Picture making apparatus for creating a picture for printing by assembling and positioning component parts

A montage picture making apparatus having a storage device for storing a plurality of patterns for respective parts of a face, a designator for designating occupation areas of respective parts on the screen, a device for selecting a desired pattern of each a plurality of desired parts from the storage device, a device for deciding the display size of a pattern so that the pattern of a selected part can be adapted to the occupation area of the part in a predetermined state; and a display for displaying the pattern in an occupation area determined for the part with the decided display size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to a montage picture making apparatus. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
As described in Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Publication No. 57-156952, 
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 4-338877 and European Patent 
Publication No. 584759, a conventional montage picture making apparatus is 
known to the public in which a plurality of patterns of parts in the faces 
of men and women, such as hairdo patterns, eyebrows, eyes, noses, ears and 
mouths are stored in a memory and desirable ones are selected and 
displayed on a screen to make a likeness. 
In the case of one conventional montage picture making apparatus, when 
patterns of respective parts are selected, they are arranged at 
preallotted positions on a display as they are (hereinafter referred to as 
a position fixed system); in the case of another apparatus, after the 
selection of patterns of parts, they are disposed in proper positions 
using a cursor or pointer device (hereinafter referred to as a 
lucky-laughing-face system). 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In order to use various kinds of faces with a position fixed system, for 
example, even in the case of an eye of a certain shape, a plurality of 
patterns having different balances in heights and/or breadth have to be 
prepared. As a result, the kinds of faces which can be expressed in the 
system are limited or the numbers of permutations of each feature would 
become unwieldy. 
On the other hand, in the case of the lucky-laughing-face system, the parts 
have to be moved by the cursor to obtain the balance in height of the eyes 
and a nose or the balance in height of the eyebrows and the eyes, which is 
very troublesome and requires an advanced degree of skill. 
In either system, even though it is desirable that the same shaped face or 
eyes be used for the face of a child and the face of an adult, actually 
separate patterns have to be prepared, which also limits the kinds of 
faces that can expressed or prepared. 
In the technique described in European Patent Publication No. 584759, it is 
possible to use a pattern for a variety of expressions, for example, in 
changing the ratio of a vertical dimension to a horizontal dimension of an 
eye to expanding the eye pattern vertically or horizontally. However, the 
expansion of a pattern requires the operation of 4 keys as well as the 
moving operation using a cursor so that the same type of difficulties 
arise in this system as in the lucky-laughing-face system. Skill is 
required not to cause too much expansion or similar distortions. 
Therefore, an object of the invention is to offer a montage picture making 
apparatus in which operator skill requirements are limited in order to 
upgrade the number of expressions of a montage picture by preparing 
functions to dispose picture parts in good balance and to use a pattern in 
various ways by changing the ratio of a vertical dimension to a horizontal 
dimension of the pattern. 
A montage picture making apparatus according to the invention comprises: a 
storage means for storing a plurality of patterns for respective parts in 
a face, such as a hairdo pattern, an eye, a nose, and a mouth; an 
occupation area decision means for deciding the occupation areas for 
respective parts on the screen; a selection means for selecting a desired 
pattern of a desired part from the storage means; a display size decision 
means for deciding the display size of a pattern so that the pattern of a 
selected part can be adapted in the occupation area allotted to the part, 
and a pattern display means for displaying a pattern in the predetermined 
occupation area allotted to the part at the decided display size. 
In the case of the montage picture making apparatus as described above, 
when the patterns of respective parts, such as a hairdo pattern, an eye, a 
nose and a mouth are selected by the selection means, the display size 
decision means decides their display sizes so that the patterns of 
respective parts can be adapted to their occupation areas in an 
appropriate form due to the designation of occupation areas of respective 
parts on the screen beforehand by the occupation area decision means. 
Thus, the pattern display means displays the patterns of respective parts 
on the screen based on the designated display size to create a montage 
picture. 
Therefore, when an occupation area is designated, assuming that it is a 
rectangle for example, a pattern can be displayed in various modes by 
changing the ratio of length to breadth. Thereby, it is possible to make 
montage pictures having a large number of variations without increasing 
the storage capacity necessary for storing patterns. 
Since the decision of the shape of a pattern is made as an occupation area, 
assuming that the occupation area is a rectangle for example, it does not 
need as much skill to decide the ratio of length to breadth. As a result, 
the display mode of a pattern can be decided in a single way by deciding 
the occupation area thereby eliminating operations required in other art, 
such as that of European Patent Publication No. 584759. 
In the case of the montage picture making apparatus described above, it is 
desirable that the occupation area decision means be provided with 
occupation area definition means by face types which decide the balance 
among the occupation areas of respective parts beforehand according to the 
type of face. 
When an apparatus is structured as described above, a face of an adult can 
be immediately changed to a face of a child by simply selecting the type 
of a face, for example. In other words, when a face type of an adult is 
selected first and the patterns of respective parts are selected, the 
display sizes are decided so that the patterns can be adapted to their 
occupation areas in the predetermined state and a face of an adult is 
displayed on the screen; in this state, when the face type is changed to 
that of a child, the display is changed so that the respective patterns 
can be adapted to the occupation areas adjusted for a child without 
reselecting new patterns, and a face of a child is immediately displayed. 
Therefore, it is possible to make an interesting montage picture, for 
example, from the face of an adult, the face of the person as a child can 
be portrayed or vice versa. As a result, the use of montage pictures is 
expanded and it is possible to answer a variety of demands for montage 
pictures by users. 
In the case of the montage picture making apparatus as described above, it 
is preferable that the apparatus be further provided with an occupation 
area position adjustment means for adjusting the positions of occupation 
areas of the parts on the screen or an occupation area size adjustment 
means for adjusting the sizes of occupation areas of the parts on the 
screen. 
In structuring the apparatus as described above, the degree of freedom in 
expression is further upgraded, for example, by changing the height of 
eyes or the interval between eyes, or by using an eye of a type such as a 
large eye or a small eye. The operation of expansion or contraction in 
length or breadth of a pattern can be performed by a single control of 
changing an occupation area, and the operability is improved much in 
comparison with that in the technique described in European Patent 
Publication No. 584759. 
A pattern to be adapted to an occupation area can be expressed by a bit map 
system, but it is preferable that the patterns of respective parts are 
stored in the form of outline data in the storage means and the display 
decision means decides display sizes so that the patterns of selected 
parts can be adapted to their occupation areas in a predetermined state in 
the form of outline data. In the case of outline data, even if the ratio 
of length to breadth is changed, when the patterns are finally displayed 
on the screen, notches caused by bits are not conspicuous and they look 
beautiful.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A montage picture making apparatus in an embodiment according to the 
invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. 
A montage picture making apparatus 1 of the embodiment comprises a personal 
computer 9 having installed therein an application program and a variety 
of data for making a montage picture. A keyboard 3, a mouse 5 and a 
display 7 are connected to the personal computer 9 as shown in FIG. 1. 
The system preferably uses a VGA display with the picture displayed at a 
resolution of 640 dots.times.480 dots at the maximum. 
The application program operates within the WINDOWS.RTM., by Microsoft 
Inc., environment and it has a function to display a picture with a B 
spline curve based on the outline data. 
A plurality of patterns are given to each part such as a hairdo pattern, an 
eye, a nose or a mouth. Respective patterns are given in the form of 
outline data. FIG. 2 is an example of outline data of a left eye. The 
respective outline data are, as shown in the figure, defined with 
rasterized data being composed of points expressed by rectangular 
coordinates in a frame PFeyeL (hereinafter referred to as a part frame 
(PF)). The rasterized data are stipulated for plotting a picture with a B 
spline curve. A point shown with a large circle is a reference point for 
plotting a B spline curve and a point shown with a small circle is an 
auxiliary reference point. 
A part frame has a decided (breadth).times.(height) for each part in a face 
such as a hairdo pattern, an eye, a nose and a mouth. For example, a part 
frame for a hairdo pattern is of a size of 1000 dots.times.1000 dots and 
that for the outline of a face is of a size of 1000 dots.times.1000 dots 
and so on. For an eye and an ear, left-right symmetrical data of the same 
pattern number are given to produce a right eye, a left eye, a right ear 
and a left ear. Thereby, in a left-right linkage mode, to be explained 
later, when a pattern number for a right eye is designated, a left eye of 
the same pattern number can be selected simultaneously. 
