Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program for implementing the method, and storage medium storing the program

• US 20050278636A1
• Filed: 06/09/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nomoto, Masakazu
• Granted Patent: US 8,107,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/724
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/00 Image enhancement or restoration

Abstract

An image processing apparatus which makes it possible to automatically defining a processing area in which image processing is to be performed according to the type of image processing, to thereby improve user friendliness. A starting point and an ending point are designated on an image displayed on a display, and coordinates as information on the designated points are acquired. A type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image is selected from among a plurality of types of image processing, and information on the selected type is acquired. An editing area on the displayed image, in which the displayed image is to be subjected to the selected type of image processing, is defined according to the information on the designated points and the selected type of image processing. The display of the image in the defined editing area can be changed.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus that performs a type of image processing selected from a plurality of types of image processing, on an image, comprising:

a display device that displays the image;

a designating device that designates a predetermined position on the displayed image;

a first acquiring device that acquires information on the designated predetermined position;

a selecting device that selects a type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image from among the plurality of types of image processing;

a second acquiring device that acquires information on the selected type of image processing;

a defining device that defines a predetermined processing area on the displayed image, in which the displayed image is to be subjected to the selected type of image processing, according to the acquired information on the predetermined position and the acquired information on the selected type of image processing; and

a display changing device that changes display of the image in the defined processing area.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an image processing device that performs the selected type of image processing on at least part of the displayed image according to information on a part of the displayed image inside the defined processing area or a part of the displayed image outside the defined processing area and the selected type of image processing.

3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of types of image processing include a first type of image processing that predetermined image processing is performed on the displayed image according to the information on the part of the displayed image inside the defined processing area, and a second type of image processing that predetermined image processing is performed on the displayed image inside the defined processing area according to the information on the part of the displayed image outside the defined processing area.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of shapes defining respective ones of the processing area are set in advance according to the type of image processing.

5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a second display device that displays a selecting screen for selecting a type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image from among the plurality of types of image processing in a vicinity of the acquired predetermined position.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said designating device designates a first position and a second position different from the first position as the predetermined position;

and

said second display device displays the selecting screen in a vicinity of a later designated one of the designated first and second positions.

7. An image processing method of performing a type of image processing selected from a plurality of types of image processing, on an image, comprising:

a display step of displaying the image;

a designating step of designating a predetermined position on the displayed image;

a first acquiring step of acquiring information on the designated predetermined position;

a selecting step of selecting a type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image from among the plurality of types of image processing;

a second acquiring step of acquiring information on the selected type of image processing;

a defining step of defining a predetermined processing area on the displayed image, in which the displayed image is to be subjected to the selected type of image processing, according to the acquired information on the predetermined position and the acquired information on the selected type of image processing; and

a display changing step of changing display of the image in the defined processing area.

8. An image processing method according to claim 7, comprising an image processing step of performing the selected type of image processing on at least part of the displayed image according to information on a part of the displayed image inside the defined processing area or a part of the displayed image outside the defined processing area and the selected type of image processing.

9. An image processing method according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of types of image processing include a first type of image processing that predetermined image processing is performed on the displayed image according to the information on the part of the displayed image inside the defined processing area, and a second type of image processing that predetermined image processing is performed on the displayed image inside the defined processing area according to the information on the part of the displayed image outside the defined processing area.

10. An image processing method according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of shapes defining respective ones of the processing area are set in advance according to the type of image processing.

11. An image processing method according to claim 7, comprising a second display step of displaying a selecting screen for selecting a type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image from among the plurality of types of image processing in a vicinity of the acquired predetermined position.

12. An image processing method according to claim 11, wherein said designating step comprises designating a first position and a second position different from the first position as the predetermined position;

and

said second display step comprises displaying the selecting screen in a vicinity of a later designated one of the designated first and second positions.

13. A program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method of performing a type of image processing selected from a plurality of types of image processing, on an image, comprising:

a display module for displaying the image;

a designating module for designating a predetermined position on the displayed image;

a first acquiring module for acquiring information on the designated predetermined position;

a selecting module for selecting a type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image from among the plurality of types of image processing;

a second acquiring module for acquiring information on the selected type of image processing;

a defining module for defining a predetermined processing area on the displayed image, in which the displayed image is to be subjected to the selected type of image processing, according to the acquired information on the predetermined position and the acquired information on the selected type of image processing; and

a display changing module for changing display of the image in the defined processing area.

14. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program according to claim 13.

