Electronic album generating apparatus, stereoscopic image pasting apparatus, and methods and programs for controlling operation of same

Viewing of stereoscopic images is facilitated for every page of an electronic album. A page constituting an electronic album is selected. A stereoscopic image is then selected and the selected stereoscopic image is pasted in an image compositing area. An amount of parallax has been defined for the image compositing area, and the amount of parallax of the image compositing area in which the stereoscopic image has been pasted is read. The amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image is changed to that of the image compositing area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an electronic album generating apparatus and a stereoscopic image pasting apparatus and to methods and programs for controlling the operation thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

When an album is to be created utilizing a computer, the features of images in layout frames are described in a template. According to a conventional technique, the features of a plurality of images are compared and images that match are selected as candidate images to be placed in the layout frames (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-72934). However, if an image one is attempting to paste in a desired layout frame does not possess the feature corresponding to this layout frame, the image cannot be pasted in the layout frame. Further, since the amount of stereoscopic pop-up (depth perception) of a stereoscopic image is not uniquely decided when a stereoscopic image is displayed, there is a technique for adjusting the amount of pop-up (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-45584). Since the amount of pop-up varies depending upon enlargement and reduction of image size, there is a technique for determining whether a changed amount of pop-up falls within parallax limits (see Japanese Patent No. 4259913).

However, in a case where a stereoscopic image is pasted in an electronic album, no consideration has been given to so arranging it that the viewing of stereoscopic images is facilitated on every page of an electronic album.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to so arrange it that when stereoscopic images are pasted into an electronic album, the stereoscopic images are easy to view on every page of the electronic album.

Another object of the present invention is to so arrange it that when stereoscopic images are pasted into a template, the stereoscopic images are easy to view.

An electronic album generating apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: an image pasting device (image pasting means) for pasting a stereoscopic image on a page constituting an electronic album, wherein a parallax amount for a stereoscopic display has been defined for each page of the electronic album, the electronic album having a plurality of pages on which stereoscopic images are to be pasted (one or a plurality of stereoscopic images may be pasted on a page); a parallax-amount reading device (parallax-amount reading means) for reading a parallax amount that has been defined for the page on which the stereoscopic image has been pasted by the image pasting device; and a parallax-amount changing device (parallax-amount changing means) for changing a parallax amount, which has been defined for the stereoscopic image pasted on the page by the image pasting device, to the parallax amount that has been read by the parallax-amount reading device.

The first aspect of the present invention also provides an operation control method suited to the above-described electronic album generating apparatus. Specifically, the first aspect of the present invention provides a method of controlling operation an electronic album generating apparatus, comprising the steps of: pasting a stereoscopic image on a page constituting an electronic album, wherein a parallax amount for a stereoscopic display has been defined for each page of the electronic album, the electronic album having a plurality of pages on which stereoscopic images are to be pasted; reading a parallax amount that has been defined for the page on which the stereoscopic image has been pasted; and changing a parallax amount, which has been defined for the stereoscopic image that has been pasted on the page, to the parallax amount that has been read.

The first aspect of present invention further provides a computer-readable program for implementing the above-described method of controlling operation of an electronic album generating apparatus. It may also be arranged to provide a recording medium, on which this program has been stored, removably inserted into a computer.

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, an electronic album contains a plurality of pages on which stereoscopic images are pasted. Defined for each page is an amount of parallax for presenting a stereoscopic display, and stereoscopic images are pasted on such pages. When this is done, the amount of parallax that has been defined for a page on which a stereoscopic image has been pasted is read. An amount of parallax that has been defined for a stereoscopic image pasted on the page is changed to the amount of parallax that has been read. When a stereoscopic image is pasted on a page of the electronic album, the amount of parallax that has been defined for the stereoscopic image is not used. Instead, the amount of parallax is changed to the amount of parallax that has been defined for the page. As a result, stereoscopic images become easy to view on every page of the electronic album.

A plurality of pasting areas into which stereoscopic images are to be pasted are defined for the page, and a parallax amount for a stereoscopic display is defined for each of the plurality of pasting areas. In this case, by way of example, the parallax-amount reading device would read the parallax amount that has been defined for the pasting area into which a stereoscopic image has been pasted by the image pasting device.

The above-mentioned page is one page of a two-page spread, and a parallax amount of a pasting area that has been defined for an inner side of the page relative to the center thereof has been stipulated to be greater than a parallax amount of a pasting area that has been defined on an outer side of the page relative to the center thereof.

The above-mentioned page is one page of a spread, and the apparatus further comprises a first parallax-amount revising device (first parallax-amount revising means) for revising the parallax amount in such a manner that a parallax amount of a pasting area that has been defined for an inner side of the page relative to the center thereof will be greater than a parallax amount of a pasting area that has been defined for an outer side of the page relative to the center thereof.