The data of "reference style of face" which decide the areas and the 
positional relations to be occupied by respective parts to make up a 
montage picture are also part of the system in addition to the data for 
patterns. In the embodiment, four types of data, "standard," "thick," 
"thin" and "child," are given as "reference styles of face." 
For example, in the case of a reference style of "child," the areas and the 
positional relations to be occupied by respective parts are as shown in 
FIG. 3. Assuming that the entire display area of the montage picture is in 
the range of coordinates of (0, 0) to (400, 400), that is, 400 
dots.times.400 dots, the occupation areas of respective parts PAh, PAf, . 
. . are determined as shown in Table 1 below. The values used can be 
determined by statistically analyzing the sizes of the various parts and 
the balance in positions of the parts in the faces of children. 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
Reference Style "child" 
Parts Coordinates 
Symbol Name (Left-upper Vertex, Right-lower Vertex) 
______________________________________ 
PAh Hairdo style (10, 15) (389, 399)! 
PAf Outline of face (80, 67) (319, 399)! 
PAfh Forelock (75, 61) (325, 222)! 
PAeb Eyebrow (94, 150) (305, 204)! 
PAeyeR Right eye (100, 198) (187, 247)! 
PAeyeL Left eye (212, 198) (299, 247)! 
PAearR Right ear (46, 206) (100, 333)! 
PAearL Left ear (299, 206) (353, 333)! 
PAn Nose (157, 215) (242, 290)! 
PAm Mouth 141, 295) (258, 343)! 
______________________________________ 
The part occupation areas (PA) PAh, PAf, . . . denote the areas in which 
the part frames of respective pattern data are to be adapted. For example, 
the part frame of a left eye PFeyeL, in FIG. 2, is displayed on the screen 
being enlarged or contracted in length or height so that it can be adapted 
to the area shown in the PAeyeL in Table 1. 
The "Standard" shows a standard face of an adult, and respective occupation 
areas are decided based on the balance analysis of the respective parts of 
adults, and "thick" or "thin" occupation areas are decided based on the 
balance analysis of respective parts in the faces of heavy/large or 
thin/small adults, respectively. Therefore, for example, in the case of 
"child," the occupation area of the right eye is from (100, 198) to (187, 
247), but in the case of a "standard" adult, the occupation area is 
smaller than the above. The reason is that in the case of an adult the 
area occupied by an eye, relative to the face, is smaller than that in the 
case of a child. Therefore, even in the case of a right eye of the same 
pattern, when the reference style is "child" it is displayed larger and 
when the reference style is "standard" it is displayed smaller relative to 
the face as a whole. 
The display results with different reference styles are shown in FIG. 4. 
When 3 patterns, "(A): standard," "(B): thick" and "(C): thin," are 
compared among themselves, the sizes of occupation areas of parts such as 
"eyebrow," "eye," "nose," "mouth" and "ear" and their positions are 
delicately different. In particular, it is seen that the intervals between 
"eyes" and "ears" are different or "eye" size is different as shown in the 
figures. About "hairdo pattern," "forelock" and "outline of face," the 
breadths of occupation areas are different, and it is seen that the images 
of faces differ delicately, as expressed by respective reference styles, 
according to "standard," "thick" and "thin." When "(A): standard" and 
"(D): child" are compared to one another, even though the same parts are 
selected, the representation of an adult and the representation of a child 
are clearly expressed because of the differences in the occupation areas. 
As described above, when respective patterns are displayed in adapting part 
frames to the respective occupation areas of the parts, even though the 
same parts are selected, faces having delicately different images can be 
expressed. In this case, in particular, in the embodiment, outline data 
are used for respective patterns, so that even if the patterns are adapted 
to occupation areas of different sizes, notches do not appear in the part 
as represented on the screen. Finally, bit-map data are made based on the 
picture obtained by adapting the outline data to occupation areas. The 
bit-map data are set in a frame buffer and a montage picture is made as if 
the bit-map data are stuck on a sample display column 21 or a picture 
plotting area 10 (FIG. 5). 
On the other hand, when the installed application program is initiated, as 
shown in FIG. 5, an operational area screen 20 having the sample display 
column 21, a style selection display column 22, a part selection display 
column 23, a pattern value display column 24, a left-right linkage 
instruction column 25, an OK column 26, a cancel column 27 and an initial 
setting column 28 is displayed beside the picture plotting area screen 10 
on the display 7. 
In the picture plotting area screen 10, a picture plotting area of 128 
dots.times.128 dots is set by a default rule. This is a picture for the 
data for a montage picture made by an apparatus according to the invention 
that is output to a Tapewriter (Tapewriter is a market name for a printer 
to use for printing files, etc. on an adhesive backed tape of 24 cm 
breadth). In the case where the data for the montage picture are to be 
output to a narrower tape, or to a sheet of paper of A4 size using a laser 
printer as an output device, the picture plotting area can be adjusted, 
that is, enlarged or contracted. 
The sample display column 21 is a column to confirm the completed face and 
a picture plotting area of 180 dots.times.180 dots is set for the column. 
The style selection display column 22 displays the selected reference style 
of a face. In the embodiment, as described above, the reference style of a 
face can be selected from "standard," "thick," "thin" and "child." In the 
figure, "child" is selected as the reference style of face. Therefore, the 
montage picture is so made that the entire face gives an infantile image. 
When the mouse cursor is placed on the column 22, by moving the mouse 5 
and depressing a button provided on the right side of the mouse 5 
(hereinafter referred to as a right click), the style selection state can 
be changed in the forward direction, "standard" to "thick" to "thin" to 
"child" to "standard" to . . . . When a button provided on the left side 
of the mouse 5 is depressed (hereinafter referred to as a left click), the 
style selection state can be changed in the reverse direction, "child" to 
"thin" to "thick" to "standard" to "child" to . . . When a shift key 3S 
and a right cursor key 3R are operated together, the style selection state 
can be changed in the forward direction in the same way as the right click 
of the mouse 5 and when the shift key 3S and a left cursor key 3L are 
operated together, the style selection state can be changed in the reverse 
direction in the same way as the left click of the mouse 5. 
The part selection display column 23 displays the object part being 
selected at the time from among the parts, such as a hairdo pattern, an 
eye, a nose and a mouth. In FIG. 5, "outline of face" is shown as the 
selected object part. Therefore, it is in a state where the "outline of 
face" can be changed. For column 23, when a right click is operated in a 
state where the mouse cursor is placed on the column 23, an object part 
for selection is changed in the forward direction, that is, "hairdo 
pattern" to "outline of face" to "eyebrow" to "eye" to . . . and when a 
left click is operated, the object part for selection is changed in the 
reverse direction. In the case of a key input, kinds of parts can be 
changed in the forward direction or the reverse direction by the operation 
of a up cursor key 3U or a down cursor key 3D. 
The pattern value display column 24 displays the value corresponding to the 
number of the pattern using a numerical value and a scroll bar. The 
pattern is selected from among a plurality of patterns of the part that is 
the object part for selection. In the figure, it is shown that a 
twenty-third pattern is selected from among 37 patterns, i.e., among a 
first pattern to a thirty-seventh pattern, for the outline of the face. 
The column 24 is such that the selection of the pattern is changed by 
moving the mouse cursor to the scroll bar column 24 and dragging left and 
right with the left click button depressed. The scroll bar is moved left 
and right to change the pattern number and when a desired pattern number 
appears, the desired pattern is selected by releasing the click button. 
When key input is used, the selection number can be changed in the forward 
direction by operating the right cursor key 3R and the selection number 
can be changed in the reverse direction by operating the left cursor key 
3L. 
The left-right linkage instruction column 25 instructs whether a montage 
picture is to be made in the "left-right linkage mode", in which patterns 
and their positions are symmetrical about the center line, or whether a 
montage picture is to be made in the "left-right nonlinkage mode", in 
which patterns and their positions are asymmetrical, with respect to 
paired parts, such as eyes or ears. When the column 25 is in a checked 
state (as shown in the figure), the "left-right linkage mode" is selected. 
The "left-right linkage mode" and the "left-right nonlinkage mode" can be 
changed by moving the mouse cursor to the column 25 and performing left 
click or right click. In the case of key input, the mode can be switched 
over depressing a linkage key 3X. 
