Abstract:
An image processing apparatus, comprising:
       a master image acquisition part for acquiring a master image that is the multiple viewpoint image data taken from two or more viewpoints;   a recording part capable of recording the image data;   a recording control part for recording the master image acquired by the master image acquisition part in the recording part; and   an edit part for editing the master image recorded in the recording part according to a desired edit content;   wherein the recording control part records an edited image that is the image edited by the edit part distinguishably from the master image in the recording part, and records the edit history information indicating the edit content made by the edit part associated with the master image in the recording part.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the reuse of an edited multiple viewpoint image. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-102513, an image for stereoscopic vision is generated by correcting an acquired parallax image for brightness, color difference and upper or lower position. 
     According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-262202, the corrected history information of an image is recorded as additional information in a corrected image file. 
     In producing a print or display output for stereoscopic vision from the image taken from plural viewpoints (multiple viewpoints) as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-102513, it is common to make correction and conversion for the image optimal to an output system without directly outputting the taken image. 
     In this conversion to the output system, it is required to make optimizations for not only the kind or type of apparatus in the output system, but also various conditions including the size of screen, appreciation distance and range (horizontal angle). 
     The processing content of how an original parallax image is corrected to generate an image for stereoscopic vision is not known afterwards in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-102513. 
     It is difficult to reuse the results of correction made in the past, because the location of a file generated as a result of correction or what correction is made in the corrected file is not known in an original image file before correction in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-262202. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, it is an object of the invention to reuse the processing content according to an output system for the multiple viewpoint image. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising a master image acquisition part for acquiring a master image that is multiple viewpoint image data taken from two or more viewpoints, a recording part capable of recording the image data, a recording control part for recording the master image acquired by the master image acquisition part in the recording part, and an edit part for editing the master image recorded in the recording part according to a desired edit content, wherein the recording control part records an edited image that is the image edited by the edit part distinguishably from the master image in the recording part, and records the edit history information indicating the edit content made by the edit part associated with the master image in the recording part. 
     With this invention, the reuse of the edit result in the past can be facilitated. Also, when the master image is subjected to the edit operation, the master image can be reliably saved. 
     The edit history information may include at least one of the identification information of the edited image, the edit date and time of the edited image, the type of an output system of the edited image, the appreciation environment of the output system of the edited image and the other output conditions, a trimming range where the edited content is trimming, positional information of a set gaze point where the edit content is setting of the gaze point, information indicating a selected viewpoint image where the edit content is selection of the viewpoint image, and correction information where the edit content is image quality correction. 
     When the edit content in the past is reused based on these information, the image selection of the edited image adequately edited can be facilitated. 
     The recording control part records the edited image associated with the identification information of the master image in the recording part. 
     In this manner, it is possible to refer to the master image that is the multiple viewpoint image of edit source from the edited image. 
     The recording control part may reserve an area for storing the edit history information in an image file for storing the master image, and after the end of editing by the edit part, may store the edit history information in the area to associate the master image with the edit history information. 
     In this manner, it is possible to prevent the size of the file storing the master image from being changed every time of storing the edit history information. 
     According to the invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising a recording part for recording an edited image in which a master image is edited distinguishably from the master image and recording the edit history information indicating the edit content of the master image and the identification information of the edited image associated with the master image, a retrieval part for retrieving the edit history information corresponding to a desired edit content for the master image from the recording part, and an edited image acquisition part for acquiring the edited image from the recording part based on the identification information of the edited image included in the found edit history information, if the retrieval part finds the edit history information indicating the desired edit content. 
     With this invention, the edited image in the past can be reused, whereby it is unnecessary to reedit the same master image in the same manner as before. 
     It is preferable to further comprise an edit part for editing the master image recorded in the recording part in accordance with the desired edit content, if the retrieval part does not find the edit history information corresponding to the desired edit content, and a recording control part for recording the edited image that is the image edited by the edit part distinguishably from the master image in the recording part and recording the edit history information indicating the edit content made by the edit part associated with the master image in the recording part. 
