JP3705201B2 - Image forming program and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming program and an image forming apparatus for forming an image by a computer, and more particularly to an image forming program and an image forming apparatus for simultaneously forming an image and character data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the use of image databases for organizing images taken with the spread of digital cameras has increased. These image databases can be searched and browsed by an image forming program installed in the computer. When organizing the images, a comment corresponding to each image is input, and each image and the comment corresponding to each image can be simultaneously displayed on the display screen for browsing.
[0003]
There are also many sites (hereinafter referred to as “Web Photo Sites”) in which image data is distributed on a server accessible via the Internet and images can be viewed from anywhere. In this case, the above-described image forming program is arranged on the server, and each user can operate the image database by accessing the Web Photo site.
[0004]
On these Web Photo sites, an unspecified person can view images and send comments on each image. Each image and comments from a plurality of persons corresponding to each image can be simultaneously displayed on the display screen for browsing.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described conventional image forming program can add a comment to each image. However, when many comments are posted, it is difficult to determine which part of the image is a comment. For this reason, there is a problem in that it is not easy to use when it is desired to acquire information about a part of an image.
[0006]
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming program and an image forming apparatus that can improve user convenience.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a designation unit that designates a plurality of designated areas that designate partial areas for an image based on an instruction from an operator, and each of the designated designated areas. On the other hand, input means for inputting character data by a plurality of operators, the image in which the plurality of designated areas are displayed with different display attributes for each designated area, and each designated area separately from the image An image forming means for forming an output image comprising a character data display unit that collectively displays character data corresponding to the display, and a display for setting the display attribute of the character data corresponding to the display attribute of the corresponding designated area And an attribute setting means .
[0008]
According to this configuration, the image data includes data of the entire image, data indicating the range of the designated area, and data such as a comment for the image in the designated area. The entire image including the designated area and the character data are displayed on the display device or the print medium by a predetermined operation. At this time, the plurality of designated areas are displayed with different display attributes, and the character data is displayed with different display attributes according to the display attributes of the corresponding designated areas. As display attributes of each specified area, the color used when converting the image in the specified area, the color / type / thickness of the border of the specified area, the shape of the specified area, the symbols / characters added to the specified area -The color and content of figures can be changed. As the display attributes of each character data, the color of the character data, the color and contents of the symbols / characters / graphics added to the character data, and the like are variable.
[0009]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the display attribute changing means changes the display attributes of the designated area and the character data corresponding to each other to be the same .
[0010]
In the present invention, the display color of the frame of the designated area is different for each designated area, and the display attribute changing means makes the display colors of the frame of the designated area and the character data corresponding to each other the same. It is characterized by changing to .
[0011]
An image forming program to be executed by the computer according to the present invention includes a designation step of designating a plurality of designated areas in which a partial area is designated for an image based on an instruction of an operator by a designation unit; For each of the above, an input step in which a plurality of operators input character data using an input means, the images in which the plurality of designated areas are displayed with different display attributes for each designated area, and the images separately from each other An image forming step of forming an output image formed by a character data display unit collectively displaying character data corresponding to the designated area of the designated area by the image forming means, and a display attribute of the character data corresponding to a display attribute of the designated area And a display attribute setting step set by display attribute setting means.
[0012]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that in the display attribute changing step, the display attributes of the designated area and the character data corresponding to each other are changed to be the same.
In the present invention, the display color of the frame of the designated area is different for each designated area. In the display attribute changing step, the display color of the frame of the designated area and the character data corresponding to each other are the same. It is characterized by changing to.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 are flowcharts showing the operation of the image forming program of the first embodiment. The image forming program of this embodiment is provided in an Internet server. The image forming program can be operated by accessing the Web Photo site established on the server via the Internet.
[0014]
First, the user accesses the Web Photo site using an arbitrary Web browser (step # 11). As a result, the image forming program is activated, and a login screen 10 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display screen in step # 12.
[0015]
If the user has already obtained the user ID, the user can log in by selecting the GO button 13 after entering the user ID and password in the text boxes 11 and 12, respectively (step # 13). Thereby, the process proceeds to step # 15, and the “folder selection” process shown in FIG. 2 is called. When the end button 15 is selected, the image forming program ends.