The OK column 26 and the cancel column 27 function as switches to input the 
instructions of "OK" and "cancel." The initialization column 28 functions 
as a switch to energize an initialization mode. In the respective actions, 
when the mouse cursor is moved to any of columns 26 to 28 and the left or 
the right click is operated, the column functions as a switch. In the case 
of key input, an OK key 3Y or a cancel key 3Z is operated. 
The application program has a main routine as shown in FIGS. 6a,6B and 
7A,7B. The main routine, at first, executes the acquisition and setting of 
the preceding montage data (S5). This is a type of resuming function. In 
most cases it is easier to start work with reference to the result of the 
preceding montage picture than to start from zero to make a montage 
picture. The preceding montage picture data are registered in a storage 
device, such as a backup memory or a hard disk, which is found in the 
personal computer 9 or externally provided, in the montage decision 
process (S95) shown near the end of the main routine (FIGS. 7A,7B). 
The preceding montage picture data are read from the backup memory or hard 
disk and the data are set in a work area of a RAM. Then the montage 
picture is plotted (S10) based on the data. The plotting of the montage 
picture, based on the preceding montage picture data, is performed in the 
sample display column 21 of the display 7 as shown in FIG. 5. In the 
following processes, until "OK" is input in step S90, the plotting of the 
montage picture is performed also in the sample display column 21. 
When the plotting of the previous montage picture is finished, the new 
montage picture making process is started. In making the montage picture, 
the inputs from a mouse and a keyboard are taken in (S15), and one of the 
following processes is executed: an initialization changing process (S20: 
YES, S25), a style selecting process (S30: YES, S35), a part selecting 
process (S40: YES, S45), a part size changing process (S50: YES, S55), a 
left-right linkage mode setting process (S60: YES, S65), a pattern 
selecting process (S70: YES, S75), a part moving process (S80: YES, S85), 
a montage decisional process (S90: YES, S95), an output picture plotting 
process (S100), a scaling process (S110: NO, S120), or an output data 
registration process (S110: YES, S130). Until the montage picture 
decisional process is completed, that is, in the processes from the 
initialization changing process to the part moving process, the operation 
can be executed repeatedly. Every time any process mentioned above is 
executed, the revising operation of the montage picture plotting process 
(S10) is repeated and the newest montage picture is displayed in the 
sample display column 21. In the "output picture plotting process", after 
the montage picture decisional process, the plotting of a montage picture 
is executed for the picture plotting area 10. 
The montage picture plotting process is described using FIGS. 8A,8B and 
9A,9B. 
At first, an area on the screen in which a picture is to be renewed is 
acquired (A10). The "area in which a picture is to be renewed" is, for 
example, the whole area of the sample display column 21 as in the case 
where the montage picture data from the preceding time are first plotted 
on the screen. In the case where an eye pattern is to be changed, the area 
is an eye area and when the position of an eye is to be moved, the area 
relates to two areas including the positions of the eye before the 
movement and after the movement. 
Next, an occupation area for the whole of the montage picture is acquired 
(A20). An occupation area of the whole of the montage picture means the 
whole area of the sample display column 21. In the embodiment it has an 
area of 180 dots.times.180 dots. When a display of higher resolution (for 
example, a display corresponding to SVGA of 800 dots.times.600 dots) is 
used in place of the display 7, a larger occupation area can be obtained. 
Next, the bit-map data making area is acquired and initialized 
corresponding to the area to be renewed (A30). In the case where "montage 
data in the preceding time" are plotted, an area of 180 dots.times.180 
dots is acquired and initialized as a bit-map making area. On the other 
hand, when a pattern of an eye is to be changed, a "bit-map data making 
area" corresponding to the occupation area for an eye is acquired and 
initialized, when the entire area is assumed to be 180 dots.times.180 
dots. 
Next, a hairdo pattern, a part to be positioned in a most recessed part is 
set as an object part for making a picture (A40). The original occupation 
area of the part being set as the object part of making a picture is 
enlarged or contracted (A50) according to the ratio of the original whole 
area to the whole area acquired in step A10. In the embodiment, the 
occupation areas of respective parts are decided assuming that the whole 
area is 400 dots.times.400 dots, so that respective occupation areas are 
contracted 0.45. For example, the original occupation area PAh when the 
part is "hairdo pattern" and the reference style is "child" has an 
original occupation area PAh of (10, 15) and (389, 399), so that these 
values are contracted to (4.5, 6.75) and (175.05, 179.55), respectively. 
In the case of a right eye, the original occupation area PAeyeR of (100, 
198) and (187, 247) is contracted to (45, 89.1) and (84.15, 111.15). 
Next, it is judged whether an occupation area which is contracted in step 
A50 has an overlapped part, with an area to be renewed, or not (A60). When 
a picture is plotted based on the "montage picture data in the preceding 
time," the occupation areas of all parts are overlapped with the areas to 
be renewed, so that the result of judgment is always "YES." When a montage 
picture plotting process is performed only to change a pattern of an eye, 
for example, the occupation area of an ear is not overlapped with an area 
to be renewed, so that in some cases the answer may be "NO". 
When the judgment is "YES," outline data are read based on the pattern 
number selected concerning the object part for plotting and the data are 
set in the work area (A70). In order to adapt a part frame to a contracted 
occupied area in step A50, the coordinates of respective reference points 
and auxiliary points composing the outline data are converted (A80). 
Next, it is judged whether an object part for plotting is an outline of a 
face or an ear, or other parts (A90). When the judgment is "YES", that is, 
the part is a face or ear, the data for removing the background is created 
(A100) based on the outline data whose coordinates were converted in step 
A80. 
Next, bit-map data are formed (A110) in the "bit-map data creating area", 
which is initialized in step A30, based on the outline data obtained in 
step A80 and the data for removing the background obtained in step A100. 
An object part for plotting is changed to a part positioned on the further 
front side, and the processes in step A50 and following are repeated until 
the remaining parts become zero (A120, A130). When it is judged "NO" in 
step A60, steps A70 to A110 are passed and when it is judged "NO" in step 
90, the step A100 is passed. 
As described above, when the conversion to bit-map data for all parts is 
completed, the final bit-map data created in the "bit-map data creation 
area" are transferred to a frame buffer for plotting a montage picture 
(A140). Thereby, a montage picture is plotted in the sample display column 
21. 
In order to further clarify the above mentioned processes, the progress of 
creating bit-map data in the bit-map creation area, when a whole face is 
to be plotted, is shown in FIGS. 10A-10H. As shown in the figure, at 
first, a hairdo pattern is plotted (A), then ears are plotted (B), an 
outline of a face is plotted (C), the forelock is plotted (D), the 
eyebrows are plotted (E), the eyes are plotted (F), the nose is plotted 
(G) and the mouth is plotted (H); thus, the montage picture is completed 
in the "bitmap data creation area." The montage picture is plotted as if 
the last bit-map data (H) in the "bit-map data creation area" is placed on 
the sample display column 21. Therefore, the face is displayed in the 
sample display column instantaneously, so that even if outline data are 
used, the operator sees a representation of what is to be printed. 
The progress of making bit-map data in the "bit-map data creation area" 
when the pattern of the mouth is to be changed is shown in FIGS. 11A-11C. 
As shown in the immediate area of the mouth of the figure, at first, the 
hairdo pattern is plotted (A), then the outline of a face is plotted (B) 
and then the mouth is plotted (C). Thus, the montage picture of the 
renewed part is completed in the "bit-map data creation area". The montage 
picture is plotted as if the bit-map data are stuck on the display area of 
the mouth in the sample display column 21. In the case of the mouth, the 
other parts, that is, the forelock, the ears, the eyebrows, the eyes, and 
the nose are not overlapped with the renewal area so that they are not the 
objects for making a bit-map. 
Next, the initialization changing process will be explained. The 
initialization changing process is shown in FIGS. 12A,12B and 13A,13B. 
At first, an initialization setting screen 30 is displayed (B10), as shown 
in FIG. 14. The initialization setting screen 30 includes a reference 
example setting column 31, a hairdo pattern setting column 32, an outline 
of a face setting column 33, an eyebrow setting column 34, an eye setting 
column 35, an OK column 36, a cancel column 37 and a style selection 
display column 38. 
