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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera includes: an optical system for forming an optical
image of a subject; an image pickup unit that converts the formed
optical image of the subject and outputs a subject image; and a
recording unit that associates the subject image output by the image
pickup unit with a layout definition data group and stores the subject
image in a nonvolatile memory. The layout definition data group
is stored in the nonvolatile memory and is made up of pieces of
layout definition data that define a layout to draw a subject image
for a drawing medium of a specific size. The pieces of layout definition
data making up the layout definition data group with which the subject
image is associated defines similar layouts for drawing media of
difference sizes.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera comprising: an optical system for forming an
optical image of a subject; an image pickup unit that converts the
formed optical image of the subject and outputs a subject image;
and a recording unit that associates the subject image output by
the image pickup unit with a layout definition data group and stores
the subject image in a nonvolatile memory, wherein the layout definition
data group is stored in the nonvolatile memory and is made up of
pieces of layout definition data that define a layout to draw a
subject image for a drawing medium of a specific size, and wherein
the pieces of layout definition data making up the layout definition
data group with which the subject image is associated defines similar
layouts for drawing media of difference sizes.
2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording
unit associates the subject image with a first associating file
describing information to specify each of pieces of the layout definition
data making up the same layout definition data group, thereby associating
the subject image with the layout definition data group.
3. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the recording
unit stores a second associating file describing information to
specify the first associating file in the nonvolatile memory and
associates the subject image with the second associating file, thereby
associating the subject image with the first associating file.
4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein the recording
unit includes an identical character string in a filename of the
subject image and a filename of the second associating file, thereby
associating the subject image with the second associating file.
5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein a filename
of the layout definition data includes a character string from which
the size of a drawing medium to which the layout definition data
is applied can be determined.
6. The digital camera according to claim 2, further comprising
a layout selection unit that selects a layout definition data group
to be associated with a subject image, wherein the layout selection
unit causes the first associating file to be selected, thereby causing
the layout definition data group to be selected, wherein the recording
unit associates the subject image with the first associating file
selected through the layout selection unit and stores the subject
image.
7. A print system comprising: an optical system that forms an optical
image of a subject; an image pickup unit that converts the formed
optical image of the subject and outputs a subject image; a recording
unit that associates the subject image output by the image pickup
unit with a layout definition data group and stores the subject
image in a nonvolatile memory; wherein the layout definition data
group is stored in the nonvolatile memory and is made up of pieces
of layout definition data that define a layout to draw a subject
image for a drawing medium of a specific size, wherein the pieces
of layout definition data making up the layout definition data group
with which the subject image is associated defines similar layouts
for drawing media of difference sizes, a print unit that prints
a subject image based on layout definition data; a print setting
unit that sets a print job for causing the print unit to print the
subject image stored in the nonvolatile memory, wherein the print
setting unit is provided with a size selection unit that selects
the size of a drawing medium to print the subject image from among
sizes to which the pieces of layout definition data making up the
layout definition data group associated with the subject image are
applied; and a print control unit that causes the print unit to
print the subject image stored in the nonvolatile memory based on
the print job, wherein the print control unit, based on the layout
definition data applied to the size set in the print job among the
layout definition data pieces making up the layout definition data
group associated with the subject image, causes the print unit to
print the subject image on a drawing medium of the setup size.
8. A data structure of a layout definition data group made up of
pieces of layout definition data defining a layout to draw a subject
image, the data structure comprising: a plurality of pieces of layout
definition data; and a first associating file describing information
to specify the pieces of layout definition data making up the same
layout definition data group, and wherein a plurality of pieces
of layout definition data making up the same layout definition data
group define similar layouts for drawing media of different sizes.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a digital camera, a print system,
and a data structure.