The apparatus further comprises a second parallax-amount revising device (second parallax-amount revising means) which, in a case where a plurality of stereoscopic images have been pasted on the same page by the image pasting device, is for revising the parallax amount, to which the change has been made by the parallax-amount changing device, in such a manner that the greater the size of a stereoscopic image among the plurality of stereoscopic images that have been pasted on the same page, the greater the parallax amount of this stereoscopic image becomes.

The apparatus further comprises: a parallax-amount adjusting device (parallax-amount adjusting means) for adjusting a parallax amount of a stereoscopic image that has been pasted into a first pasting area among the plurality of the pasting areas, wherein stereoscopic images have been pasted into respective ones of the plurality of pasting areas; and a third parallax-amount revising device (third parallax-amount revising means) for revising amounts of parallax of pasting areas, from among the plurality of pasting areas with the exception of the pasting area that has been adjusted by the parallax-amount adjusting device, in such a manner that a size relationship among parallax amounts in the plurality of pasting areas will be the same before and after the adjustment made by the parallax-amount adjusting device.

The apparatus further comprises a warning device (warning means) for issuing a warning when the difference between a parallax amount that has been defined for a stereoscopic image pasted by the image pasting device and a parallax amount that has been defined for a pasting area into which a stereoscopic image has been pasted is greater than a first threshold value.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a display control device (display control means) for controlling a display unit in such a manner that a pasting area, from among the plurality of pasting areas, for which has been defined a parallax amount for which the difference with respect to a parallax amount that has been defined for a stereoscopic image that will be pasted in this pasting area is less than a second threshold value, will be displayed differently from other pasting areas.

A stereoscopic image pasting apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises: an image pasting device (image pasting means) for pasting a plurality of stereoscopic images on one template for which a parallax amount for a stereoscopic display has been defined; a parallax-amount reading device (parallax-amount reading means) for reading the parallax amount that has been defined for the template on which the plurality of stereoscopic images have been pasted by the image pasting device; and a parallax-amount changing device (parallax-amount changing means) for changing each parallax amount, which has been defined for the plurality of stereoscopic images that have been pasted on the template by the image pasting device, to the parallax amount that has been read by the parallax-amount reading device.

The second aspect of the present invention also provides an operation control method suited to the above-described stereoscopic image pasting apparatus. Specifically, the first aspect of the present invention provides a method of controlling operation of a stereoscopic image pasting apparatus, comprising the steps of: pasting a plurality of stereoscopic images on one template for which a parallax amount for a stereoscopic display has been defined; reading the parallax amount that has been defined for the template on which the plurality of stereoscopic images have been pasted; and changing each parallax amount, which has been defined for the plurality of stereoscopic images that have been pasted on the template, to the parallax amount that has been read.

The second aspect of present invention further provides a computer-readable program for implementing the above-described method of controlling operation of a stereoscopic image pasting apparatus. It may also be arranged to provide a recording medium, on which this program has been stored, removably inserted into a computer.

In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, an amount of parallax for presenting a stereoscopic display has been defined for a template. A plurality of stereoscopic images are pasted on this single template (image pasting areas may or may not be defined for the template). When this is done, the amount of parallax that has been defined for the template on which the plurality of stereoscopic images have been pasted is read. Amounts of parallax that have been defined for the plurality of stereoscopic images pasted on the template are changed to the amount of parallax read from the template. When a plurality of stereoscopic image are pasted on a template, the amounts of parallax that have been defined for the stereoscopic images are not used. Instead, the amounts of parallax are changed to the amount of parallax that has been defined for the template. As a result, stereoscopic images become easy to view.

A plurality of pasting areas into which stereoscopic image are pasted are defined for the template, and a parallax amount for a stereoscopic display is defined for each of the plurality of pasting areas. In this case, by way of example, the parallax-amount reading device would read parallax amounts that have been defined in the pasting areas into which stereoscopic images have been pasted by the image pasting device.

The apparatus further comprises a first parallax-amount revising device (first parallax-amount revising means) for revising the parallax amount, to which the change has been made by the parallax-amount changing device, in such a manner that the greater the size of a stereoscopic image that has been pasted by the image pasting device, the greater the parallax amount becomes.

The apparatus further comprises: a parallax-amount adjusting device (parallax-amount adjusting means) for adjusting a parallax amount of a stereoscopic image that has been pasted into a first pasting area among the plurality of the pasting areas, wherein stereoscopic images have been pasted into respective ones of the plurality of pasting areas; and a second parallax-amount revising device (second parallax-amount revising means) for revising amounts of parallax of pasting areas with the exception of the pasting area that has been adjusted by the parallax-amount adjusting device from among the plurality of pasting areas in such a manner that a size relationship among parallax amounts in the plurality of pasting areas will be the same before and after the adjustment made by the parallax-amount adjusting device.