     According to the invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising a master image acquisition part for acquiring a master image that is the multiple viewpoint image data taken from two or more viewpoints, a recording part capable of recording the image data, a recording control part for recording the master image acquired by the master image acquisition part in the recording part, and an edit part for editing the master image recorded in the recording part according to a desired edit content, wherein the recording control part records an edited image that is the image edited by the edit part distinguishably from the master image in the recording part, and records the edit history information indicating the edit content made by the edit part and the identification information of the edited image associated with the master image in the recording part, and comprises a retrieval part for retrieving the edit history information corresponding to the desired edit content for the master image from the recording part, and an edited image acquisition part for acquiring the edited image from the recording part based on the identification information of the edited image included in the found edit history information, if the retrieval part finds the edit history information indicating the desired edit content. 
     According to the invention, there is provided an image processing method comprising the steps of: a step of acquiring a master image that is the multiple viewpoint image data taken from two or more viewpoints, a step of recording the acquired master image in a recording medium, a step of editing the master image recorded in the recording medium according to a desired edit content, and a step of recording an edited image distinguishably from the master image in the recording medium, and recording the edit history information indicating the edit content associated with the master image in the recording medium. 
     According to the invention, there is provided an image processing method comprising the steps of: a step of recording an edited image in which a master image is edited distinguishably from the master image in a recording medium, and recording the edit history information indicating the edit content of the master image and the identification information of the edited image associated with the master image in the recording medium, a step of retrieving the edit history information corresponding to a desired edit content for the master image from the recording medium, and a step of acquiring the edited image from the recording medium based on the identification information of the edited image included in the found edit history information, if the edit history information indicating the desired edit content is found. 
     A program for enabling a computer to perform the image edit method may be also included in the invention. 
     With the invention, since the edit history information indicating in which file the edited image is recorded as a result of correction and conversion is created, it is unnecessary to make the correction and conversion again when the correction and conversion with actual result in the past is required, whereby the reuse of the file produced as a result of conversion in the past is facilitated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a camera; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a personal computer; 
         FIGS. 3A to 3E  are diagrams showing the arrangement of a master file and the edited files on a hard disk; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing one example of the edit history information (such as output file identification information) stored in a header part of the mater file; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing one example of the edit history information (such as viewpoint image information) stored in the header part of the mater file; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing one example of the edit history information (such as trimming range information) stored in the header part of the mater file; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing a reserved storage area of the edit history information provided in the header part of the mater file; and 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a multiple viewpoint image edit process. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows an electrical configuration of a compound-lens camera  1 . The lens optical axes L 1  and L 2  of the first and second image pickup parts  2   a  and  2   b  are juxtaposed to be parallel or make a predetermined angle. 
     The first image pickup part  2   a  comprises a first zoom lens  11   a , a first diaphragm  12   a , a first focus lens  13   a , and a first image sensor  14   a , which are arranged along the lens optical axis L 1 . The first diaphragm  12   a  is connected to a diaphragm control part  16   a , and the first image sensor  14   a  is connected to a timing generator (TG)  18   a . The operation of the first diaphragm  12   a  and the first focus lens  13   a  is controlled by a photometry and distance measuring CPU  19   a . The operation of the TG  18   a  is controlled by a main CPU  62 . 
     The camera  1  is provided with an operation part  70  for performing various operations when the user employs this camera  1 . This operation part  70  has a power switch for turning on the power for activating the camera  1 , a mode dial for selecting the automatic photographing or the manual photographing, a cross key for making the setting or selection of various kinds of menu or making the zoom, a switch for firing the flash, and an information position designation key for executing or canceling the menu selected by the cross key. Turning on or off the power, switching of various kinds of modes (photographing mode, reproduction mode, etc.) and zooming can be made by performing a proper operation on the operation part  70 . 