[0002] A digital camera has a use of recording data as material
of a composite image, for example. The composite image is widely
used to print a greeting card with a photo, a framed photo seal,
etc. With a digital camera disclosed in JP-A-2001-45352, a still
image (default image) to be combined with an image representing
a subject (subject image) is selected at the photographing time
and when a shutter switch is pressed, composite image data provided
by combining the subject image and the default image is stored in
external storage means. According to the digital camera in JP-A-2001-45352,
as a default image is selected at the photographing time, a composite
image responsive to the purpose of a greeting card with a photo,
a framed photo seal, etc., can be stored and can be drawn on a drawing
medium. According to the digital camera in patent document 1, as
a composite image is scaled up or down, it can be drawn on drawing
media different in size, so that the size of the drawing medium
for drawing the composite image is not specified.
[0003] However, since the composite image is stored with the digital
camera in the related art, later only the subject image cannot be
printed and the subject image cannot be combined with a different
default image; this is a problem. Specifically, with the digital
camera in the related art, only the composite image is stored and
the subject image is not stored. Therefore, if the user wants to
print only the subject image after photographing, the subject image
cannot be printed. Thus, the subject image cannot be combined with
another default image for print either. For example, to print a
greeting card with a photo, if the user wants to change the default
image selected at the photographing time to another default image,
the user must again take a photograph from the beginning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a digital camera
capable of storing a subject image so that a default image to be
combined with the subject image can be changed after the subject
image is photographed, and that the size of a drawing medium to
draw the composite image provided by combining the default image
with the subject image can be selected after the subject image is
photographed.
[0005] It is another object of the invention to provide a print
system wherein a default image to be combined with a subject image
can be changed after the subject image is photographed, and the
size of a drawing medium to draw the composite image provided by
combining the default image with the subject image can be selected
after the subject image is photographed.
[0006] It is another object of the invention to provide a data
structure wherein a default image to be combined with a subject
image can be changed after the subject image is photographed, and
the size of a drawing medium to draw the composite image provided
by combining the default image with the subject image can be selected
after the subject image is photographed.
[0007] In order to solve the aforesaid object, the invention is
characterized by having the following arrangement.
[0008] (1) A digital camera comprising:
[0009] an optical system for forming an optical image of a subject;
[0010] an image pickup unit that converts the formed optical image
of the subject and outputs a subject image; and
[0011] a recording unit that associates the subject image output
by the image pickup unit with a layout definition data group and
stores the subject image in a nonvolatile memory,
[0012] wherein the layout definition data group is stored in the
nonvolatile memory and is made up of pieces of layout definition
data that define a layout to draw a subject image for a drawing
medium of a specific size, and
[0013] wherein the pieces of layout definition data making up the
layout definition data group with which the subject image is associated
defines similar layouts for drawing media of difference sizes.
[0014] (2) The digital camera according to (1), wherein the recording
unit associates the subject image with a first associating file
describing information to specify each of pieces of the layout definition
data making up the same layout definition data group, thereby associating
the subject image with the layout definition data group.
[0015] (3) The digital camera according to (2), wherein the recording
unit stores a second associating file describing information to
specify the first associating file in the nonvolatile memory and
associates the subject image with the second associating file, thereby
associating the subject image with the first associating file.
[0016] (4) The digital camera according to (3), wherein the recording
unit includes an identical character string in a filename of the
subject image and a filename of the second associating file, thereby
associating the subject image with the second associating file.
[0017] (5) The digital camera according to (1), wherein a filename
of the layout definition data includes a character string from which
the size of a drawing medium to which the layout definition data
is applied can be determined.
[0018] (6) The digital camera according to (2), further comprising
a layout selection unit that selects a layout definition data group
to be associated with a subject image, wherein the layout selection
unit causes the first associating file to be selected, thereby causing
the layout definition data group to be selected,
[0019] wherein the recording unit associates the subject image
with the first associating file selected through the layout selection
unit and stores the subject image.