The reference example setting column is a column to display the result of 
selection in selecting a character out of a large number of characters 
such as a "female idol," a "female salaried worker," a "mother," a 
"salaried worker," a "male student," and a "female student." The selection 
of a character is executed by moving a mouse cursor to the reference 
example setting column 31 and executing a right click or by inputting the 
numeral of a character number such as 1, 2, 3, by a numeral key 3MN. A 
third way of selecting a character is also provided. When the left side 
button of the mouse 5 is depressed two times in a short time (hereinafter 
referred to as a double click), a character table 39 is displayed and a 
character can be selected from the table 39 (FIG. 15). 
When a specific character is selected in the reference example setting 
column 31, the attributes of a hairdo pattern, an outline of a face, an 
eyebrow, and an eye for the selected character are automatically selected. 
In the embodiment, three types of a hairdo pattern or attribute, "short," 
"semi-long" and "long" are available for selection and the hairdo patterns 
are numbered in relation to the pattern. Hairdo patterns from number 1 to 
number n, belong to the category of "short," those of number (n+1) to k 
(k&gt;n) belong to the category of "semi-long" and those of number (k+1) to 1 
(1&gt;k) belong to the category of "long"; thus patterns are numbered 
according to the pattern type or attribute. As the attributes, or 
patterns, of a face, there are three types: "round face," "square face" 
and "home base type face." The attributes of an eyebrow are two types: 
"thick" and "thin"; and the attributes of an eye are three types of 
"large," "small" and "thin." 
In the cases of the hairdo pattern setting column 32, the outline of a face 
setting column 33, the eyebrow setting column 34 and the eye setting 
column 35, the respective attributes can be changed independently of the 
character selected as a reference by moving the mouse cursor to any of the 
columns and executing a right click. However, after attributes are set in 
the setting columns 32 to 35, if the character selected in the reference 
example setting column 31 is changed, the attributes of the reference 
character being set by a default rule take preference and they are reset. 
In other words, the setting columns 32 to 35 will be used for fine 
adjustment after the character is selected as a reference example. When 
the attributes are set by key operation, the selection of the display 
column is designated by use of the upper or lower cursor key 3U,3D and the 
attributes are selected by use of the left or right cursor key 3L,3R. 
The OK column 36 and the cancel column 37 function as switches for 
inputting the instructions "OK" or "cancel." The style selection display 
column 38 has the same function as the style selection display column 22 
in the operating area screen 20. Even after an initialization changing 
process, the reference style of a face can be selected. 
After the display of the initialization screen 30 as described in the 
above, the input from the mouse and the keyboard are taken in (B20) and 
one of the processes shown below is executed: a reference example setting 
process (B30: YES, B65), an attribute changing process of a hairdo pattern 
(B40: YES, B45), an attribute changing process of an outline of a face 
(B50: YES, B55), an attribute changing process of an eyebrow (B60: YES, 
B65), or an attribute changing process of an eye (B70: YES, B75). From the 
time when cancel is instructed until the present routine is passed through 
(B80: YES) or from the time when OK is instructed until initialization 
decision process is passed through (B90: YES, B100), the processes can be 
executed repeatedly. 
In the initialization decisional process B100, a default pattern number is 
selected for each respective part based on the attributes being set about 
a hairdo pattern, an outline of a face, an eyebrow, and an eye, and the 
selected pattern is assembled into the montage picture. A montage picture 
plotting process (B110), as above, is then executed. Thereby, a new 
montage picture is plotted in the sample display column 21 based on the 
change of initialization. 
When a montage picture is plotted, based on the change of initialization, 
it is confirmed whether the montage picture is OK (B120). When cancel is 
instructed, the next desirable combination of a hairdo pattern, an outline 
of a face, an eyebrow and an eye is newly selected (B130) and a montage 
picture plotting process is again executed (B110). When OK is instructed, 
the initialization screen is erased (B140) and the present routine is 
passed through. 
In order to cultivate a better understanding of the contents of the 
processes B100 on, an explanation using examples will be presented. 
It is assumed that the "female idol" is selected as a character in the 
reference example setting process. There are many kinds of idols in the 
category of female idols, for example, a singer "A Nakamori," an actress 
"H Yakushimaru" and so on. If an object person for making her montage 
picture looks like "A Nakamori," Nakamori's data will be initialized and 
fine adjustment for the respective parts will be performed; if the object 
person looks like "H Yakushimori" it is desirable to start from "H 
Yakushimaru." In the present embodiment, initialization makes it possible 
to answer such a demand as described above. However, if too many 
characters are provided for selection, for example, "A Nakamori," "H 
Yakushimaru," "M Kikuchi" and so on, the operability in setting a 
reference example will be degraded by too many choices. 
Therefore, in answering such demands, and also in consideration of 
operability, it is arranged that following the decision of the attribute 
of initialization in step B100, the display can be changed to a next 
candidate, a candidate following the next, satisfying the condition in the 
initialization. Thereby, when an operator sets "female idol," he can 
easily select a likeness of a person being prepared as the first candidate 
"A Nakamori," the second candidate "H Yakushimaru," the third candidate "M 
Kukuchi" and so on, as a starting condition. It is also arranged to make 
it possible to select in step B130, not the next candidate, but the 
preceding candidate by giving a left click to the cancel column 37 or by 
depressing the shift key 3S together with the cancel key 3Z. 
Next, the style selecting process (S35), that is, selection of a face 
style, will be explained using FIGS. 16A,16B. The selection of a style can 
be executed in the initialization changing process, however the style 
selecting process (S35) is normally a process for selecting a style in the 
operating area screen 20 as shown in FIG. 5. In the process, the input 
from a mouse and a keyboard (C10) are taken in and a style is selected 
(C20). When OK is instructed, the style is decided (C30, C40). 
The part selection process (S45) will be explained using in FIGS. 17A to 
19B. When the part selecting process is started, it is judged whether the 
selection of a part is performed by a key input or a mouse (D10). In the 
case of the key input, a part is selected according to the instruction of 
the upper or lower cursor key 3U,3D (D20). On the other hand, in the case 
of the mouse input, it is judged whether the instruction is a double click 
(depression of the button on the mouse 5 two times in a short time) or a 
single click (depression of the button on the mouse 5 once) (D30), and 
when the instruction is a single click, the process moves to a single 
click process (D100) and when the instruction is a double click, the 
process moves to a double click process (D200). 
In the case of the single click process, as shown in FIGS. 18A,18B, the 
data of coordinates on the display at a click point (the position of a 
mouse cursor at the time of the click) are taken in (D100). In the same 
way as step A20 in the montage picture plotting process, the whole 
occupation area of the montage picture, that is, the whole area of the 
sample display column 21 is acquired (D120). 
Next, although the montage picture may be thought of as layered from back 
to front, i.e., from hair to nose, the object part for selection, that is, 
the part being positioned, is treated as the most front part in the face 
during positioning (D130). If spectacles are used as a part, and eyes 
selected, the eyes are set as if they are positioned in front of the 
spectacles. 
Next, the original occupation area of the object part being selected is 
contracted in proportion to the ratio of the original whole area to the 
whole area acquired in step D120 and the data of coordinates of the 
contracted area are calculated (D140). The process in step D140 is the 
same as that in step A50 of the montage picture plotting process. 
Next, the coordinate data on the display, when the contracted occupation 
area of the object part for selection in step D140 is displayed in the 
sample display column 21 are calculated (D150). It is judged whether the 
coordinate data acquired in step D150, are overlapped with the coordinate 
data of the mouse click point taken in step D110 (D160). When it is judged 
that they are not overlapped with each other, it is judged whether there 
is a part behind the part being set at present (D170). If there is, the 
object part for selection is reset in the position of a part behind it, 
and the step of process returns to D140 (D180). Until a part which is 
judged "YES" in step D160 is found, the processes of step D140 to D180 are 
repeated. On the other hand, when it is judged "YES" in step D160, the 
name of the object part for selection is displayed in the part selection 
display column 23 in the operating area screen 20, and a state where the 
pattern selection of the part is possible is set (D190). 
In the case of a double click process, processes having the same contents 
as those in steps D110 to D180 are executed (D210 to D290). Following the 
process in step 290, as a distinction of the double click process, for 
example, a pattern table 40 as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed overlapping 
the operating area screen 20 (D300). The figure is the same as the table 
when the forelock is selected as a part. 
Next, the part size changing process (S55) will be explained using FIGS. 