     Also, the camera  1  comprises a main CPU  62 , an EEPROM  146 , a YC/RGB conversion part  147 , and a display driver  148 . The main CPU  62  controls the overall camera  1 . The EEPROM  146  stores the solid data and program inherent to the camera  1 . 
     The YC/RGB conversion part  147  converts the color video signals YC generated by the YC processing parts  35   a  and  35   b  into the RGB signals of three colors and outputs them via the display driver  148  to an image display LCD  10 . 
     In accordance with a zoom operation from an input operation part  9 , the first zoom lens  11   a  is moved along the lens optical axis L 1  to the NEAR side (extension side) or the INF side (contraction side) to change the zoom magnification. This movement is driven by a motor, not shown. The diaphragm  12   a  is changed in the numerical aperture (aperture value) to limit the light flux for exposure adjustment when an AE (Auto Exposure) is operative. The focus lens  13   a  is moved to the NEAR side or the INF side along the lens optical axis L 1  to change the in-focus position for focusing adjustment when an AF (Auto Focus) is operative. This movement is driven by a motor, not shown. 
     When a halfway pressed state of a still image release switch is detected, the main CPU  62  obtains the distance measured data from each of the distance image pickup devices  51   a  and  51   b . The main CPU  62  adjusts the focusing and diaphragm, based on the obtained distance measured data. 
     The first image sensor  14   a  receives a light of the subject formed by the first zoom lens  11   a , the first diaphragm  12   a  and the first focus lens  13   a , and accumulates photoelectric charges according to the amount of received light in a photoreceptor. The operation of the first image sensor  14   a  to accumulate and transfer photoelectric charges is controlled by the TG  18   a  so that an electronic shutter speed (photoelectric charge accumulation time) is decided by a timing signal (clock pulse) inputted from the TG  18   a . The first image sensor  14   a  acquires an image signal for one screen at every predetermined interval in a photographing mode. 
     The second image pickup part  2   b  has the same constitution as the first image pickup part  2   a , and comprises a second zoom lens  11   b , a second diaphragm  12   b , a second focus lens  13   b  and a second image sensor  14   b  connected to the timing generator (TG)  14   b . Their operation is controlled by the main CPU  62 . The first image pickup part  2   a  and the second image pickup part  2   b  are fundamentally operated in cooperation, but may be operated individually. The first and second image sensors  14   a  and  14   b  are the CCD type or CMOS type image sensors. 
     An image pickup signal outputted from the first and second image sensors  14   a  and  14   b  is inputted into the A/D converters  30   a  and  30   b . Each of the A/D converters  30   a  and  30   b  converts the inputted image data from analog to digital form. Through the A/D converters  30   a  and  30   b , the image pickup signal of the first image sensor  14   a  is outputted as the first image data (right eye image data) and the image pickup signal of the second image sensor  14   b  is outputted as the second image data (left eye image data). 
     The image signal processing circuits  31   a  and  31   b  perform various kinds of image processings, including gradation conversion, white balance correction and γ correction for the first and second image data inputted from the A/D converters  30   a  and  30   b . Buffers memories  32   a  and  32   b  temporarily store the first and second image data that are subjected to various kinds of image processings by the image signal processing circuits  31   a  and  31   b.    
     The photometry and distance measuring CPUs  19   a  and  19   b  calculate an AF evaluation value and an AE evaluation value from the first and second image data stored in the buffer memories  32   a  and  32   b , respectively. The AF evaluation value is calculated by integrating the high frequency components of the brightness value over the entire area or in a predetermined area (e.g., central part) of each image data and indicates the sharpness of image. The high frequency component of the brightness value is a summation of adding up the brightness differences (contrast) between adjacent pixels in the predetermined area. Also, the AE evaluation value is calculated by integrating the brightness values over the entire area or in a predetermined area (e.g., central part) of each image data and indicates the lightness of image. The AF evaluation value and the AE evaluation value are used in the AF operation and the AE operation that are performed in a photographing preparation process as will be described later. 