[0020] (7) A print system comprising:
[0021] an optical system that forms an optical image of a subject;
[0022] an image pickup unit that converts the formed optical image
of the subject and outputs a subject image;
[0023] a recording unit that associates the subject image output
by the image pickup unit with a layout definition data group and
stores the subject image in a nonvolatile memory;
[0024] wherein the layout definition data group is stored in the
nonvolatile memory and is made up of pieces of layout definition
data that define a layout to draw a subject image for a drawing
medium of a specific size,
[0025] wherein the pieces of layout definition data making up the
layout definition data group with which the subject image is associated
defines similar layouts for drawing media of difference sizes,
[0026] a print unit that prints a subject image based on layout
definition data;
[0027] a print setting unit that sets a print job for causing the
print unit to print the subject image stored in the nonvolatile
memory, wherein the print setting unit is provided with a size selection
unit that selects the size of a drawing medium to print the subject
image from among sizes to which the pieces of layout definition
data making up the layout definition data group associated with
the subject image are applied; and
[0028] a print control unit that causes the print unit to print
the subject image stored in the nonvolatile memory based on the
print job, wherein the print control unit, based on the layout definition
data applied to the size set in the print job among the layout definition
data pieces making up the layout definition data group associated
with the subject image, causes the print unit to print the subject
image on a drawing medium of the setup size.
[0029] (8) A data structure of a layout definition data group made
up of pieces of layout definition data defining a layout to draw
a subject image, the data structure comprising:
[0030] a plurality of pieces of layout definition data; and
[0031] a first associating file describing information to specify
the pieces of layout definition data making up the same layout definition
data group, and
[0032] wherein a plurality of pieces of layout definition data
making up the same layout definition data group define similar layouts
for drawing media of different sizes.
[0033] The functions of the plurality of elements included in the
invention are provided by hardware resources whose functions are
determined by the configuration, hardware resources whose functions
are determined by programs, or a combination thereof. The functions
of the plurality of means are not limited to those provided by hardware
resources physically independent of each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing to show the data structure
of a layout definition data group according to the invention.
[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing to show a digital camera and
a print system according to the invention.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a block diagram to show the configuration of the
digital camera according to the invention.
[0037] FIG. 4A is a rear view of the digital camera and FIG. 4B
is a front view of the digital camera according to the invention.
[0038] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing to show the descriptions of
the layout definition data according to the invention.
[0039] FIG. 6A is a schematic drawing to describe drawing using
layout definition data and FIG. 6B is a plan view to show the result
of the drawing using the layout definition data according to the
invention.
[0040] FIG. 7 is a drawing to show the description contents of
a first associating file according to the invention.
[0041] FIG. 8 is a drawing to show the description contents of
a first associating file according to the invention.
[0042] FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing to show the contents of a
camera thumbnail according to the invention.
[0043] FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing to describe a print job according
to the invention.
[0044] FIG. 11 is a flowchart to show storage processing of a subject
image according to the invention.
[0045] FIG. 12 is a screen transition drawing in the storage processing
of a subject image according to the invention.
[0046] FIG. 13 is a flowchart to show print processing of a subject
image according to the invention.
[0047] FIG. 14 is a screen transition drawing in the print processing
of a subject image according to the invention.
[0048] FIG. 15 is a schematic drawing to describe a print command
according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0049] An embodiment of the invention will be discussed based on
a plurality of drawings.
[0050] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing to show a digital still camera
1 as a digital camera according to one embodiment of the invention
and a print system 3 made up of the digital still camera 1 and a
printer 2 as print means.
[0051] When a print command described later is output from the
digital still camera 1, the printer 2 prints a subject image based
on the print command. Specifically, when a print command is output,
the printer 2 interprets layout definition data set in the print
command, and prints the subject image on a drawing medium of the
size set in the print command based on the layout defined in the
layout definition data according to an ink jet system, a laser system,
a sublimation dye transfer printing system, a dot impact system,
etc., for example.
[0052] FIG. 3 is a block diagram to show the configuration of the
digital still camera 1. FIGS. 4A and 4B are a rear view and a front
view to show the appearance of the digital still camera 1.