[0016]
If the user has not acquired the user ID yet, the user registration button 14 is selected and the process proceeds to step # 14, and the user registration screen 20 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display screen. The user inputs the first name, last name, and e-mail address in the text boxes 21, 22, and 23, respectively.
[0017]
Further, after entering a desired user ID and password in the text boxes 24 and 25, respectively, the password is again entered in the text box 26 to confirm the password. Thereafter, when the user registration button 27 is selected, the user can log in, and the process proceeds to step # 15 to call the “folder selection” process of FIG. When the end button 28 is selected, the image forming program ends.
[0018]
In the “folder selection” process, a folder selection screen 30 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. A list box 32 is provided in the folder selection screen 30. A list box 32 displays a list of folder names in which image files are stored, and the user can scroll the scroll bar 31 to browse the folders.
[0019]
In FIG. 2, it is monitored in step # 16 whether or not an event has occurred. When an event occurs, processing corresponding to each event is performed. The user scrolls with the scroll bar 31 to select a desired folder. When the selection button 33 is selected, the process proceeds to step # 17, and the “image list” process shown in FIG. 3 is called. When the return button 34 is selected, the process proceeds to step # 18 to return to the login screen 10 of FIG. When the end button 35 is selected, the image forming program can be ended.
[0020]
In the “image list” process, an image list screen 40 as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed, and a list of image files in the selected folder is displayed. A list box 41 is provided in the image list screen 40. In the list box 41, the images of the image files stored in the database on the Internet server are displayed in a reduced size, and the user can scroll and view the images by operating the scroll bar 44.
[0021]
In FIG. 3, in step # 21, it is monitored whether or not an event has occurred. When an event occurs, processing corresponding to each event is performed. When the upload button 48 is selected, the process proceeds to step # 22 to display the file designation screen 60 shown in FIG. On the file designation screen 60, an image file can be designated.
[0022]
The file designation screen 60 is provided with a plurality of text boxes 61 for inputting file names of image files to be uploaded on an Internet server. The user inputs the file name of the image file stored in the local folder in the text box 61. Further, an image file can be searched from the local folder and a file name can be input to the text box 61 by operating the reference button 62.
[0023]
When the execute button 64 is selected after the file name is input, the designated file is uploaded in step # 23, and the image file is added on the Web Photo site. Then, returning to step # 21, the image list screen 40 of FIG. 10 is displayed. If the return button 63 is selected in steps # 22 and # 23, the upload is not performed and the process returns to step # 21 and the image list screen 40 is displayed. When the end button 65 is selected, the image forming program ends.
[0024]
When the delete button 49 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 21) on the image list screen 40, the process proceeds to step # 25 and the image file is deleted. Each image 52 displayed in the list box 41 is appended with a file name 52a and a check box 52b. The image file checked in the check box 52b in advance is deleted from the Web Photo site by selecting the delete button 49.
[0025]
When the display button 43 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 21) of the image list screen 40, the process proceeds to step # 26. In step # 26, the number of images displayed on one screen is changed to the number designated by the combo box 42. When the previous page button 46 or the next page button 47 is selected, the process proceeds to steps # 27 and # 28, respectively, and the previous page or next page screen is displayed. When the return button 50 is selected, the “folder selection” process shown in FIG. 2 is called.
[0026]
When the image 52 in the list box 41 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 21) on the image list screen 40, the process proceeds to step # 30 and the “comment bulletin board” process of FIG. 4 is called. The image 52 is selected by clicking the mouse or double-clicking. When the end button 51 is selected, the image forming program ends.
[0027]
In the “comment bulletin board” process, a comment bulletin board screen 70 as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. Since the Web Photo site is provided on an Internet server, anyone can access and view the same image file. A comment database is made public on the bulletin board of the Web Photo site by each user sending a comment about the displayed image to the server.
[0028]
On the comment bulletin board screen 70, an entire image 73 of the selected image file, a text box 71 for inputting a comment, and a list box 72 for displaying a list of comments published on the bulletin board are displayed. The user can scroll and view comments by operating the scroll bar 72a of the list box 72.
