance of the objective image data, based on the acquired color distribution characteristic; and

an output image data generation module that generates output image data from the color balance-adjusted objective image data and the ornamental image data according to the layout control information.

2. An image processing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said image quality adjustment module adjusts the color balance of the objective image data to enhance a color contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data.

3. An image processing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said image quality adjustment module adjusts the color balance of the objective image data to lower a color contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data.

4. An image processing device in accordance with claim 1, said image processing device further comprising:

an analyzed correction level setting module that analyzes the objective image data, which is to be laid out on the ornamental image data, and sets an analyzed correction level relating to the color balance; and

a modified color balance correction level setting module that modifies the analyzed correction level based on the acquired color distribution characteristic, so as to set a modified color balance correction level,

wherein said image quality adjustment module adjusts the color balance of the objective image data with the modified color balance correction level.

5. An image processing device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said modified color balance correction level setting module modifies the analyzed correction level and sets the modified color balance correction level to enhance a color contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data.

6. An image processing device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said modified color balance correction level setting module modifies the analyzed correction level and sets the modified color balance correction level to lower a color contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data.

7. An image processing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said ornamental image color distribution characteristic acquisition module analyzes the ornamental image data to acquire the color distribution characteristic of the ornamental image data.

8. An image processing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the layout control information includes the color distribution characteristic of the ornamental image data, and

said ornamental image color distribution characteristic acquisition module reads the color distribution characteristic of the ornamental image data from the layout control information.

9. An image processing method that executes image processing of objective image data, which is to be laid out on ornamental image data, said image processing method comprising:

obtaining the ornamental image data;

obtaining the objective image data, wherein the objective image data is to be laid out on a layout location of the ornamental image data;

obtaining layout control information, wherein the layout control information is related to the obtained ornamental image data and specifies a layout location and layout dimensions of the objective image data to be laid out on the ornamental image data;

acquiring a color distribution characteristic of the obtained ornamental image data;

adjusting a color balance of the objective image data, based on the acquired color distribution characteristic; and

generating output image data from the color balance-adjusted objective image data and the ornamental image data according to the layout control information.

10. An image processing device that executes image processing of objective image data, which is to be laid out on ornamental image data, said image processing device comprising:

an ornamental image data acquisition module that obtains the ornamental image data;

an objective image data acquisition module that obtains the objective image data, wherein the objective image data is to be laid out on a layout location of the ornamental image data;

a layout control information acquisition module that obtains layout control information, wherein the layout control information is related to the obtained ornamental image data and specifies a layout location and layout dimensions of the objective image data to be laid out on the ornamental image data;

an ornamental image luminance characteristic acquisition module that acquires a luminance characteristic of the obtained ornamental image data;

an image quality adjustment module that adjusts a brightness of the objective image data, based on the acquired luminance characteristic; and

an output image data generation module that generates output image data from the brightness-adjusted objective image data and the ornamental image data according to the layout control information.

11. An image processing device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said image quality adjustment module adjusts the brightness of the objective image data to enhance a luminance contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data.

12. An image processing device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said image quality adjustment module adjusts the brightness of the objective image data to lower a luminance contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data.

13. An image processing device in accordance with claim 10, said image processing device further comprising:

an analyzed correction level setting module that analyzes the objective image data, which is to be laid out on the ornamental image data, and sets an analyzed correction level relating to the brightness; and

a modified brightness correction level setting module that modifies the analyzed correction level based on the acquired luminance characteristic, so as to set a modified brightness correction level,

wherein said image quality adjustment module adjusts the brightness of the objective image data with the modified brightness correction level.

14. An image processing device in accordance with claim 13, wherein said modified brightness correction level setting module modifies the analyzed correction level and sets the modified brightness correction level to enhance a luminance contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data.

15. An image processing device in accordance with claim 13, wherein said modified brightness correction level setting module modifies the analyzed correction level and sets the modified brightness correction level to lower a luminance contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data.

16. An image processing device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said ornamental image luminance characteristic acquisition module analyzes the ornamental image data to acquire the luminance characteristic of the ornamental image data.

17. An image processing device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the layout control information includes the luminance characteristic of the ornamental image data, and

said ornamental image luminance characteristic acquisition module reads the luminance characteristic of the ornamental image data from the layout control information.

18. An image processing method that executes image processing of objective image data, which is to be laid out on ornamental image data, said image processing method comprising:

obtaining the ornamental image data;

obtaining the objective image data, wherein the objective image data is to be laid out on a layout location of the ornamental image data;

obtaining layout control information, wherein the layout control information is related to the obtained ornamental image data and specifies a layout location and layout dimensions of the objective image data to be laid out on the ornamental image data;

acquiring a luminance characteristic of the obtained ornamental image data;

adjusting a brightness of the objective image data, based on the acquired luminance characteristic; and

generating output image data from the brightness-adjusted objective image data and the ornamental image data according to the layout control information.