JP7613033B2 - Photographic equipment and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a photographic device and a program for the same.

Sightseeing spots and event venues are often equipped with stationary photography devices (see, for example, Patent Document 1) that allow users to take chromakey photographs by themselves and then combine the user's image with a template (background image).

Normally, when a user selects a template and performs multiple chromakey photographs, an image is provided in which one user image obtained during each photograph is combined with the template for each photograph taken. On the other hand, Patent Document 1 describes providing a group photograph in which multiple user images taken multiple times are arranged within a single template.

JP 2020-127165 A

Currently, there is a demand for such photography devices to provide users with more interesting images through simple operations, thereby increasing customer attraction.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a photography device etc. that can provide the user with interesting images through simple operations.

A first invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a photography device comprising: a photography unit that takes chromakey photography of a user multiple times; a template selection unit that accepts selection of a template onto which the user image is to be superimposed; a display control unit that allows the range of the template onto which the user image is to be superimposed to be selected on the display unit when each chromakey photography is taken, and displays the user image in live view on the display unit with that range as a background; and a photo generation unit that generates a composite image in which each of the multiple user images obtained by each chromakey photography is superimposed on the range of the template selected when each chromakey photography is taken, wherein a plurality of split images obtained by dividing the template for each range are stored in a memory unit, and the display control unit displays the user image with the split images as the background .
A second invention is a photography device comprising an imaging unit that performs chromakey photography of a user multiple times; a template selection unit that accepts selection of a template on which to superimpose the user image; a display control unit that makes it possible to select on a display unit the range of the template on which to superimpose the user image when performing each chromakey photography, and displays a live view of the user image on the display unit with that range as a background; and a photo generation unit that generates a composite image in which each of the multiple user images obtained by each chromakey photography is superimposed on the range of the template selected when performing each chromakey photography, wherein the display control unit disables photography if the range of the template displayed on the display unit is the range that was selected as the range on which to superimpose the user image during a previous photography session.

In the present invention, a composite image is generated by superimposing multiple user images obtained by performing multiple chromakey shots on a large template such as a long template. Furthermore, the range in which the user images are superimposed can be selected by the user while displaying the user images in live view on the display unit, so that an interesting composite image that matches the user's preferences can be easily obtained, and it is also possible to provide a composite image with a story, for example.

In the first invention, by using the divided images, it is possible to reduce the processing load associated with the selection of the range of the template.

Furthermore, in the second invention , it is possible to prevent the same template range from being photographed multiple times.

It is also desirable for the photo generation unit to create a composite image in which each of the multiple user images obtained by each chromakey shooting is positioned in a position corresponding to the range of the template selected when performing each chromakey shooting, and to generate the composite image by combining the composite image with the entire image of the template.
This reduces the processing load involved in generating a composite image.

A third invention is a program for causing a computer provided in a photography device having a photography unit that performs multiple chromakey photography of a user to function as a template selection unit that accepts selection of a template onto which a user image is to be superimposed, a display control unit that makes it possible to select the range of the template onto which the user image is to be superimposed on a display unit when performing each chromakey photography, and displays the user image in live view on the display unit with that range as a background, and a photo generation unit that generates a composite image in which each of the multiple user images obtained by each chromakey photography is superimposed on the range of the template selected when performing each chromakey photography, wherein the computer has stored in a memory unit a number of divided images obtained by dividing a template for each of the ranges, and the display control unit displays the user image with the divided images as the background .
A fourth invention is a program for causing a computer provided in a photography device having a photography unit that performs multiple chromakey photography of a user to function as: a template selection unit that accepts selection of a template onto which a user image is to be superimposed; a display control unit that makes it possible to select the range of the template onto which the user image is to be superimposed on a display unit when performing each chromakey photography, and displays the user image in live view on the display unit with that range as a background; and a photo generation unit that generates a composite image in which each of the multiple user images obtained by each chromakey photography is superimposed on the range of the template selected when performing each chromakey photography, wherein the display control unit disables photography when the range of the template displayed on the display unit is the range that was selected as the range onto which the user image was to be superimposed during a previous photography session.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a photography device etc. that can provide users with interesting images through simple operations.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view showing the configuration of the photographic device 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the photographing device 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a control device 10 of the photographic device 1. 4 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of processing executed by the photographing device 1. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a shooting process. 4 shows an example of a template selection screen 41. 1 shows an example of a live view screen 43 and divided images 51a to 51d. 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining a synthesis image 61 and a synthesis image 8 . 4 shows an example of a live view screen 43. An example of template 51. 4 shows an example of a guide screen 48.