     The image data stored in the buffer memories  32   a  and  32   b  are converted into a brightness signal (Y signal) and the color difference signals (Cr, Cb signals) by the YC processing parts  35   a  and  35   b , and subjected to a predetermined process such as gamma correction. The processed YC signals are stored in work memories  128   a  and  128   b , respectively. 
     The YC signals of the first and second image data stored in the work memories  128   a  and  128   b  are read into a YC/RGB conversion parts  147  by a controller  34 . The YC/RGB conversion part  147  converts the YC signals of the first and second image data into a video signal of predetermined type (e.g., color composite video signal of NTSC type) and synthesizes it into stereoscopic 3D image data for stereoscopic display on the image display LCD  10 . When the LCD  10  is used as an electronic viewfinder in a photographing mode, the stereoscopic 3D image data synthesized by the YC/RGB conversion part  147  is displayed as a through image via the LCD driver  148  on the LCD  10 . 
     The compression decompression processing circuits  36   a  and  36   b  perform the compression process for the first and second image data stored in the work memories  128   a  and  128   b  in accordance with a predetermined compression format such as JPEG for the still image and MPEG2, MPEG4 or H.264 for the moving picture. A media controller  37  records each image data compressed by the compression decompression processing circuits  36   a  and  36   b  in a memory card  38  or any other recording media connected via an I/F  39 . 
     When the first and second image data recorded in the memory card  38  in this manner is reproduced and displayed on the LCD  10 , each image data of the memory card  38  is read by the media controller  37 , decompressed by the compression decompression processing circuits  36   a  and  36   b , converted into stereoscopic 3D image data by the YC/RGB conversion part  147 , and displayed as the reproduced image on the LCD  10  via the LCD driver  148 . 
     The LCD  10  is a 3D monitor of parallax barrier type or lenticular lens type, used as an electronic viewfinder in taking photographs, and displays the stereoscopic 3D view for image data obtained by photographing in regenerating the image. 
     Though the detailed structure of the LCD  10  is not illustrated, the LCD  10  has a parallax barrier display layer on the surface. In making the stereoscopic 3D display, the LCD  10  generates a parallax barrier composed of a pattern in which a light transmitting part and a light shielding part are alternately arranged at a predetermined pitch on the parallax barrier display layer and alternately displays an array of image pieces like strips representing the left and right images on an image display plane of its lower layer, thereby allowing a stereoscopic vision. 
     The constitution of the display device for allowing the stereoscopic vision is not necessarily limited to a parallax method using a slit array sheet, but may be a lenticular method using a lenticular lens sheet, an integral photography method using a micro-lens array sheet or a holographic method using an interference phenomenon. 
     The main CPU  62  generally controls the overall operation of the compound-lens camera  1 . The release switches  5   a  and  5   b , the operation part  70  and an EEPROM  146  that is a non-volatile memory are connected to the main CPU  62 . The EEPROM  146  stores various kinds of control programs and the setting information. The main CPU  62  performs various kinds of process based on this program and the setting information. 
     Also, an optical system control directing part  127  is connected to the main CPU  62 , whereby the photographing magnifications of the first image pickup part  2   a  and the second image pickup part  2   b  are changed in accordance with a zoom operation on the optical system control directing part  127 . 
     The release switch  5   a  has a switch structure of two stage press. If the release switch  5   a  is lightly pressed (halfway down) in the photographing mode, the AF operation and the AE operation are performed, whereby a photographing preparation process is made. If the release switch  5   a  is further strongly pressed (all the way down) in this state, a photographing process is performed, so that the first and second image data for one screen are transferred from the frame memories  32  to the memory card  38  and recorded. 