21A,21B. At first, the operation of a mouse is read, and it is specified 
what part is designated as a part to be changed (E10). The specification 
is performed by using the relationship of overlap between the click point 
and the occupation area of a part in the same way as in the case of the 
steps D110 to D180 described above. When a part to be changed is 
specified, an original occupation area of the object part to be changed is 
acquired (E20). When the left eye of a child is designated, a rectangular 
area denoted by PAeyeL in Table 1, that is, (212, 198) and (299, 247) is 
acquired. 
Next, a part size changing process menu 50 is displayed as shown in FIG. 
22A (E30). At this time, the present occupation area is compared with the 
original occupation area and the present state is checked (E40), and the 
present state is marked, in the menu 50 with a check mark (E50). A state 
where sizes of eyes have been changed to a little larger state than that 
in the original occupation area is shown in FIG. 22A. 
Next, it is judged what state in the menu 50 is selected by the operator 
based on the operating state of the mouse and/or key (E60 to E100), and 
the occupation area is changed to the respective size (E110 to E150). 
Specifically, in the "standard," the occupation area is returned to a 
rectangle of the original occupation area (E110), in the "a little large," 
the original occupation area is enlarged to a rectangle having both length 
and breadth of 1.2 times of those of the original occupation area (E120), 
in the "a little small" the original occupation area is contracted to a 
rectangle having both length and breadth of 0.8 times (E130), in the 
"longer in length" the original occupation area is changed to a rectangle 
having the length of 1.2 times and the breadth of 0.9 times (E140), and in 
the "longer in breadth" the original occupation area is changed to a 
rectangle having the length of 0.9 times and the breadth of 1.2 times. 
When the occupation area is changed, as described above, the occupation 
area is renewed to the state where the area center of the occupation area 
before the change and the area center of the occupation area after the 
change are made to coincide with each other (E160). Then, the part size 
changing menu 50 is closed (E180). If a cancel control is executed before 
a state, such as the "standard", is decided, the menu 50 is closed without 
executing the renewal of an occupation area (E170, YES). 
When the execution of the part size changing process is executed, as shown 
in the main routine (FIGS. 6A,6B), the montage picture plotting process 
(S10) is executed. FIG. 22B shows an example in which the left eye was 
selected as an object part for changing size and only its size was changed 
to "a little small" from the original state where both eyes had been set 
in the size of "a little large." 
Next, the left-right linkage mode setting process (S65) will be explained. 
The process is shown in FIGS. 23A,23B. 
At first, it is judged whether the mode change is instructed (F10). The 
judgment in F10 becomes "YES" every time when the display column of the 
left-right linkage mode is clicked by a mouse or a left-right linkage key 
3X is depressed. It is then judged whether the preceding mode is a linkage 
mode (F20). If the preceding mode is the "linkage mode," the mode is 
changed to the "non-linkage mode" (F30) and a check mark in the left-right 
linkage instruction column 25 is erased (F40). On the other hand, if the 
preceding mode is the "non-linkage mode," the mode is changed to the 
"linkage mode" (F50) and a check mark is given to the left-right linkage 
instruction column 25 (F60). In addition to providing or removing the 
check mark, the data showing the result of the above operation are stored 
in the RAM. 
Next, the pattern selection process (S75) will be explained using FIGS. 
24A,24B. At first, it is judged whether the object parts for pattern 
selection are "eyes" or "ears" (G10). In the case where the judgment is 
"YES," it is judged whether the left-right linkage mode is set based on 
the data stored in the RAM (G20). When the left-right linkage mode is set 
(G20:YES), a twin part is also compulsorily set to be an object part for 
pattern selection (G30). That is, when the linkage mode is ON, for 
example, if a "right eye" is set as an object part for pattern selection, 
the "left eye" is also compulsorily set to be an object part for 
selection, and the following process is executed. On the other hand, when 
the left-right non-linkage is set (G20: NO) or a part other than an "eye" 
or an "ear" is selected (G10: NO), the processes of step G40 and downward 
are executed for the selected part. 
In G40, it is judged whether selection of a pattern is performed with key 
input or a mouse. In the case of the key input, as described above, the 
pattern is selected according to the instruction with the left or the 
right cursor key 3L,3R (G50). In the case of the mouse input, it is judged 
whether part selection is performed using a double click or a single click 
process (G60). In the case of selection of the single click process, the 
process moves to the single click process (G100) and in the case of 
selection of the double click, the process moves to the double click 
process (G200). 
In the single click process, as shown in FIGS. 25A,25B, it is confirmed 
that the mouse cursor is moved to the pattern value display column 24 
(G110). When the mouse cursor is moved to the pattern value display column 
24, a scroll bar is moved corresponding to the click-drag operation of the 
mouse (G120). Releasing the click-drag stops operation of the scroll bar 
and the pattern value is decided simultaneously (G130). 
On the other hand, when the mouse cursor is not moved to the pattern value 
display column 24, it is judged whether the mouse is right clicked or left 
clicked (G140). In the case of a right click, the pattern value is 
incremented (G150) and in the case of a left click, the pattern value is 
decremented (G160). In steps G150, G160, the position of the slider in the 
pattern value display column 24 is moved corresponding to the increment or 
the decrement. When a pattern value reaches a maximum value by the 
increment, it moves to a minimum value by the next right click and the 
value is again incremented. A similar result occurs in the case of the 
decrement. As described above, when a pattern value is decided in steps 
G130, G150 or G160, the routine is finished, and the montage picture 
plotting process, as shown in step S10, is executed and the pattern 
selected at present is replotted in the sample screen. 
In the process of a double click, as shown in FIGS. 26A,26B, at first, it 
is judged whether the mouse cursor is clicked outside the pattern table 40 
(G210). When the mouse cursor is clicked outside the pattern table 40, the 
table 40 is erased, and the present process is completed (G260). 
On the other hand, when the mouse cursor is clicked inside the pattern 
table 40, it is judged whether the click point is on a pattern, on the 
scroll bar, or on the OK or cancel switch (G220, G230, G240, and G250). 
When the cursor is on the pattern, the pattern value of the pattern is 
adopted as a candidate for selection (G225). When the cursor is on the 
scroll bar, the contents of the table are scrolled (G235). When the cursor 
is on the OK switch, the pattern value being selected as a candidate is 
adopted, and the renewal of the pattern value and the positioning of the 
slider in the display column 24 are executed (G245), the table is erased 
(G260), and the present routine is completed. When the cursor is on the 
cancel switch, the table is erased (G260) without renewing the pattern 
value, and the present routine is completed. 
As described above, in the selection process of a pattern involving twin 
parts, since either the linkage mode or the non-linkage mode can be 
adopted, there are such effects as shown below. 
For example, when there is a pattern of a girl's face with eyes widely 
opened as shown in FIG. 27A, if the non-linkage mode is set and the left 
eye pattern is changed to a pattern of a closed eye, it is possible to 
obtain a pattern of a face that is winking, as shown in FIG. 27B. On the 
other hand, if a linkage mode is set and the left eye pattern in the state 
shown in FIG. 27A is changed to a closed eye pattern, the face pattern is 
changed to a face pattern of a girl with both eyes closed as shown in FIG. 
27C. In both FIGS. 27B and 27C, the same closed eye pattern is selected as 
a pattern for the left eye, however, the faces of quite different 
expressions can be obtained by the difference between using the left-right 
linkage mode and the non-linkage mode. Only an eye pattern in a closed 
state is good enough to create the above mentioned faces of quite 
different expressions, and the quantity of patterns to be stored can be 
limited. 
It is possible to create a winking face pattern without increasing the 
quantity of patterns using only the non-linkage mode; however when the 
expression shown in FIG. 27A is changed to the expression shown in FIG. 
27C, the number of operations is increased if there is only a non-linkage 
mode. 
In the case of the present embodiment, it is possible to switch a mode to a 
linkage mode, so that the expression shown in FIG. 27A can be easily 
changed to the expression shown in FIG. 27C without increasing the number 
of operations. 
As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to create 
faces of various expressions without increasing the storage quantity of 
patterns and it is also possible to change expressions by keeping the 
symmetry of patterns of left and right eyes or ears without increasing the 
number of operations owing to the arrangement that the linkage mode can be 
switched over to the non-linkage mode and vice versa. 