The following describes in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

(1. Photography device 1)
Fig. 1 is a side perspective view showing the configuration of a photographing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the photographing device 1. Fig. 1 shows a box-type photographing device 1 as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the box type and can be applied to a photographing device 1 of any shape, such as an open type.

Photographic device 1 is used by users to take pictures of themselves, and is a photographic device installed, for example, at tourist spots, event venues, amusement facilities, on the street, etc. Photographic device 1 has a function of printing images taken by the user as photographs (photography service), and a function of uploading the images to a server (not shown) and enabling downloading from the user's terminal (image upload service).

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the photography device 1 according to this embodiment has a box-like appearance in which a user enters to take pictures, and within the housing 100 are a control device 10, a strobe unit 20, a light source 21, a photography section 30, a display section (monitor) 40, an audio output section 50, a coin mechanism 60, an operation section 70, a printer 80, a communication control section 90, a green screen 101, etc.

The control device 10 is a computer that controls the operation of the entire photography device 1, and has a configuration in which a control unit 11, an I/O (Input/Output) control 12, an I/F (Interface) 13, a memory unit 14, a RAM 15, a DVD memory unit 16, etc. are connected via a bus.

The control device 10 is connected to the strobe unit 20, coin mechanism 60, and operation unit 70 via the I/O control 12, and is connected to the printer 80 and communication control unit 90 via the I/F 13.

The control unit 11 centrally controls each part of the photographic device 1. The control unit 11 performs control operations according to various processing programs of the photographic device 1 stored in the memory unit 14.

The I/O control 12 is an interface for inputting and outputting various information between the control unit 11 and the strobe unit 20, coin mech 60, operation unit 70, etc., and the I/F 13 is an interface for inputting and outputting various information between the control unit 11 and the printer 80 and communication control unit 90.

The storage unit 14 stores various processing programs that can be executed by the photography device 1, data required to execute the programs, etc. The RAM 15 functions as a temporary storage area for the processing programs executed by the control unit 11 and the results of the processing.

The DVD storage unit 16 is for updating the data stored in the storage unit 14. The administrator of the photography device 1 updates the data stored in the storage unit 14 via the DVD storage unit 16.

The strobe unit 20 is connected to a light source (strobe) 21 for illumination located in front of the user, and controls the timing and amount of light emitted by the light source 21 according to a control signal input from the control unit 11.

The photographing unit 30 is a digital camera that is composed of an optical lens, a photographing element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor), an A/D (Analog/Digital) conversion unit, etc.

The image capturing unit 30 captures images in accordance with a control signal input from the control unit 11, and outputs the captured images (including still images and videos) to the control unit 11. Details of the image capturing process will be described later.

The display unit 40 is a touch panel display such as a liquid crystal display, and displays display data according to a display signal input from the control unit 11.

The audio output unit 50 acquires predetermined audio data from the storage unit 14 in accordance with a control signal input from the control unit 11, and outputs the data from the speaker. The audio output unit 50 outputs audio data corresponding to guidance information stored in the storage unit 14, for example.

The coin mech 60 is a billing processing unit that has a coin and bill deposit port, a change refund port, etc. The coin mech 60 outputs information about the amount deposited from the deposit port to the control unit 11, and in accordance with a control signal input from the control unit 11, ejects coins and bills according to the change amount from the refund port. It is desirable to further include an electronic money processing unit so that billing processing can be performed using electronic money.

The operation unit 70 is composed of various operation buttons, a touch panel integrally configured with the display unit 40, etc., and sends control signals to the control unit 11 in response to operations by the user.

The printer 80 prints the image captured by the user on a specified sheet of paper in accordance with a control signal input from the control unit 11. The printer 80 is a high-resolution color printer, and any type of printer can be used, such as dye-sublimation or melt-type.

The communication control unit 90 controls communication of the photography device 1 via the network 4.