     The AF operation is performed by calculating the maximum value of the AF evaluation values calculated from the first and second image data sequentially obtained, while the main CPU  62  controls the first and second focus lenses  13   a  and  13   b  to be moved in the predetermined direction. The AE operation is performed by setting the aperture values of the first and second diaphragms  12   a  and  12   b  and the electronic shutter speeds of the first and second image sensors  14   a  and  14   b , based on the calculated AE evaluation value after completion of the AF operation. 
     Also, the camera  1  is provided with an operation LCD display  103  for assisting the operation. 
     Also, the camera  1  has a removable power battery  68 . The power battery  68  may be a chargeable secondary battery, for example, a Ni—Cd battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, or a lithium ion battery. The power battery  68  is a disposable primary battery, for example, a lithium battery or an alkaline battery. The power battery  68  is loaded into a battery storage compartment, not shown, which is then electrically connected to each circuit of the camera  1 . 
     The first image pickup part  2   a  and the second image pickup part  2   b  comprise the interval/congestion angle detection circuits  4   a  and  4   b  for detecting the interval/congestion angle made between the first image pickup part  2   a  and the second image pickup part  2   b , a lens interval/congestion angle storage circuit  6  for storing the congestion angle detected by the interval/congestion angle detection circuits  4   a  and  4   b , and the interval/congestion angle drive circuits  3   a  and  3   b  for changing the congestion by elongating or shrinking the base length and rotating the optical axis by the drive motor. 
     Also, the camera  1  comprises an interval/congestion angle control circuit  5  for controlling a change of the congestion angle in the interval/congestion angle drive circuit  3   a  and  3   b , based on the interval/congestion angle detected by the interval/congestion angle detection circuits  4   a  and  4   b.    
     The charge/emission control parts  138   a  and  138   b  are supplied with power from the power battery  68  to make the stroboscopes  44   a  and  44   b  flash, and charge the condensers for firing the flash, not shown, and control the stroboscopes  44   a  and  44   b  to fire the flash. 
     The charge/emission control parts  138   a  and  138   b  controls the supply of current to the stroboscopes  44   a  and  44   b  to acquire a desired amount of emission at a desired timing, if various kinds of signal such as an operation signal for pressing the release switches  5   a  and  5   b  halfway down or all the way down, or a signal indicating the amount of emission or the emission timing is taken from the main CPU  62  or the photometry and distance measuring CPUs  19   a  and  19   b.    
     A portrait/landscape photography switching button  40  directs in which of the portrait and landscape photography the photographing is performed. A portrait/landscape photography detection circuit  166  detects in which of the portrait and landscape photography the photographing is performed, depending on a state of this button. 
     A 2D/3D mode switching flag  168  is set to indicate a 2D mode or a 3D mode. 
     The distance light emitting devices  52   a  and  52   b  are light emitting diodes (LEDs) for applying a projection spot to the same subject captured by the first image pickup part  2   a  and the second image pickup part  2   b , respectively. 
     The distance image pickup devices  51   a  and  51   b  are the image pickup devices dedicated for measuring the distance to acquire the subject image to which a projection spot is applied from the distance light emitting devices  52   a  and  52   b.    
     A distance drive/control circuit  54  controls synchronization of the distance image pickup devices  53   a  and  53   b  with the light emitting timing of the distance light emitting devices  52   a  and  52   b.    
     An analog image signal obtained through the image pickup operation of the distance image pickup devices  53   a  and  53   b  is converted into digital image data by the distance measuring A/D converters  55   a  and  55   b  and outputted to a distance information processing circuit  57 . 
     The distance information processing circuit  57  calculates the distance to the subject captured by the first image pickup part  2   a  and the second image pickup part  2   b  from the inputted digital image data. This is based on a so-called triangulation principle. The distance information calculated by the distance information processing circuit  57  is stored in a distance information storage circuit  58 . 
     A multiple viewpoint image is not necessarily acquired by the compound-lens camera  1 , but may be acquired through the continuous shooting by a motion stereo method using a single-lens camera. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a personal computer  100 . 