In the part selection process and the pattern selection process, it is 
possible to perform pattern selection by directly designating a part on 
the sample screen by the click operation of a mouse, so that an operator 
can designate a part whose pattern is to be changed without moving his 
eyes. In the single click process, patterns are successively displayed one 
after another by simply repeating clicks of a mouse so that an operator 
can monitor the patterns without moving his eyes and the image kept in his 
mind is not destroyed. As a result, operability is upgraded. 
The apparatus is also able to display a pattern table 40 by using a double 
click process so that pattern selection can be performed to directly 
compare patterns having delicate differences, which upgrades the 
operability of the apparatus greatly. For example, it is effective in a 
case where the image of a person is clear to a certain degree but it is 
desirable to show a delicate shade of expression. 
Next, the part moving process (S85) will now be explained using FIGS. 
28A,28B. In the part moving process, a limit is provided according to the 
kind of a part, so that, at first, the kind of an object part for movement 
is to be determined (H10). 
When the determined object part for movement is a "hairdo pattern" or an 
"outline of face" (H20: YES), the routine is completed. 
When an object part for movement is an "eyebrow," a "nose," a "mouth," or a 
"forelock" (H30: YES), the drag operation distance of a mouse is taken in 
(H32). The drag operation distance in the horizontal direction is made to 
be 0 regardless of movement (H34). The drag operation quantity in the 
vertical direction is first judged whether it is out of the outline of the 
face (H36). If it is out of the outline, it is treated as movement 0 and 
the present routine is completed as it is. Only when movement is not out 
of the outline, is the movement quantity in the vertical direction 
calculated (H38). 
When the object parts for movement are "eyes" or "ears" on both sides (H40: 
YES), at first, it is judged whether the left-right linkage mode is set or 
not (H42). When the left-right linkage mode is OFF, that is, when the 
left-right non-linkage mode is set, the drag operation quantities of a 
mouse cursor in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are 
calculated as the movement quantity of the part (H44). 
On the other hand, when the left-right linkage mode is ON, the twin parts 
are set as object parts for moving to symmetrical positions on both sides 
(H50). In other words, when the linkage mode is ON, when a "right eye" is 
set as an object part for movement, a "left eye" is also set compulsorily 
as an object part for movement and it is moved to a symmetrical position 
with respect to the center line. In the following process, the movement 
quantities of parts on both sides are calculated (H52). Specifically, the 
components of the drag operation quantity of the mouse cursor in the 
vertical and horizontal directions are calculated as the movement quantity 
of a twin part designated by an operator as they are, and the operation 
quantity in the horizontal direction of a reversed sign is calculated as 
the movement quantity of the other twin part which is compulsorily 
designated as the object part for movement in step H50. 
As described above, in the part moving process, the movable range is 
limited according to the kind of part. Because of this, even in a case 
where an unskilled operator drags a mouse carelessly during the movement 
of a part, the operator cannot cause the destruction of the relative 
locations of the parts. 
The operation mentioned above will be explained further referring to 
specific examples. When the operator wants to move the position of the 
nose a little upward as shown in FIG. 29C, from an original face as shown 
in FIG. 29A, even if the operator drags a mouse at an angle, as shown by 
the arrow a in FIG. 29B, the occupation area PAn of the nose can only move 
upward as shown by the arrow b. As a result, the operator is able to move 
the pattern of the nose without anxiety, even if not a skilled operator, 
and a smooth change of the dispositions of parts is possible. 
In the part movement process for the eyes and ears, the left-right linkage 
mode and the non-linkage mode can be switched over between one another; 
therefore, the effects as described below can be obtained. In the linkage 
mode, where a face, as shown in FIG. 30A, is to be changed to a face with 
a narrower interval between the eyes, as shown in FIG. 30C, the operation 
of moving a single eye, a very simple operation, is sufficient, as shown 
in FIG. 30B. Furthermore, since the eyes are disposed symmetrically, their 
relative positions are correct. 
On the other hand, the effect obtained using the non-linkage mode can be 
easily understood by referring to the example shown in FIGS. 31A-31C. A 
pattern of a face in which only one ear is seen, as shown in FIG. 31C, can 
be easily obtained by moving only the right ear to be concealed behind the 
face. In this case, there is also an effect of decreasing the storage 
quantity of patterns, that is, a variety of expressions can be created 
without increasing the storage quantity for patterns similar to the case 
of creating a winking face. 
Next, the processes from the montage picture decisional process (S95) to 
the output data registering process (S130) will be explained. As described 
above, the montage picture decisional process (S95) is executed by 
clicking the OK column 26 in the operating area screen 20 or depressing 
the OK key 3Y when the desired face pattern is obtained starting from the 
preceding montage picture data or from the revised preceding montage 
picture data obtained by the change of initialization through the 
operations of the selection of a style, the selection of a pattern, the 
movement of parts, the changes of part sizes, and so on. In the montage 
picture decisional process, the pattern values of the respective parts, 
the sizes of occupation areas and the dispositions of the respective parts 
selected at the time are stored in a storage device. The data will be 
acquired and set as the preceding montage picture data in the step S5 of 
the main routine in the next execution of making a montage picture. 
The output picture plotting process (S100), as shown in FIGS. 32A,32B, is 
the same process as the montage picture plotting process (S10). At first, 
the default value of a plotting area (in the embodiment: 128 
dots.times.120 dots) is read (J10) and a bit-map data creation area 
corresponding to the plotting area is acquired and initialized (J20). 
Following this, the ratio of the plotting area to the original area of the 
montage picture (400 dots.times.400 dots) is obtained (J30), the parts are 
set in order from a back side part, that is from a hairdo pattern, the 
ears, an outline of a face, and so on (J40), and the outline data are 
converted into bit-map data by enlarging or contracting the sizes of parts 
(J50) corresponding to the ratio calculated in step J30. When the bit-map 
data of all parts are completed (J60), the final bit-map data of the whole 
face are transferred to a frame buffer for plotting, and a picture is 
plotted in the plotting area screen 10 (J70). Thereby, a montage picture 
is plotted in the plotting area screen 10 occupying the lower half of the 
display, at a dot density equal to that of the output to a tape writer. 
In the scaling process (S120), the montage picture in the plotting area 
screen 10 is enlarged or contracted in similar figures. The details are as 
shown in FIGS. 33A,33B. At first, it is judged whether a designation for 
enlargement is given by a right click of a mouse or by depressing the 
right cursor key 3R (K10). If not, it is further judged whether a 
designation for contraction is given by a left click of the mouse or by 
depressing the left cursor key (K20). If neither, the process is 
completed. If it is judged "YES" in step K10, a predetermined number of 
dots in length and breadth are added to the present plotting area to 
enlarge the plotting area (K30) and the process is completed. If the 
judgment in step K20 is "YES," a predetermined number of dots in length 
and breadth are subtracted from the present plotting area to contract the 
plotting area (K40), and the process is completed. 
After enlargement or contraction of the picture plotting area, the above 
mentioned output picture plotting process (S100) is executed, and a 
picture after enlargement or contraction is plotted in the picture 
plotting screen 10. 
When a montage picture is enlarged or contracted to a size suited to an 
output medium intended by the operator and OK is input, the process is 
advanced to the output data registration process (S130) and the bit-map 
data for output are stored in a storage device. When the bit-map data are 
transferred to an output device, such as a tape writer or a laser printer, 
a montage picture is output on an adhesive tape or a sheet of paper as 
appropriate. 
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the size of the 
montage picture can be enlarged or contracted to suit a final output 
medium. In the case of enlargement or contraction, since a method is 
adopted in which after the outline data are enlarged or contracted they 
are converted to the bit-map data, a montage picture of good quality can 
be obtained having no conspicuous notches. 
Examples expressing the technical idea contained in the embodiment will now 
be described. 
EXAMPLE 1 
A montage picture making apparatus capable of showing delicate expressions 
of a montage picture with disposed parts having good balance or changing 
the ratio of length to breadth of a pattern to be capable of being used in 
a variety of ways, and capable of being used by an unskilled operator has 
a storage means for storing a plurality of patterns for respective parts, 
such as a hairdo pattern, an eye, a nose and a mouth; an occupation area 
decision means for determining the occupation areas for respective parts 
on the screen; a selection means for selecting a desired pattern of a 
desired part from the storage means; a display size decision means for 
deciding the display size of a pattern so that the pattern of a selected 
part can be adapted to the occupation area of the part in an appropriately 
scaled state; and a pattern display means for displaying the pattern in 
the occupation area determined for the part with the decided display size. 
