METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING ALBUM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20090249177A1
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Misawa, Atsushi, Suzuki, Yuko, Kon, Karin, Yamaji, Kei, Ihara, Hotsumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,782,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A required number of images for creating an album are compensated using existing still images, and an album with a fine appearance is created by effectively using a small number of available still images (still images in stock). A value N, which is obtained by subtracting the total number of selected images from the total number of images that a template of a photo album requires (the total number of combination frames), is determined as the minimum number of shortfall images that are required for compensating the shortage of images. An image (original image for creation) appropriate for the original, from which images for compensating the shortage of images are created, is selected from among selected images. New images are created by applying a predetermined image processing to the selected original image for creation, until the minimum number N of shortfall images is satisfied.

Claims

1. A method for creating an album in which one or more images are disposed, comprising:

a step of obtaining one or more original images;

a step of determining a number of shortfall images by comparing a number of images required for creating the album and the number of the obtained original images;

a step of creating one or more compensating images at least as many as the shortfall images by applying a predetermined image processing to the obtained images; and

a step of creating the album based on at least one of the original images and the compensating images.

2. The method for creating an album according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of obtaining one or more selected images by selecting images which satisfy a predetermined condition from among the original images;

a step of creating the compensating images at least as many as the shortfall images by applying the predetermined processing to the selected images; and

a step of creating the album based on at least one of the original images, the compensating images, and the selected images.

3. The method for creating an album according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined image processing includes trimming around a subject region, combination of a background, combination of graphics representing a facial expression, switching viewpoints by pseudo-three-dimensional processing, or morphing.

4. The method for creating an album according to claim 3, further comprising:

a step of obtaining one or more selected images by selecting images which satisfy a predetermined condition from among the original images;

a step of creating the compensating images at least as many as the shortfall images by applying the predetermined processing to the selected images; and

a step of creating the album based on at least one of the original images, the compensating images, and the selected images.

6. A recording medium on which a program is recorded, the program controlling a computer to execute the method for creating an album according to claim 1.

5. A method for creating an album in which one or more images are disposed, comprising:

a step of obtaining a moving image and a representative image which is a still image captured from the moving image;

a step of determining a minimum number of images required for creating the album;

a step of creating one or more still images which belong to the same scene as the representative image belongs to by applying a predetermined image processing to the obtained moving images, the still images being created in at least the minimum number of images required for creating the album; and

a step of creating the album based on at least one of the still images which belong to the same scene as the created representative image belongs to.

7. A recording medium on which a program is recorded, the program controlling a computer to execute the method for creating an album according to claim 5.

8. An apparatus for creating an album in which one or more images are disposed, comprising:

a device which obtains one or more original images;

a device which determines a number of shortfall images by comparing a number of images required for creating the album and the number of the obtained original images;

a device which creates one or more compensating images at least as many as the shortfall images by applying a predetermined image processing to the obtained images; and

a device which creates the album based on at least one of the original images and the compensating images.

9. An apparatus for creating an album in which one or more images are disposed, comprising:

a device which obtains a moving image and a representative image which is a still image captured from the moving image;

a device which determines a minimum number of images required for creating the album;

a device which creates one or more still images which belong to the same scene as the representative image belongs to by applying a predetermined image processing to the obtained moving images, the still images being created in at least the minimum number of images required for creating the album; and

a device which creates the album based on at least one of the still images which belong to the same scene as the created representative image belongs to.