[0053] An optical system 11 is made up of a lens 37, an aperture,
etc., housed in a cabinet 25. The optical system 11 forms an optical
image of a subject on the light reception face of an image sensor
12.
[0054] The image sensor 12 as image pickup means is an area image
sensor including photoelectric conversion elements discretely placed
in a two-dimensional space and charge transfer devices such as CCD
(Charge Coupled Device). The image sensor 12 is driven by a sensor
controller 13. The image sensor 12 stores the charges provided by
executing photoelectric conversion for a given time for each photoelectric
conversion element and outputs an electric signal responsive to
the light reception amount for each photoelectric conversion element.
Four complementary color filters of C (Cyan), M (Magenta), Y (Yellow),
and G (Green) or primary color filters of R (Red), G (green), and
B (Blue) are provided on the light reception face, whereby it is
made possible to form a color image.
[0055] An A/D conversion section (ADC) 14 as image pickup means
quantizes an analog signal output from the image sensor 12 for conversion
to a digital signal. Specifically, for example, the ADC 14 performs
reduction processing of noise contained in the analog signal, level
adjustment processing of the analog signal by gain control, quantization
processing, etc.
[0056] An image formation section 15 as image pickup means performs
image formation processing, white balance correction, y correction,
color space conversion, etc., for the digital signal output from
the ADC 14, and outputs image data representing R, G, and B gradation
values, Y, Cb, and Cr gradation values, etc., for each pixel. The
image formation processing mentioned here is processing of interpolating
a pixel made of one-color density information by different-color
density information of a nearby pixel, thereby outputting digital
image data having three gradation values of R, G, and B or Y, Cb,
and Cr for each pixel.
[0057] A compression-decompression section 16 as image pickup means
compresses or decompresses digital image data. Specifically, it
performs sequential conversion and entropy coding of digital image
data, thereby compressing the digital image data and performs inverse
conversion of the compressed digital image data, thereby decompressing
the digital image data. Specifically, for example, the compression-decompression
section compresses the digital image data using discrete cosine
transform, wavelet transform, run length coding, Huffman coding,
etc. The digital image data after being compressed is output to
a memory controller 17 as the subject image.
[0058] The memory controller 17 as record means stores the subject
image compressed by the compression-decompression section 16 in
removable memory 18 as nonvolatile memory.
[0059] An operation section 22 includes a dial switch 36, pushbutton
switches 31, 33, 34, and 35, across key 32, a shutter switch 30,
etc. The dial switch 36 is a dial switch for setting a mode such
as a photographing mode or a print mode in response to the rotation
angle of the switch. The pushbutton switch 31 is a switch for calling
a menu on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 24. The pushbutton switches
34 and 35 and the cross key 32 are switches for operating a menu
displayed on the LCD 24. The pushbutton switch 33 is a switch for
entering a print command. The shutter switch 30 is a switch for
entering a still image record command. In the photographing mode,
the user can enter a still image record command by pressing the
shutter switch 30.
[0060] The LCD 24 functions as an electronic view finder in the
photographing mode. A display controller 23 includes a frame buffer
for storing digital image data of one screen of the LCD 24 and a
display circuit for driving the LCD 24 based on the digital image
data stored in the frame buffer. In the photographing mode, a digital
moving image representing a subject, a digital still image representing
the whole or a part of an image to be combined with a still image
representing a subject, a channel to combine the two images, and
an object forming a menu are stored in the frame buffer. The display
circuit combines the objects stored in the frame buffer into one
for display on the LCD 24.
[0061] An interface section 26 is implemented in conformity with
the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard, for example. To transmit
data, one connector of a USB cable is inserted into a USB port of
the interface section 26 and an opposite connector is inserted into
a USB port of the printer 2, whereby the digital still camera 1
and the printer 2 are connected so that they can communicate with
each other.