In the case of the montage picture making apparatus as described above, the 
occupation areas of the respective parts on the screen are determined by 
the occupation area decision means so that when the patterns of respective 
parts, such as a hairdo pattern, an eye, a nose and a mouth are selected, 
the display size decision means determines the display sizes of the 
patterns of respective parts so that they can be adapted to their 
occupation areas in the appropriately scaled states. The pattern display 
means displays the patterns of respective parts on the screen based on the 
display sizes. Thus, a montage picture is created. 
Therefore, when an occupation area is decided, if the area is a rectangle 
for example, a pattern can be used to display a variety of expressions by 
changing the ratio of the length to the breadth. Thereby, it is possible 
to make montage pictures being rich in variation without increasing the 
storage quantity for patterns. 
Since the shape of a pattern is decided according to the shape of the 
occupation area, when an occupation area is a rectangle for example, 
little skill is needed to decide the ratio of the length to the breadth, 
and the display mode of a pattern is unitarily decided by deciding the 
occupation area, so that there is no need to perform the difficult 
techniques described in European Patent Publication No. 584759. 
In the montage picture making apparatus, it is desirable to provide the 
occupation area decision means with an occupation area stipulation means 
by face types which predetermines the balance among the occupation areas 
of respective parts according to the face type. 
When a montage picture making apparatus is structured as described above, a 
face of an adult can be immediately changed to a face of a child by simply 
selecting a face type. In other words, at first a face type of an adult is 
selected and after that, patterns of parts are selected; then, display 
sizes are decided so that the patterns are adapted to their respective 
occupation areas in a predetermined state and the face of an adult is 
displayed; in this state, if the face type is changed to that of a child, 
even though patterns are not newly selected, the display is changed so 
that the respective patterns are adapted to the occupation areas for a 
child face type and the face is immediately changed to the face of a 
child. In such a mode as described above, a montage picture is made. 
Therefore, interesting montage pictures can be created, for example from a 
face of an adult, the person's face as a child can be easily portrayed and 
suchlike. As a result, the use of the invention is able to answer a 
variety of demands of users. 
Further in the montage picture making apparatus, it is desirable to provide 
the apparatus with an occupation area adjustment means for adjusting the 
positions of the occupation areas of the parts on the screen, or to 
provide the apparatus with an occupation area size adjustment means for 
adjusting the sizes of the occupation areas on the screen. 
Owing to the structure described above, the degree of freedom in expression 
is further increased, for example, by changing the height or the interval 
of eyes, in expressing large eyes or small eyes using one type of an eye, 
and suchlike. The operation to lengthen or shorten the length or the 
breadth can be performed with a single operation of changing the 
occupation area; thus, the operability in the present embodiment is 
improved to be far better in comparison with that described in European 
Patent Publication No. 584759. 
The patterns to be adapted to occupation areas can be expressed in the 
bit-map system, but it is further preferable to store the patterns of 
respective parts as outline data in the storage means, and to determine 
the display sizes so that the patterns of selected parts can be adapted to 
the occupation areas in the state of outline data in the predetermined 
state. In the case of outline data, even if the ratio of the length to the 
breadth is changed, the patterns finally displayed on the screen look 
beautiful without having notches caused by bits. 
EXAMPLE 2 
A montage picture making apparatus in which display quality is not 
deteriorated in enlargement or contraction and even if the capacity of 
patterns of parts is made small, a variety of expressions of faces can be 
obtained from a storage means for storing a plurality of patterns in the 
form of outline data for each part such as a hairdo pattern, an eye, a 
nose or a mouth; a selection means for selecting a desired pattern of a 
desired part from the storage means; and a montage picture display means 
for displaying a montage picture on the screen. 
According to the montage picture making apparatus, a montage picture is 
displayed on the screen based on the outline data of patterns, so that 
even if the whole picture is enlarged the edges of dots are not 
conspicuous and even if it is contracted details are not lost. 
In this montage making apparatus, it is preferable to provide the apparatus 
with an enlargement-contraction means for enlarging or contracting the 
selected pattern of the selected part in the state of outline data. In 
this case, for example, even if only a part is enlarged, the edges of dots 
in the display of the part do not differ from those of other parts being 
displayed in the standard magnification and the degree of conspicuousness 
of edges of dots in the whole picture is constant. 
In the case of the montage picture making apparatus as described above, it 
is preferable that the montage picture display means is provided with a 
bit-map conversion means for converting the outline data of a pattern of 
the selected part into the picture display information in bit-map 
expression and a bit-map display means for displaying a montage picture 
based on the picture display information in bit-map expression. 
When an operator intends to display a picture on a screen with outline data 
as it is; for example, as the operator experiences in CAD, the picture is 
displayed by lines drawn in order. Therefore, in particular when the 
operation to change the display for enlargement, contraction, movement, 
etc., the lines are drawn in order from the beginning, which irritates the 
operator. On the other hand, in the case where the apparatus is so 
constituted as described above in the invention, when a picture is 
displayed on a screen, since the picture is composed of bit-map data, the 
drawing of lines in order is not observed and the display is changed as if 
the screen is changed at a breath. Therefore, there is an effect that 
viewers are not irritated. 
In this case it is preferable that the conversion means to bit-map data is 
provided with a picture changing range extraction means for extracting the 
range in which part of the whole picture is to be changed before and after 
the change of display when the operation of changing display is performed, 
such as the change of a pattern, enlargement, contraction, movement of 
patterns, and a partial conversion means to bit-map data which functions 
concerning only the extracted range, to form picture display information 
by bit-map expression concerning the above mentioned change, etc. It is 
also preferable that the bit-map display means is provided with a partial 
display change means for changing the display of a montage picture in the 
extracted range. 
In the case where only an eye pattern is to be changed or moved, concerning 
a part which is not overlapped with the eye pattern, such as a mouth or a 
nose, the redoing of conversion to bit-map data is not needed, which makes 
it possible to shorten the time for a display change. 
EXAMPLE 3 
A montage picture making apparatus, in which the balance or positions among 
the parts in a face is not collapsed beyond a certain extent, has a 
storage means for storing a plurality of patterns for respective parts, 
such as a hairdo pattern, an eye, a nose and a mouth; a selection means 
for selecting a desirable pattern of a desirable part from the storage 
means; a montage picture display means for displaying a montage picture on 
the screen based on the selected pattern; and a display position change 
means for changing the position of a part to be displayed. The above 
mentioned display position change means includes a means provided with a 
degree of freedom decision means of position change for deciding the 
degree of freedom of position change corresponding to the kind of a part. 
According to this montage picture making apparatus, it is possible to 
change the display positions of respective parts on the screen after the 
display of a montage picture on the screen based on the selected parts 
from respective parts, such as a hairdo pattern, an eye, a nose and a 
mouth. In the case of the change of a display position, the degree of 
freedom decision means for position change is operated, which makes the 
position change possible only in the range of the degree of freedom for a 
position change corresponding to the kind of a part. In other words, a 
position change exceeding the degrees of freedom is prohibited. 
Specifically, for twin parts, such as eyes or ears, the degree of freedom 
decision means for position change is able to limit the degrees of freedom 
of parts in such a way that when a position of a twin part is changed, 
another twin part is forced to move to a symmetrical position. Thereby, a 
state is prevented where the balance in the heights of the left eye and 
the right eye is broken or where the right eye becomes closer to the 
center line than the left eye. In another example, the degree of freedom 
decision means for position change is able to limit the degrees of freedom 
of parts to be disposed on the center line such as a nose or a mouth in 
such a way that they are able to move only in the vertical direction. 
Thereby, such a case does not occur where a nose or a mouth is shifted to 
the left or the right. 
Further, the degree of freedom decision means for position change is able 
to limit the degrees of freedom in such a way that the basic parts of a 
face, such as an outline of a face and a hairdo pattern, are prohibited 
from movement. In this case, the basic parts of a face, such as a hairdo 
pattern and an outline of a face are not erroneously moved. 
It is also possible that the degree of freedom decision means for position 
change limits the degrees of freedom of parts to be positioned inside a 
face so they cannot be moved outside the face. In this case, even if an 
operator intends to move the eyes, for example, a large distance, they 
cannot be moved to the outside of the face. 
As described above, the degrees of freedom of parts is limited 
corresponding to the kind of a part; thereby even if an operator 
carelessly instructs the movement of a part, the relative positions of the 
parts are not changed and the repositioning of the parts is also easy. 