[0029]
In FIG. 4, in step # 31, it is monitored whether or not an event has occurred. When an event occurs, processing corresponding to each event is performed. If a part of the whole image 73 is dragged by a pointing device such as a mouse, the process proceeds to step # 32, and if the designated area 73a is already displayed, it is deleted and the designated area is designated as the designated area 73a. 73. And it returns to step # 31 and will be in an event monitoring state.
[0030]
As a result, images can be browsed for each desired designated area 73a, and comments can be managed for each designated area 73a. Note that the area designation method of the present embodiment designates two vertices of a rectangular area by dragging with a mouse or the like. The area may be specified by other methods such as sequentially clicking each vertex of the polygon.
[0031]
When the add button 74 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 31), the process proceeds to step # 33. In step # 33, the displayed range of the designated area 73a is acquired, and in step # 34, a comment composed of text (character data) in the text box 71 is acquired.
[0032]
In step # 35, the designated area 73a and the comment are included in the image data, stored in the server, and added to the bulletin board as a comment related to the designated area 73a. Thereafter, the process returns to step # 31 to enter the event monitoring state. If the designated area 73a is not displayed, it is added to the bulletin board as a comment for the entire image 73.
[0033]
When a comment in the list box 72 is instructed by clicking the mouse or the like from the event monitoring state (step # 31), the process proceeds to step # 36. In step # 36, the designated area 73a corresponding to the instructed comment is displayed, and the process returns to step # 31 to enter the event monitoring state. When the add button 74 is selected after this operation, the comment is processed as a comment related to the designated area 73a displayed. If the comment is for the entire image 73, the designated area 73a is not displayed.
[0034]
A check box 72b is provided at the head of each comment in the list box 72. When the above-mentioned add button 74 is selected after the check box 72b is checked, it is published on the bulletin board as a response to the checked comment.
[0035]
When the clear button 75 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 31), the process proceeds to step # 37 and the input data in the text box 71 is deleted. When the delete button 76 is selected, the process proceeds to step # 38 to delete the user's own comment checked in the check box 72b from the bulletin board. Thereafter, the process returns to step # 31 to enter the event monitoring state.
[0036]
When the return button 78 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 31), the “image list” process shown in FIG. 3 is called, and when the end button 79 is selected, the image forming program ends. If the print button 77 is selected, the process proceeds to step # 40 to call the “print setting” process shown in FIG.
[0037]
In the “print setting” process, a print comment selection screen 80 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. The print comment selection screen 80 is provided with a list box 81 for displaying a list of comments. The user can scroll the list box 81 by operating the scroll bar 81a to browse the comments and select a comment to be printed.
[0038]
In FIG. 5, in step # 51, it is monitored whether or not an event has occurred. When an event occurs, processing corresponding to each event is performed. When the check box 82 arranged at the head of each comment is checked and a desired comment is selected, the process proceeds to step # 52. In step # 52, the selected comment is added to the print target, and the process returns to step # 51 to enter the event monitoring state.
[0039]
Below the list box 81, a return button 83 and a “next” button 84 are arranged. When the return button 83 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 51), the "comment bulletin board" process shown in FIG. 4 is called at step # 53. When the end button 87 is selected, the image forming program ends (step # 55). When the “next” button 84 is selected, the “preview display” process shown in FIG. 6 is called.
[0040]
In the “preview display” process, a print preview screen 90 shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. The print preview screen 90 displays a layout according to the image printed on the print medium. On the print preview screen 90, the entire image 91 of the image file is displayed at the top.
[0041]
In the overall image 91, designated areas 91a to 91f (corresponding to 73a in FIG. 12) are displayed. The designated areas 91a to 91f are displayed in different colors. For example, black, blue, red, green, yellow, pink, and purple colors can be used, and these colors are sequentially assigned to the designated areas 91a to 91f.
[0042]
Below the entire image 91, comments 92a to 92f selected in the “print setting” process are displayed. Comments 92a to 92f corresponding to the designated areas 91a to 91f are displayed in the same color as the frame lines of the designated areas 91a to 91f. For example, the comment 92a corresponding to the designated area 91a is displayed in black.