[0062] The CPU 19 controls the whole digital still camera 1 by
executing a computer program stored in ROM 20. Work memory 21 is
memory for temporarily storing a program and data. The program and
various pieces of data stored in the ROM 20 may be downloaded through
a network from a predetermined server for storage in the ROM 20
or may be read from a computer-readable storage medium such as the
removable memory 18 for storage in the ROM 20.
[0063] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing to show directories of files
stored in the removable memory 18. The layout definition data defining
the layout to draw a subject image for a drawing medium of a specific
size is stored as a separate file from a digital still image representing
a subject (subject image). A first associating file describing information
to specify the pieces of layout definition data making up the same
layout definition data group and a second associating file describing
information to specify the first associating file are further stored
as separate files.
[0064] A file with extension ".jpg" contains a subject
image.
[0065] A file with extension ".usd" contains layout definition
data. The layout definition data is retained for each size of drawing
media. In the figure, it is assumed that daen0000.usd, daen0001.usd,
and daen0002.usd make up the same layout definition data group and
that the three layout definition data pieces define the layouts
for the drawing media of "A4," "L-format cut sheet,"
and "postcard" different in size. The eighth character
of each filename from the left thereof is a character indicating
the size of the drawing medium to which the layout definition data
is applied. Specifically, "0" indicates "A4,"
"1" indicates "L-format cut sheet," and "2"
indicates "postcard." Therefore, for example, it can be
recognized that "daen0000.usd" is layout definition data
defining the layout for "A4" from the character string
included in the filename. If the filename includes the character
string from which the size can be determined, the processing amount
required for determining the size can be decreased as compared with
the case where size information is described in the layout definition
data. The three layout definition data pieces making up the same
layout definition data group define the layouts having similitude
relation. Here, the similitude relation will be discussed. When
the layout defined by one layout definition data piece is scaled
up or down, if it matches the layout defined by a different layout
definition data piece, it is said that the layout defined by the
one layout definition data piece and the layout defined by the different
layout definition data piece have similitude relation. At this time,
the layout may be scaled up or down in the same ratio between the
length and the width or a different ratio. If a subject image is
to be associated with layout definition data, the subject image
is to be superposed on what position of the default image and is
to be drawn at what position of the drawing medium, namely, the
layout for drawing the subject image can be flexibly defined as
compared with the case where the subject image is simply associated
with the default image. The layout definition data is described
later in detail.
[0066] A file with extension ".usm" is a first associating
file. If a subject image is associated with the first associating
file, the subject image need not be associated with each of the
pieces of layout definition data making up the same layout definition
data group and the processing amount required for associating can
be decreased.
[0067] A file with extension ".ust" is a second associating
file. The second associating file is given a filename including
the same character string as the filename of the subject image to
be associated with the layout definition data group specified in
the first associating file specified in the second associating file.
Accordingly, the subject image is associated with the second associating
file. Therefore, in the example in FIG. 1, subject image 0001.jpg
is associated with second associating file 0001.ust. If the subject
image is associated with the second associating file, a plurality
of subject images can share the same first associating file. Therefore,
the need for duplicately storing the first associating file relative
to the same layout definition data group is eliminated and the capacity
of the removable memory 18 can be saved. Which subject image and
which second associating file are associated with each other can
be determined from the filenames, so that the processing amount
required for determining of associating can be decreased as compared
with the case where information of associating is described in the
second associating file.
[0068] A file with extension ".eff" contains a digital
still image (default image) to be combined with a subject image
based on the layout definition data.
[0069] A file with extension ".usf" contains a playback
apparatus thumbnail. The playback apparatus thumbnail is a thumbnail
image file for drawing the layout defined in the layout definition
data on a playback apparatus such as a printer or a personal computer.