15. An image processing apparatus capable of selectively carrying out a plurality of types of image processing on an image, comprising:

a first display controller that causes a display device to display the image;

an area designating device that designates an area in which image processing is to be performed on the image displayed on the display device;

a selecting device that selects a desired type of image processing from among the plurality of types of image processing; and

a changing device that changes a shape of the area designated by said area designating device according to a result of selection by said selecting device.

16. An image processing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

an instructing device that instructs execution of the type of image processing selected by said selecting device; and

a second display controller responsive to the instruction by said instructing device, for causing said display device to display a result of execution of the type of image processing selected by said selecting device in the area with the shape thereof changed by said changing device.

17. An image processing apparatus according to claim 15, comprising an analyzing device that analyzes at least part of the displayed image inside the area designated by said area designating device, and

wherein said changing device changes the shape of the area designated by said area designating device according to the type of image processing selected by said selecting device and a result of the analysis by said analyzing device.

18. An image processing method capable of selectively carrying out a plurality of types of image processing on an image, comprising:

a first display control step of causing a display device to display the image;

an area designating step of designating an area in which image processing is to be performed on the image displayed on the display device;

a selecting step of selecting a desired type of image processing from among the plurality of types of image processing; and

a changing step of changing a shape of the area designated in said area designating step according to a result of selection in said selecting step.

19. An image processing method according to claim 18, further comprising:

an instructing step of instructing execution of image processing of the type selected in said selecting step; and

a second display control step of causing the display device to display a result of execution of the type of image processing selected in said selecting step in the area with the shape thereof changed in said changing step, in response to the instruction in said instructing step.

20. An image processing method according to claim 18, comprising an analyzing step of analyzing at least part of the displayed image inside the area designated in said area designating step, and

wherein said changing step comprises changing the shape of the area designated in said area designating step according to the type of image processing selected in said selecting step and a result of the analysis in said analyzing step.

21. A program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method capable of selectively carrying out a plurality of types of image processing on an image, comprising:

a first display control module for causing a display device to display the image;

an area designating module for designating an area in which image processing is to be performed on the image displayed on the display device;

a selecting module for selecting a desired type of image processing from among the plurality of types of image processing; and

a changing module for changing a shape of the area designated by said area designating module according to a result of selection by said selecting module.

22. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program according to claim 21.

23. An image processing apparatus that performs a type of image processing selected from among a plurality of types of image processing, on an image, comprising:

a display device that displays the image on a screen;

a range designating device that designates a first range on the displayed image;

a range detecting device that detects at least one second range having predetermined characteristics on the displayed image from the displayed image; and

a processing type selecting device that selects at least one type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image from among the plurality of types of image processing according to a predetermined relationship between the first range and the second range.

24. An image processing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said display device displays an indication of the at least one selected type on the screen.

25. An image processing apparatus according to claim 23, comprising:

an execution setting device that makes a setting as to whether the selected type of image processing is to be executed; and

an image processing device that executes the type of image processing that has been set to be executed by said execution setting device.

26. An image processing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the predetermined characteristics comprise information on a person'"'"'s face.

27. An image processing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the predetermined relationship between the first range and the second range comprises a positional relationship.

28. An image processing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the predetermined relationship between the first range and the second range comprises an area ratio.

29. An image processing method of performing a type of image processing selected from among a plurality of types of image processing, on an image, comprising:

a display step of displaying the image on a screen;

a range designating step of designating a first range on the displayed image;

a range detecting step of detecting at least one second range having predetermined characteristics on the displayed image from the displayed image; and

a processing type selecting step of selecting at least one type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image from among the plurality of types of image processing according to a predetermined relationship between the first range and the second range.

30. An image processing method according to claim 29, wherein said display step comprises displaying an indication of the at least one selected type on the screen.

31. An image processing method according to claim 29, comprising:

an execution setting step of making a setting as to whether the selected type of image processing is to be executed; and

an image processing step of executing the type of image processing that has been set to be executed in said execution setting step.

32. An image processing method according to claim 29, wherein the predetermined characteristics comprise information on a person'"'"'s face.

33. An image processing method according to claim 29, wherein the predetermined relationship between the first range and the second range comprises a positional relationship.

34. An image processing method according to claim 29, wherein the predetermined relationship between the first range and the second range comprises an area ratio.

35. A program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method of performing a type of image processing selected from among a plurality of types of image processing, on an image, comprising:

a display module for displaying the image on a screen;

a range designating module for designating a first range on the displayed image;

a range detecting module for detecting at least one second range having predetermined characteristics on the displayed image from the displayed image; and

a processing type selecting module for selecting at least one type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image from among the plurality of types of image processing according to a predetermined relationship between the first range and the second range.

36. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program according to claim 35.