The green back 101 is provided on the surface facing the photographing unit 30 inside the photographing device 1, i.e., on the surface that serves as the user's background. The green back 101 may be a roll screen of a background color (e.g., a single color such as green or blue) for chromakey processing, or it may be a display device (background monitor) that displays the background color. It is desirable to make the color of the green back 101 changeable so that it does not overlap with the color of the user's clothing.

(2. Functions of the Photographic Device 1)
Next, the functional configuration of the photographing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 10 of the photography device 1 has a background removal unit 31, a template selection unit 32, a display control unit 33, a photo generation unit 34, etc.

In the present invention, the image capture unit 30 performs multiple chromakey captures. The background removal unit 31 performs known chromakey processing to remove the background from the image captured by the image capture unit 30, and generates a user image.

The template selection unit 32 accepts the selection of a template on which to superimpose a user image. The template selection unit 32 displays a template selection screen (described later) on the display unit 40, and accepts the selection of a template by operation on the screen.

When chromakey photography is performed by the photography unit 30, the display control unit 33 allows the range of the template on which the user image is to be superimposed to be selected on the display unit 40, and displays the user image in live view on the display unit 40 with the selected range as the background. The live view display is a real-time display of the user image in the video being photographed by the photography unit 30.

The photo generation unit 34 generates a composite image by superimposing each of the multiple user images obtained by each chromakey shooting on the range of the template selected when performing each chromakey shooting. The generated composite image is input to the printer 80 and printed as a photograph.

(3. Processing of the Photographic Device 1)
Next, the flow of processing executed by the photographic device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 etc. Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the processing of the photographic device 1, and each step of Fig. 4 is executed by the control device 10 of the photographic device 1 by controlling each part of the photographic device 1.

The user first enters the photographing device 1 and selects a menu on the top screen displayed on the display unit 40. In the menu selection, various menus including photographing can be selected. The photographing device 1 accepts the menu selection on the top screen (S101), and causes the display unit 40 to display a message encouraging payment according to the selected menu. Here, it is assumed that the user has selected to generate a composite image, which will be described later, and the user deposits money into the coin mechanism 60 after checking the message displayed on the display unit 40. It is preferable that the deposit can be made by electronic money as well as cash.

When the photography device 1 accepts the payment (S102), it starts the photography process for the user (S103).

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the photographing process in S103. In S103, the photographing device 1 first displays a template selection screen on the display unit 40 and accepts the selection of a template (S201).

Figure 6 is an example of the template selection screen 41. On the template selection screen 41, a plurality of horizontally long templates 51 are displayed for selection. On the template selection screen 41, the entire image of the template 51 is displayed in a reduced size, and the data of the original entire image is stored in advance in the storage unit 14. Note that, although the number of times of shooting is preset to four in this embodiment, the number of times of shooting may be two or more, and the number of times of shooting may be selected by the user.

When a template 51 is selected by a user's touch operation, the photography device 1 displays the selected template 51 on the display unit 40, and performs a live view display of the user's image with the template 51 as the background on the display unit 40 (S202). The user's image is obtained by performing a known chromakey process on the video being shot by the shooting unit 30.

Figure 7 (a) is an example of a live view screen 43 on which a live view display of a user image 62 is performed in S202. A portion of the template 51 is displayed as the background on the live view screen 43. The live view screen 43 also displays a confirmation button 45 and a button 46 to change the display range of the template 51, along with a message 44 such as "Move the background and press the confirm button" that accepts the change and confirmation of the display range of the template 51.

The user can change the range of the template 51 displayed on the live view screen 43 by touching the display range change button 46. This range becomes the range of the template 51 on which the user image 62 is superimposed in the composite image described below. As mentioned above, the template 51 is long horizontally, and the left and right ranges of the currently displayed range can be displayed by touching the left and right buttons 46.

In this embodiment, in addition to the entire image of the template 51, as shown in FIG. 7(b), multiple divided images 51a-51d obtained by dividing the template 51 into left and right halves are stored in the memory unit 14, and the divided images 51a-51d to be displayed are changed by touching the buttons 46. For example, in FIG. 7(a), divided image 51b is displayed as the background, and by touching the left button 46, divided image 51a in the left range of divided image 51b is displayed as the background, and by touching the right button 46, divided image 51c in the right range of divided image 51b is displayed as the background. The number of divided images 51a-51d corresponds to the number of times the user has taken a photograph, and in this embodiment, it is four.