     The personal computer  100  mainly comprises a central processing unit (CPU)  102  for controlling the operation of each component, a main memory  106  for storing a control program for the apparatus or useful as a working area in executing the program, a hard disk unit  108  for storing an operating system (OS) for the personal computer  100 , a device driver for the peripheral apparatus connected to the personal computer  100 , various kinds of application software including an image edit processing program for editing the multiple viewpoint image adaptable to various contents (video contents or printed matter) and the user image, a CD-ROM unit  110 , a display memory  116  for temporarily storing the display data, a monitor unit  118  such as a CRT monitor or a liquid crystal monitor for displaying the image or character based on the image data or character data from the display memory  116 , a keyboard  120 , a mouse  122  as a position input unit, a mouse controller  124  for detecting a state of the mouse  122  to output a signal for the position of a mouse pointer on the monitor unit  118  or a state of the mouse  122  to the CPU  102 , a communication interface  132  connected to a network  30  such as the Internet, a card interface  112  having a card insertion opening through which the memory card  38  is mounted or demounted, a bus  104  for connecting each component, and a camera connection I/F  134  for connecting the camera  1  with USB. 
     The application software for image edit processing stored in the hard disk unit  108  can be installed into the personal computer  100  by setting a CD-ROM recording the application software into the CD-ROM unit  110  for the personal computer  100 . 
     The monitor unit  118 , like the LCD  10 , is configured to allow the multiple viewpoint image to be displayed in stereoscopic vision. 
       FIG. 3  shows a directory structure of image files storing the multiple viewpoint image data stored in the hard disk  108 . For example, a file (master file) storing the unedited multiple viewpoint image data acquired from the camera  1  and a file (edited file) storing the edited multiple viewpoint image data obtained through the image edit process for the multiple viewpoint image data in the master file by the CPU  102  are given the different file names “ABCD0001.JPG” and “ABCD0001.F3D”, as shown in  FIG. 3A . The identification information “ABCD0001” in the file name of the edited file indicates that there is relevance between the master file and the edited file because the master file is also given the same identification information. An extension “JPG” or “F3D” is the information distinguishing between the master file and the edited file. 
     Or the master file and the edited file are given the different file names of “ABCD0001.JPG” and “ABCD0003.JPG”, as shown in  FIG. 3B . If the name of any existent image file is “ABCD0002.JPG”, “ABCD 0003 .JPG” is given to the edited file not to overlap it. No information relating both files is contained in the names of both files. 
     Or the master file and the edited file are given the different file names of “ABCD0001.JPG” and “F3D — 0001.JPG”, as shown in  FIG. 3C . No information relating both files is contained in the names of both files. 
     Or the master file and the edited file are given the different file names of “ABCD0001.JPG” and “ABCD0001_F3D.JPG”, as shown in  FIG. 3D . The file name of the edited data is a combination of the identification information “ABCD0001” indicating the relevance with the master file “ABCD0001.JPG” and “_F3D” indicating the edited file. 
     Or the edited file storing the edited data for 3D display is “ABCD0001.F3D” and the edited file storing the edited data for 3D print is given “P 3 D_ 0002 .JPG” that is a different name from the master file according to the output system of the contents, as shown in  FIG. 3E . 
     Such file name of the edited file is given by the CPU  102 , based on the file name of the master file and one of the naming rules as shown in  FIGS. 3A to 3E . 
       FIGS. 4 to 7  show the structure of the master file. A header of the master file includes one or more of the following pieces of information.
         Number of edited files edited and recorded so far based on the image of the master file   Information for uniquely identifying the edited file   Date and time information of generating and recording the edited file   Type of output system to output the edited file, for example, appreciation distance, screen size or appreciation range angle   Information indicating the trimming range, if the edit process for the image in the master file is trimming.   Information of the gaze point set as the edit process for the image in the master file   Information of the viewpoint image selected and used from the multiple viewpoint image in the edit process for the image of the master file, for example, viewpoint number and viewpoint position information   Correction information when the image quality (brightness, color difference, etc.) is corrected in the edit process for the image in the master file       

     Among others, the number k that the data is used and outputted so far as the edit source and the detailed information individually indicating the edit content in each of k times of edit are stored in the header part of the master file “ABCD0001.JPG” storing the multiple viewpoint image data of the edit source in  FIG. 4 . 