[0070] A file with extension ".ctf" contains a camera
thumbnail. The camera thumbnail is a thumbnail image file for displaying
the layout defined in the layout definition data as an image on
the LCD 24 of the digital still camera 1. The camera thumbnail is
described later in detail. The default image, the playback apparatus
thumbnail, and the camera thumbnail are stored in the folder of
the same name as the filename of the first associating file describing
the information to specify the layout definition data defining the
layout displayed by the playback apparatus thumbnail and the camera
thumbnail. That is, the camera thumbnail and the first associating
file are associated with each other by the name of the folder in
which the camera thumbnail is stored.
[0071] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing to show the descriptions of
layout definition data 41. FIG. 6(A) is a schematic drawing to describe
a composite image drawn using the layout definition data 41. FIG.
6(B) is a plan view to show a postcard 40 as a drawing medium drawing
the composite image drawn using the layout definition data 41. The
layout of the subject image is defined in the layout definition
data 41 by a script. The script defines the drawing position of
the subject image, the drawing position of the default image, information
to specify the default image, etc., so that they can be interpreted
uniquely in a printer, etc. Specifically, for example, the script
defines the paper size (for example, "postcard"), information
to define the drawing medium orientation (for example, "portrait"),
information to define the subject image frame as the drawing position
of the subject image (for example, upper right coordinates of the
frame "(x1, y1)" and lower left coordinates of the frame
"(x2, y2)"), information to define rotation when the subject
image is placed in the frame (for example, "rotate 90 degrees
counterclockwise"), information to determine the image to be
combined with the subject image (default image) (for example, "birthday.eff"
as the path information of the default image), information to define
the default image frame as the drawing position of the default image
(for example, upper right coordinates of the frame "(x3, y3)"
and lower left coordinates of the frame "(x4, y4)"), etc.
The subject image and the default image are combined based on the
layout definition data, whereby a composite image applied to a drawing
medium of the specific size is created.
[0072] An .alpha. channel 42 may be stored in the layout definition
data 41. The .alpha. channel is information defining pixels of which
of two images to reflect on the composite image for each pixel when
the two images are superposed.
[0073] FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing to show the description contents
of daen.sub.--0.usm as a first associating file. In the figure,
"HdFilename=" represents a line on which information to
specify layout definition data is described, followed by description
of the path information of the layout definition data as the information
to specify layout definition data. The path information is information
that can specify the layout definition data uniquely; for example,
if the layout definition data can be uniquely specified solely by
the filename, only the file name may be used as the path information
or if the layout definition data having the same filename is stored
in a different directory and the layout definition data cannot be
specified solely by the filename, the information to specify the
directory and the filename may be used as the path information.
[0074] FIG. 8 is a drawing to show the description contents of
0001.ust as a second associating file. In the figure, "Hdusm="
represents a line on which information to specify the first associating
file is described, followed by description of the path information
of the first associating file as the information to specify the
first associating file.
[0075] The subject image and the layout definition data group may
be associated with each other, for example, as information to associate
them with each other is stored in the file of the subject image
or, for example, as they are stored in the same folder.
[0076] FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing to show the contents of a
camera thumbnail 43. The camera thumbnail 43 stores a digital still
image (whole thumbnail) 44 for representing the whole of the layout
defined in the layout definition data 41 and a digital still image
(partial thumbnail) 45 for representing the part of the default
image to be superposed on the subject image. The camera thumbnail
43 also stores an .alpha. channel 46 for combining the whole thumbnail
44 and the subject image into one for display and an .alpha. channel
47 for combining the partial thumbnail 45 and the subject image
into one for display. Preferably, the whole thumbnail 44, the partial
thumbnail 45, and the .alpha. channels 46 and 47 are compressed
in a data format such as JPEG. Further, the camera thumbnail 43
stores information to define the orientation of the whole thumbnail
44 (for example, "portrait"), information to define the
frame for placing the subject image (for example, upper right coordinates
of the frame "(x1, y1)" and lower left coordinates of
the frame "(x2, y2)"), information to define the orientation
of the frame for placing the subject image (for example, "portrait"),
etc., as subordinate information.
[0077] FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing to describe a print job.