[0043]
Similarly, the comments 92b, 92c, 92d, 92e, and 92f are displayed in blue, red, green, yellow, and pink, respectively. As a result, the user can easily grasp the correspondence between the designated area and the comment, and the usability of the Web Photo site can be improved.
[0044]
Further, when each pixel of the entire image that overlaps the frame line of the designated area has the same color as the frame line, it is difficult to identify the designated area. For this reason, when the difference between the average hue of each pixel and the average hue of the frame line is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the next usable color is assigned.
[0045]
In addition, when the number of designated areas is larger than the number of usable colors, it may be distributed to a plurality of pages. For example, if there are 7 colors that can be used and there are 8 or more designated areas, 7 designated areas are displayed on the first page and the remaining 1 or more designated areas are displayed on the second page. Misidentification of correspondence with comments can be prevented.
[0046]
In FIG. 6, in step # 43, it is monitored whether or not an event has occurred. When an event occurs, processing corresponding to each event is performed. When the previous page button 93 and the next page button 94 are selected, the print image of the previous page or the next page is displayed in steps # 44 and # 45, respectively. And it returns to an event monitoring state.
[0047]
When the print execution button 95 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 43), the process proceeds to step # 46 and printing is performed with the same image as the print preview screen 90. When printing is completed, the “comment bulletin board process” shown in FIG. 4 is called in step # 47. When the return button 96 is selected, the “print setting” process shown in FIG. 5 is called, and when the end button 97 is selected, the image forming program ends.
[0048]
According to this embodiment, since the frame lines of the designated areas 91a to 91f and the comments 92a to 92f corresponding to the designated areas 91a to 91f are displayed or printed in the same color, the correspondence between the designated areas and the comments is clear. Become. Therefore, the comment corresponding to the designated area can be easily grasped, and the user convenience can be improved. In addition, the contents of comments corresponding to a large number of designated areas can be easily grasped even in an environment without a computer by printing, and the convenience of the user can be improved.
[0049]
In addition to making the border color of the designated area and the color of the comment the same, the same effect can be obtained by making the display attribute of the designated area and the display attribute of the comment corresponding to the designated area the same. Can do.
[0050]
As the display attributes of the specified area, the color used when converting the image in the specified area, the color / line type / thickness of the border of the specified area, the shape of the specified area, the symbols / characters added to the specified area, Examples include the color and contents of graphics. The display attributes of comments (character data) include the color of character data, the color and contents of symbols, characters, and figures added to the character data. Of these, at least one of the display attributes of the designated area may be matched with at least one of the display attributes of the comment.
[0051]
For example, it is possible to convert a color tone by mixing a predetermined mixed color with an image in a designated area, and display a comment using the mixed color. As an example, red may be mixed with the image in the designated area to convert it into a reddish image, and the color of the comment corresponding to the designated area may be red. Alternatively, the image in the designated area may be converted into an image that is hatched with the same color as the comment.
[0052]
Also, as shown in FIG. 15, the shape of the designated area 91f may be the same as the shape of the symbol A added to the head of the comment 92f (in this case, an ellipse). As shown in FIG. 16, the character B1 added to the designated area 91f may be the same as the character B2 added to the head of the comment 92f. As shown in FIG. 17, the frame type of the designated area 91f may be the same as the content of the symbol C added to the head of the comment 92f. In either case, the same effects as described above can be obtained. 15 to 17, the same parts as those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0053]
Next, FIG. 18 shows a print preview screen 90 of the image forming program of the second embodiment. Portions other than the print preview screen 90 are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 14, and the same portions as those in FIG. In the print preview screen 90 of the present embodiment, the entire image 91 is arranged at the approximate center. As in the first embodiment, the display attributes of the designated areas 91a to 91g in the entire image 91 are the same as the display attributes of the corresponding comments.
[0054]
Around the entire image 91, a comment display area is divided into an upper left portion 90a, a lower left portion 91b, an upper right portion 91c, and a lower right portion 91d. Then, comments corresponding to the designated areas 91a and 91c arranged at the upper left in the entire image 91 are arranged in the upper left 90a.