     The detailed information includes the file name (such as “F3D — 0001.JPG”) of the edited file, edit date and time, type of output system (e.g., lenticular print, 3D LCD display, twin-lens projector), appreciation environment information (e.g., supposed appreciation distance, screen size, appreciation range angle), gaze point information indicating the coordinates of the gaze point, image quality correction information, and the other history information. The detailed information is not described directly in text, but may be alternatively the identification information. 
     Also, the number of viewpoint images, viewpoint number (“viewpoint  2 ” and “viewpoint  4 ”) and positional information of the viewpoint corresponding to each viewpoint number, actually selected and used from the multiple viewpoint image of the edit processing source, are described as the detailed information of the header part of the master file in  FIG. 5 . 
     Also, the position in the trimming range of the viewpoint image of the edit processing source as the trimming range information is described as the detailed information of the header part of the master file in  FIG. 6 . 
     Also, it is indicated that a reserved area for storing the edit history information is reserved in the header part of the master file in  FIG. 7 . If the edit history information and the detailed information as shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6  are stored in this reserved area, it is known what edit is performed so far by referring to the header part of the master file itself. 
     The file name “ABCD0001.JPG” of the master file may be stored in the header part of the edited file to trace the master file from the edited file, as shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the flow of a multiple viewpoint image edit process on the personal computer  100 . Each step of this process is defined by a multiple viewpoint image edit program stored in the hard disk unit  108 . This process may be performed by any other apparatus, for example, the camera  1 , than the personal computer  100 . 
     At S 1 , a master file storing the unedited multiple viewpoint image data is acquired from the memory card  38  connected to the card I/F  112  or the camera  1  connected to the camera connection I/F  134 . The master file is stored in the hard disk unit  108 . 
     At S 2 , the CPU  102  reads the edit history information from each master file stored in the hard disk unit  108 . 
     At S 3 , the CPU  102  accepts a designation of the desired edit content from the keyboard  120  or the mouse  122 . And it is judged whether or not the master file storing the accepted desired edit content as the edit history information exists in the hard disk unit  108 . If the master file storing the desired edit content as the edit history information is found, the operation goes to S 4 . If there is no such master file, the operation proceeds to S 7 . 
     At S 4 , the CPU  102  reads the identification information (e.g., file name “F3D — 0001.JPG”) of the edited file from the edit history information described in the header of the master file. 
     At S 5 , the edited file having the identification information is acquired by searching the hard disk unit  108  based on the read identification information of the edited file. 
     At S 6 , it is judged whether or not the acquisition of the edited file having the identification information is successful. If it is successful, a message indicating that the acquired file stores the multiple viewpoint image to which the designated edit content is reflected is displayed together with the image on the monitor unit  118 , whereby this process is ended. If the acquisition of the edited file is not successful, the operation goes to S 7 . 
     At S 7 , the multiple viewpoint image data is edited in accordance with the designated edit content. 
     At S 8 , the multiple viewpoint image data after edit is stored as the edited file in the hard disk unit  108 . 
     At S 9 , the edit history information to which the designated edit content is reflected is stored in the header part of the master file. And the master file storing the edit history information is stored again in the hard disk unit  108 . The specific substance of this edit history information is shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 . 
     In this process, since the multiple viewpoint image data for which the desired edit content is performed is acquired from the hard disk unit  108 , it is unnecessary to take a trouble of making the same edit for the same multiple viewpoint image data as before, whereby the edited file corresponding to the desired edit content can be directly appropriated.