Information such as the path information of the subject image, the
number of print sheets of the subject image, the paper size, print
at the photographing time executed/not executed, frame processing
executed/not executed, and print mode is specified for the print
job.
[0078] FIG. 11 is a flowchart to show a flow of storage processing
of a subject image in the removable memory 18. FIG. 12 is a schematic
drawing to show screen transition of the LCD 24. The processing
shown in FIG. 11 is started as the pushbutton switch 31 is pushed
in the photographing mode, and proceeds as the CPU 19 executes a
predetermined program stored in the ROM 20. That is, the CPU 19
functions as layout selection means and record means by executing
the predetermined program stored in the ROM 20.
[0079] At step S105, a screen 51 for making a request to select
a layout definition data group is displayed. The user pushes the
pushbutton switch 35 on the screen 51, thereby making a request
to select.
[0080] At step S110, the digital still camera detects the user
pressing the pushbutton switch 35 and displays the whole thumbnail
44 corresponding to the currently selected layout definition data
group as on a screen 52 in FIG. 12. Any one first associating file
is selected, whereby a layout can be selected without specifying
the paper size. Accordingly, if a plurality of layout definition
data groups exist, the layout definition data group with which the
subject image is to be associated for storage can be selected. Specifically,
since the name of the folder in which the camera thumbnail is stored
and the first associating file are given a common name (for example,
"daen.sub.--0"), the file name of the first associating
file is selected, whereby both the layout definition data group
and the camera thumbnail can be selected. A search is made for the
whole thumbnail 44 corresponding to the selected layout definition
data group based on the file name of the first associating file
and the whole thumbnail 44 is stored in the frame buffer of the
display controller 23 and is displayed on the LCD 24. After selecting
the first associating file, the user presses the shutter switch
30 to enter an output command of the subject image.
[0081] At step S115, the shutter switch 30 being pressed is detected
and the subject image output from the image formation section 15
and compressed by the compression-decompression section 16 is stored
in the removable memory 18 by the memory controller 17.
[0082] At step S120, a second associating file describing the path
information of the first associating file to specify the currently
selected layout definition data group is created and is given a
filename including the same character string as the subject image
and is stored in the folder. Consequently, the subject image is
stored in the removable memory 18 in association with the currently
selected layout definition data group.
[0083] FIG. 13 is a flowchart to show a processing flow of causing
the printer 2 to print a subject image. FIG. 14 is a schematic drawing
to show screen transition of the LCD 24. The processing shown in
FIG. 13 is started when the print mode is selected, and proceeds
as the CPU 19 executes a predetermined program stored in the ROM
20. That is, the CPU 19 functions as print setting means and print
control means by executing the predetermined program stored in the
ROM 20.
[0084] At step S205, a screen 53 for selecting the subject image
to be printed is displayed. The user can press the left or right
of the cross key 32 to display the stored subject images in order
for selecting one of the subject images. If the pushbutton switch
33 is pushed in a state in which the subject image to be printed
is displayed, the process goes to S210.
[0085] At S210, a screen 54 for specifying a selection method of
the subject image to be drawn is displayed. The screen 54 displays
three options of "print this image," "print all images,"
and "select and print" as options to specify a selection
method, and the user selects any one from among them with the cross
key 32. If "print this image" is selected, the subject
image displayed when the pushbutton switch 33 is pushed on the screen
53 is to be printed. If "print all images" is selected,
a plurality of subject images stored in the removable memory 18
are all to be printed. If "select and print" is selected,
the subject image to be printed can be selected from among a plurality
of subject images stored in the removable memory 18 and a print
command can be entered in batch for the selected subject images.
Details of "print all images" and "select and print"
are omitted. In the description that follows, the case where "print
this image" is selected is taken as an example:
[0086] At S215, a screen 55 to enter a print setting command and
a print command is displayed. If the pushbutton switch 31 is pushed
on the screen 55, the process goes to S220.
[0087] In the embodiment, if the pushbutton switch 35 is pushed
on the screen 55, a transition is made to the screen 52 in FIG.