When the user touches the decision button 45, the photography device 1 decides that the range of the template 51 displayed at that time is the range of the template 51 in which the user image 62 has been selected to be superimposed in the composite image described below (S203), and the photography unit 30 captures a still image of the user (S204).

The photographing device 1 generates a user image 62 by chromakey processing of the photographed image obtained in S204 (S205), creates a synthesis image in which the user image 62 is positioned in a position corresponding to the range of the template 51 selected in S203 (S206), and stores the image in the RAM 15, etc.

Figure 8 (a) is an example of an image to be combined 61. The size of the image to be combined 61 is the same as the size of the entire image of the template 51, and the user image 62 is placed at a position corresponding to the range of the template 51 selected in S203, here position A corresponding to the divided image 51b in Figure 7 (b).

Next, the photographing device 1 determines whether or not there are any remaining photographing sessions (S207). If there are any remaining photographing sessions (S207; Yes), the photographing device 1 repeats the processes of S202 to S206, and creates a composite image 61 in which the user image 62 generated in S205 is positioned in a position corresponding to the range of the template 51 selected in S203.

Figure 8 (b) is an example of a composite image 61 created after the second capture, in which a user image 62 from the first capture and a user image 62 from the second capture are positioned at positions A and B corresponding to the range of the template 51 selected during each capture.

If the range of the template 51 displayed in S202 above is the range selected in S203 as the range for superimposing the user image 62 during a previous photographing operation, a message 47 indicating that photographing is not possible is displayed as shown in FIG. 9, and photographing is not possible. This makes it possible to prevent photographing the same range of the template 51 from being performed multiple times.

The photographing device 1 repeats the steps from S202 to S206, and when there are no more photographs remaining (S207; No), it ends the photographing process and composites the entire image of the template 51 with the composite image 61 (S104 in FIG. 4).

Figure 8 (c) is an example of a composite image 61 that is created after all photographs have been taken, and Figure 8 (d) is an example of a composite image 8 that is generated by combining the entire image of the template 51 with the composite image 61 in S104.

The photographing device 1 stores the composite image 8 in the memory unit 14 and prints it out using the printer 80 or the like (S105). Alternatively, the composite image 8 may be uploaded from the communication control unit 90 to an image server provided on the network 4 and stored in the memory unit of the image server. Once the composite image 8 has been output, the series of processes by the photographing device 1 is completed.

As described above, in this embodiment, a composite image 8 is generated by superimposing multiple user images 62 obtained by performing multiple chromakey photographs on a large template 51, such as a long template 51. Moreover, the range in which the user images 62 are superimposed can be selected by the user while displaying the user images 62 in a live view on the display unit 40, so that an interesting composite image 8 that matches the user's preferences can be easily obtained, and it is also possible to provide, for example, a composite image 8 that tells a story.

In addition, in this embodiment, by using divided images 51a to 51d, the processing load associated with selecting the range of template 51 can be reduced.

In addition, in this embodiment, if the range of the template 51 displayed on the display unit 40 is a range that was selected as the range for superimposing the user image 62 during a previous photographing operation, photographing is not allowed, so that photographing the same range of the template 51 multiple times can be prevented.

In addition, in this embodiment, a composite image 61 is created in which the user image 62 is arranged as described above, and then the composite image 61 is composited with the entire image of the template 51, thereby reducing the processing load involved in generating the composite image 8.

However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, a horizontally long template 51 is exemplified, but a vertically long template as shown in FIG. 10(a) may be used, or a template long both vertically and horizontally as shown in FIG. 10(b) may be used. For example, in the case of a vertically long template 51 as shown in FIG. 10(a), a split image divided vertically can be separately created and used to change the display range of the template 51 on the live view screen. In the case of a vertically and horizontally long template 51 as shown in FIG. 10(b), a split image obtained by dividing the template 51 vertically and horizontally can be used to change the display range of the template 51. The composite image 8 can be generated by superimposing the user image 62 on the range corresponding to each split image.