Therefore, even an unskilled operator is able to change the disposition of 
parts freely in the optimum range of movement and the operation becomes 
simple. 
EXAMPLE 4 
A montage picture making apparatus, in which an expression of wink, is 
possible without increasing the capacity of a memory, and the movement or 
change of twin parts is simple, has a storage means for storing a 
plurality of patterns for respective parts, such as a hairdo pattern, an 
eye, a nose and a mouth; a selection means for selecting a desired pattern 
of a desired part from the storage means; and a montage picture display 
means for displaying a montage picture on the screen based on the selected 
pattern. 
In the above mentioned selection means for the twin parts, such as eyes and 
ears, there are two modes, an independent selecting mode in which a part 
on one side can be independently selected and a simultaneous selecting 
mode in which both of the twin parts are simultaneously selected. 
According to the montage picture making apparatus, in the independent 
selecting mode, the selection means can select a pattern on one side, such 
as an eye or an ear, so that there is no need to prepare patterns of both 
eyes in a wink state to express a wink state. On the other hand, in the 
case of the simultaneous selecting mode, eyes or ears on both sides can be 
simultaneously selected, and in the ordinary part selecting period, twin 
parts can be simultaneously selected during one selecting operation. Thus, 
the selecting operation is simplified. 
Another montage picture making apparatus according to the invention has a 
storage means for storing a plurality of patterns of respective parts, 
such as a hairdo pattern, an eye, a nose and a mouth; a selection means 
for selecting a desired pattern of a desired part from the storage means; 
a montage picture display means for displaying a montage picture on the 
screen based on the selected pattern; and a display position change means 
for changing the display position of a part being displayed on the screen 
by the montage picture display means. The above mentioned display position 
change means for twin parts, such as eyes or ears, is so structured that 
two modes, an independent movement mode in which one twin part can be 
independently moved and a simultaneous movement mode in which both of the 
twin parts are moved simultaneously can be used by executing a changeover 
operation. 
According to the montage picture making apparatus, in the independent 
movement mode, a variety of expressions is possible. For example, one eye 
can be disposed closer to the center line or the sizes of exposed parts of 
ears made different from each other. Moreover, there is no need to 
increase the storage capacity. On the other hand, in the simultaneous 
movement mode, the heights of eyes or ears on both sides can be changed 
simultaneously or the interval between eyes can be changed keeping 
symmetry with respect to the center line. Thus, complex operations can be 
avoided in the ordinary part moving operation. 
EXAMPLE 5 
A montage picture making apparatus, in which an initial picture is not 
fixed and can be selected out of a plurality of variations, having a 
storage means for storing a plurality of patterns for respective parts on 
a face, such as a hairdo pattern, an eye, a nose and a mouth in 
correlating the patterns with the characteristic information concerning 
the expressions of montage pictures; a privileged condition setting means 
for setting the characteristic information concerning the expressions of 
montage pictures including patterns to be selected with priority when the 
patterns of respective parts are selected from the storage means; and an 
initial picture display means for displaying a montage picture formed with 
selected patterns as an initial picture, the patterns which are selected 
as first candidates, at least concerning a part of parts, based on the 
contents set by the privileged condition setting means. 
In the montage picture making apparatus as described above, the apparatus 
further having an initial picture changing instruction means for 
instructing the change of an initial picture; and an initial picture 
change means for changing the initial montage picture to the one formed 
with second candidate patterns which are reselected, at least concerning 
one part of the parts, as the second candidates satisfying the conditions 
set by the privileged condition setting means when the change of the 
initial picture is instructed by the initial picture changing instruction 
means. 
According to the montage picture making apparatus noted above, when the 
characteristic information of a face of a certain type is set by the 
privileged condition setting means, the initial picture display means, at 
least concerning one part of the parts, selects a first candidate pattern 
based on the set contents and displays a face as an initial picture. In 
this case if the image of the initial picture is different from the 
expected one, the change of the initial picture is instructed by the 
initial picture changing instruction means. Then, the initial picture 
change means reselects patterns, at least concerning one part of the 
parts, as the second candidate pattern which satisfies the condition set 
by the privileged condition setting means and the initial picture is 
changed to the one formed with the parts of the second candidate pattern. 
After an initial picture which is closest to the expected image is 
displayed, the process is moved to the change of respective parts. In the 
result, an initial picture can be selected with a certain degree of 
flexibility, and a montage picture which matches to one's image can be 
made faster than ever. 
In the case of the above mentioned montage picture making apparatus, it is 
preferable that the initial picture changing instruction means is capable 
of instructing an initial picture to return to the preceding picture and 
the apparatus is provided with an initial picture reversing means which 
returns an initial picture to the preceding initial picture when it is 
instructed to do so. 
Since there is no absolute scale to judge whether a picture is closest to 
an expected image, operability of an apparatus can be upgraded by the 
arrangement to make an initial picture to be switched immediately to the 
next candidate and also to the preceding candidate. 
As described above, in the case of a montage picture making apparatus 
according to the invention, not only the characteristic information for 
selecting in priority order the respective parts is set but also an 
initial picture itself can be selected with some flexibility. Therefore, 
when the apparatus is compared with the technique described in Japanese 
Laid-open Patent Publication No. 4-338877, in which only the priority 
order of patterns can be decided, in the case of the invention, it is 
possible to bring the starting condition of making a montage picture close 
to one's image easily. Thereby, operability is improved remarkably and 
even an unskilled operator can reach a desirable montage picture in a 
short time. 
EXAMPLE 6 
A montage picture making apparatus in which patterns can be selected 
without destroying the basic image having a storage means for storing a 
plurality of patterns of respective parts, such as a hairdo pattern, an 
eye, a nose and a mouth; a selection means for selecting a desired pattern 
of a desired part from the storage means; and a montage picture display 
means for displaying a montage picture on the screen based on the selected 
patterns. 
In the above mentioned montage making apparatus, the selection means 
includes one which has an arbitrary point specification means for 
specifying an arbitrary point on the screen displaying the montage 
picture; a part discrimination means for discriminating a part 
corresponding to the specified point from others based on the 
corresponding relations between the point specified by the arbitrary point 
specification means and the displayed positions of respective parts 
composing the montage picture; and a selection start means which makes the 
start of selection of patterns from the storage means possible concerning 
the parts discriminated by the part discrimination means. 
In the case of the montage picture making apparatus, when an arbitrary 
point on the screen is specified by the arbitrary point specification 
means, the part discrimination means discriminates the part corresponding 
to the specified point from other parts based on the corresponding 
relationship between the specified point and each of these parts composing 
the montage picture. The selection start means makes it possible to start 
the selection of the part from the storage means based on the result of 
the part discrimination. 
Therefore, an operator is able to specify a part having a pattern to be 
changed without moving his eyes from the screen and he can select an 
optimum pattern without breaking his image. 
The selection start means in the above mentioned montage picture making 
apparatus, in which comparison between parts are easy when they are 
selected, includes one having a table display means for showing a table of 
pictures of patterns of the part for which the selection of patterns is 
made possible; a second arbitrary point specification means for specifying 
an arbitrary point on the screen displayed by the table display means; a 
pattern discrimination means for discriminating the pattern corresponding 
to the specified point based on the corresponding relationship between the 
point specified by the second arbitrary point specification means and each 
of the respective patterns shown in the table; and a pattern change means 
for changing the display of a montage picture based on the pattern 
discriminated from others by the pattern discrimination means. 
In the case of the montage picture making apparatus as described above, the 
patterns belonging to a kind of part are displayed as a picture in a 
table, the part of which the start of pattern selection is allowed by the 
specification of an arbitrary point on the screen. A pattern corresponding 
to the specified point is discriminated based on corresponding 
relationship between the specified point and the displayed position of 
each of these respective patterns shown in the table. Thus, the display of 
a montage picture is changed. 
As a result, an operator is able to select an optimum pattern by comparing 
patterns as pictures and a more preferable pattern can be easily selected. 
EXAMPLE 7 
The technical ideas, at least, shown in examples 1 to 6 can be combined as 
two or more ideas. 
As described above, the embodiment according to the invention is explained. 
However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment. For example, an 
occupation area of a part or a part frame can be expressed with circles, 
not with rectangles and many other modifications can be made by those 
skilled in the art.