12 to change associating of a layout definition data group and a
subject image with each other. Accordingly, the user can again associate
a subject image with a layout definition data group different from
the layout definition data group selected when the subject image
is output. That is, the default image to be combined with the subject
image can be changed after photographing.
[0088] At S220, a screen 56 to enter print settings is displayed.
The screen 56 displays "paper size" as a menu item to
select the size of a drawing medium. The user can move a cursor
to "paper size" with the cross key 32 and can press the
right or left of the cross key 32, thereby selecting the objective
size from among the preset sizes. The preset size refers to the
size to which any of the layout definition data pieces making up
the layout definition data group associated with the currently selected
subject image is applied. For example, assume that the layout definition
data pieces making up the layout definition data group are three
data pieces of daen0000.usd, daen0001.usd, and daen0002.usd, which
define the layouts for drawing media of the sizes of "A4,"
"L-format cut sheet," and "postcard" respectively.
In this case, only "A4," "L-format cut sheet,"
and "postcard" are displayed as the options. The screen
56 also displays menu items to select frame processing and the image
quality in addition to the paper size. Details of the menu items
are omitted. If the pushbutton switch 34 is pressed after settings,
the process goes to S225.
[0089] At S225, again the screen 55 is displayed and the user pushes
the pushbutton switch 33 to enter a print command.
[0090] At S230, the digital still camera 1 detects the user pressing
the pushbutton switch 33 and sets a print job from the path information
of the subject image, the number of print sheets, the paper size,
etc.
[0091] At S235, the second associating file containing the same
character string as the filename of the subject image specified
by the path information contained in the print job is read from
the removable memory 18 and the path information of the first associating
file is acquired from the second associating file.
[0092] At S240, the layout definition data pieces making up the
layout definition data group with which the subject image is associated
are determined according to the first associating file determined
by the acquired path information and a print command shown in FIG.
15 is generated from the path information of the layout definition
data piece defining the layout for the size set in the print job
from among the determined layout definition data pieces and the
print job. As shown in the figure, the print command contains the
path information of the layout definition data in addition to the
information contained in the print job. At this time, the CPU 19
determines the layout definition data applied to the setup size
by the character string included in the filename of the layout definition
data. For example, if L-format cut sheet is selected, the path information
of the layout definition data with the filename including "1"
in the eighth character thereof is set in the print command.
[0093] At S245, the generated print command is output to the printer
2 for commanding the printer to print.
[0094] At S250, the printer 2 reads the subject image and the layout
definition data from the digital still camera 1 based on the output
print command, interprets the layout definition data, combines the
default image with the subject image according to the layout defined
in the layout definition data, and generates raster data from the
composite image. Next, the printer prints the generated raster data
on print paper of the size set in the print command. Accordingly,
the subject image is drawn on the drawing medium.
[0095] According to the digital still camera 1 according to the
embodiment of the invention described above, the output subject
image is associated with the layout definition data group. Therefore,
as the associating is changed, the default image to be combined
with the subject image can be changed. Since the subject image is
associated with the layout definition data group, the size of a
drawing medium is not specified and when the subject image is drawn,
the size can be selected. Thus, according to the digital still camera
1, the subject image can be stored so that the default image to
be combined with the subject image can be changed after the subject
image is photographed, and that the size of a drawing medium to
draw the composite image provided by combining the default image
with the subject image can be selected after the subject image is
photographed.
[0096] The embodiment has been described by taking the case where
the print job is set in the digital still camera 1 as an example.
However, the printer 2 may be provided with a reader for reading
the removable memory 18 and the digital still camera 1 may execute
up to storing of the subject image the removable memory 18 and the
printer 2 may set a print job and control print, etc.
[0097] The print system may be made up of the digital still camera
1, the printer 2, and a personal computer.
[0098] The embodiment has been described by taking the digital
still camera as an example, but the invention may be applied to
a digital video camera. |