As shown in FIG. 11, in addition to the live view screen 43, the display unit 40 may also display a guide screen 48 in which a user image 62 obtained in S205 during a previous image capture is superimposed on a reduced image of the template 51 in the range selected in S203 during a previous image capture. In the example of FIG. 11, a frame 49 indicating the range of the template 51 currently being displayed by the user is also displayed on the guide screen 48. The guide screen 48 assists the user when performing operations. It is also possible to display the guide screen 48 within the live view screen 43.

In this embodiment, the display range of the template 51 on the live view screen 43 is changed using the display range change button 46, but instead of the button 46, a slide bar for operation can be displayed on the display unit 40, and the display range of the template 51 can be changed by sliding left and right in the same manner as described above.

In addition, instead of using the divided images 51a to 51d to (discontinuously) switch the display range of the template 51, it is also possible to smoothly (continuously) change the display range of the template 51 by, for example, sliding a slide bar. In this case, by storing the range of the template 51 that was displayed when the image was captured in S204, a composite image 8 can be generated in which the user image 62 is superimposed on that range. However, in this case, the processing load on the control unit 11 becomes somewhat large.

Preferred embodiments of the photographic device and the like according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modified or revised examples within the scope of the technical ideas disclosed in this application, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

1: Photo-taking device 8: Composite image 10: Control device 30: Photography section 31: Background removal section 32: Template selection section 33: Display control section 34: Photo generation section 40: Display section 43: Live view screen 48: Guide screen 51: Templates 51a to 51d: Divided images 61: Composite image 62: User image

Claims (5)

A photographing unit that photographs a user multiple times using a chromakey photographing device;
a template selection unit that accepts a selection of a template on which a user image is to be superimposed;
a display control unit that allows a range of a template on which a user's image is to be superimposed to be selected on a display unit when performing each chromakey photographing, and displays a live view of the user's image on the display unit with the selected range as a background;
a photo generation unit that generates a composite image by superimposing each of a plurality of user images obtained by each chromakey photographing on the range of a template selected when performing each chromakey photographing;
having
storing a plurality of divided images obtained by dividing the template for each of the ranges in a storage unit;
The photographing device , wherein the display control unit displays a user image with the divided images as a background . A photographing unit that photographs a user multiple times using a chromakey photographing device;
a template selection unit that accepts a selection of a template on which a user image is to be superimposed;
a display control unit that allows a range of a template on which a user's image is to be superimposed to be selected on a display unit when performing each chromakey photographing, and displays a live view of the user's image on the display unit with the selected range as a background;
a photo generation unit that generates a composite image by superimposing each of a plurality of user images obtained by each chromakey photographing on the range of a template selected when performing each chromakey photographing;
having
the display control unit disables photography when the range of the template displayed on the display unit is a range that was selected as a range for superimposing a user's image during a previous photographing operation . The photographing device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the photograph generation unit creates a composite image in which each of a plurality of user images obtained by each chromakey photographing is positioned in a position corresponding to the range of the template selected when performing each chromakey photographing, and generates the composite image by combining the composite image with the entire image of the template. A computer provided in a photography device having a photography unit for taking a chromakey photograph of a user multiple times,
a template selection unit that accepts a selection of a template on which a user image is to be superimposed;
a display control unit that allows a range of a template on which a user's image is to be superimposed to be selected on a display unit when performing each chromakey photographing, and displays a live view of the user's image on the display unit with the selected range as a background;
a photo generation unit that generates a composite image by superimposing each of a plurality of user images obtained by each chromakey photographing on the range of a template selected when performing each chromakey photographing;
A program for causing the device to function as a
the computer stores a plurality of divided images obtained by dividing the template for each of the ranges in a storage unit;
The display control unit displays a user image with the divided image as a background . A computer provided in a photography device having a photography unit for taking a chromakey photograph of a user multiple times,
a template selection unit that accepts a selection of a template on which a user image is to be superimposed;
a display control unit that allows a range of a template on which a user's image is to be superimposed to be selected on a display unit when performing each chromakey photographing, and displays a live view of the user's image on the display unit with the selected range as a background;
a photo generation unit that generates a composite image by superimposing each of a plurality of user images obtained by each chromakey photographing on the range of a template selected when performing each chromakey photographing;
A program for causing the device to function as a
the display control unit disallows shooting when the range of the template displayed on the display unit is the range selected as the range for superimposing a user image at a previous shooting .

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