[0055]
Similarly, a comment corresponding to the designated area 91b arranged at the lower left in the entire image 91 is arranged at the lower left 90b. Comments corresponding to designated areas 91d and 91g arranged at the upper right in the entire image 91 are arranged in the upper right part 90c. Comments corresponding to the designated areas 91e and 91f arranged at the lower right in the entire image 91 are arranged in the lower right 90d. Therefore, the correspondence between the designated area and the comment becomes clearer than in the first embodiment, and the user's usability can be further improved.
[0056]
In the first and second embodiments, designation of the designated area 73a (see FIG. 12) and input of a comment are performed by the “comment bulletin board” process (see FIG. 4). The image data file in which the designated area and the comment are already written may be displayed or printed by the same image forming program as in the first and second embodiments.
[0057]
In the first and second embodiments, the image forming program is provided on a server on the Internet. However, the image forming program can be installed on a local drive and used stand-alone.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the display attribute of the character data is varied according to the display attribute of the corresponding designated area, the correspondence relationship between the designated area and the character data becomes clear. Therefore, comments corresponding to some areas can be easily grasped, and user convenience can be improved. In addition, the contents of comments corresponding to a large number of designated areas can be easily grasped even in an environment without a computer by printing, and the convenience for the user can be improved.
[0059]
Further, according to the present invention, the display attributes such as the frame color of the designated area and the display attributes such as the color of the character data are made the same, so the correspondence between the designated area and the character data can be easily clarified. .
[0060]
According to the present invention, since the character data corresponding to the designated area is arranged around the entire image and in the vicinity of the designated area, the correspondence between the designated area and the character data can be further clarified. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming program according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing folder selection processing of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing image list processing of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing comment bulletin board processing of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing print setting processing of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing preview display processing of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a login screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a user registration screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a folder selection screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image list screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a file designation screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a comment bulletin board screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a print setting screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a preview display screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another preview display screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another preview display screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing another preview display screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a preview display screen of the image forming program according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Login screen 20 User registration screen 30 Folder selection screen 40 Image list screen 60 File selection screen 70 Comment bulletin board screen 73, 91 Whole image 73a, 91a-91g Designated area 80 Print setting screen 90 Print preview screen 90a Upper left part 90b Lower left part 90c Upper right part 90d Lower right part 92a-92f Comments

Claims (6)

A designation means for designating a plurality of designated areas in which a partial area is designated for an image based on an instruction from an operator ;
For each of the specified area designated, an input means for a plurality of operator performs the input character data,
An output image including the image in which the plurality of designated areas are displayed with different display attributes for each designated area, and a character data display unit that separately displays character data corresponding to each designated area separately from the image Image forming means for forming
Display attribute setting means for setting the display attribute of the character data corresponding to the display attribute of the corresponding designated area;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display attribute setting unit sets the display attributes of the designated area and the character data corresponding to each other to be the same. The display color of the frame of the designated area is different for each designated area,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display attribute setting unit sets the display color of the frame of the designated area corresponding to each other and the display color of the character data to be the same. A designation step of designating a plurality of designated areas in which a partial area is designated for an image based on an instruction from an operator by a designation means;
An input step in which a plurality of operators input character data with input means for each of the specified designated areas;
An output image including the image in which the plurality of designated areas are displayed with different display attributes for each designated area, and a character data display unit that separately displays character data corresponding to each designated area separately from the image An image forming step of forming an image by an image forming means;
A display attribute setting step for setting a display attribute of the character data by a display attribute setting means corresponding to the display attribute of the corresponding designated area;
An image forming program that causes a computer to execute the above .   5. The image forming program according to claim 4, wherein the display attribute setting step sets the display attributes of the designated area and the character data corresponding to each other to be the same. The display color of the frame of the designated area is different for each designated area,
The image forming program according to claim 4, wherein the display attribute setting step sets the display color of the frame of the designated area and the character data corresponding to each other to be the same.

Images