The apparatus further comprises a warning device (warning means) for issuing a warning when the difference between a parallax amount that has been defined for a stereoscopic image pasted by the image pasting device and a parallax amount that has been defined for a pasting area into which a stereoscopic image has been pasted is greater than a first threshold value.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a display control device (display control means) for controlling a display unit in such a manner that a pasting area, from among the plurality of pasting areas, for which has been defined a parallax amount for which the difference with respect to a parallax amount that has been defined for a stereoscopic image that will be pasted in this pasting area is less than a second threshold value, will be displayed differently from other pasting areas.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of a personal computer1according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the personal computer1communicates with a server computer (not shown) via the Internet. While communicating with the server computer, the user creates an electronic album using the personal computer1. Naturally, the user can also generate an electronic album by utilizing a store terminal, which has been installed at a supermarket or convenience store, etc., without using the personal computer1. In this case, the store terminal would have the electrical configuration shown inFIG. 1.

The overall operation of the personal computer1is controlled by a CPU2.

The personal computer1includes a display unit3, a memory4, a communication unit5for communicating with a server computer, and an input unit6such as a keyboard and mouse. The personal computer1includes a hard disk10on which data such as image data representing a number of images has been recorded, and a hard-disk drive9for accessing the hard disk10. The personal computer1further includes a CD-ROM drive7that accesses a CD-ROM8in which has been stored a program for controlling operation described below. The program that has been stored in the CD-ROM8is read by the CD-ROM drive7and the read program is installed in the personal computer1, thereby allowing the personal computer1to operate in the manner described below. Naturally, it may be so arranged that even if the operation program is not stored on a recording medium such as the CD-ROM8removably inserted into the personal computer1, the program can still be downloaded to the personal computer1via a network and installed in the personal computer1.

FIG. 2is an example of a window40for editing the electronic album.

Although processing for generating the electronic album will be described below, it will be assumed here that the personal computer1has already been connected to a server computer and that the electronic-album editing window40shown inFIG. 2is being displayed on the display screen of the display unit3of the personal computer1.

Formed at the lower-left portion of the editing window40is an image display area41in which images42to be pasted into the electronic album are displayed. The images (user images)42being displayed in the image display area41are represented by image data that has been stored on the hard disk10. In a case where the electronic album is created using a store terminal, it goes without saying that the user brings a recording medium such as a memory card on which the image data has been recorded, reads the image data from the recording medium and displays the images, which are represented by the read image data, in the image display area41. In such case the store terminal is provided with a memory card reader. A scroll button43is formed on the right side of the image display area41. The scroll button43is moved freely up and down by a cursor (not shown). By moving the scroll button43up or down by the cursor, images that do not appear in the image display area41come into view in the image display area41.

In this embodiment, stereoscopic images can be displayed in the electronic album, as will be described later in detail. The images42being displayed in the image display area41also are stereoscopic images.

Formed at the upper portion of the editing window40is a page display area44in which images45of pages constituting an electronic album are displayed. A scroll button46is formed beneath the page display area44. The scroll button46also is freely movable to the left and right by a cursor (not shown). By moving the scroll button46to the left or right using the cursor, the images of pages that do not appear in the page display area44come into view in the page display area44.

The editing area48, which is for editing the pages that constitute the electronic album, is formed substantially over the entirety of the editing window40. If the image of a desired page is selected (as by drag and drop) from among the images of the pages being displayed in the page display area44, the image49of the selected page will be displayed in the editing area48. Multiple (or a single) image compositing areas (pasting areas)53are defined in each of a left-side page51and right-side page52of the image49of the selected pages. (In a case where the left-side page51or right-side page52is considered individually, it can be construed as a single template that does not constitute an electronic album.) Images constituting the electronic album are pasted in the image compositing areas53. For example, pasting of a desired image in a desired image compositing area53from among the images42being displayed in the image display area41is achieved by dragging and dropping the desired image in this image compositing area53. (Naturally, since it will suffice if an image is selected for an image compositing area53, etc., image selection may be performed such as by clicking and is not limited to drag-and-drop.) Formed on the right side of the editing window40are editing buttons47for synthesizing text, deleting images and subjecting images to a color conversion. As mentioned above, an image that is pasted in the image compositing area53is a stereoscopic image.

FIG. 3illustrates the right-side page52, which is being displayed in the editing area48of the editing window40, in a form enlarged in comparison withFIG. 2.

The page52constituting the electronic album has been assigned “background1.jpg” as a file name. The page52is specified by this file name. Six image compositing areas53A to53F have been formed on the page52constituting the electronic album, as mentioned above. Images are pasted in respective ones of these image compositing areas53A to53F. In particular, in this embodiment, stereoscopic images are pasted in the image compositing areas53A to53F. The user can thus produce an electronic album of stereoscopic images.

The image compositing areas53A to53F all have a size of 320 pixels in the width direction and 240 pixels in the height direction. Naturally, the size of the image compositing areas may differ from page to page, and the sizes of the image compositing areas that have been formed on the same page may be different. If we let (0,0) represent the coordinates of the upper-left corner of page52, then the upper-left origins of first image compositing area53A, second image compositing area53B, third image compositing area53C, fourth image compositing area53D, fifth image compositing area53E and sixth image compositing area53F will be (80,80), (560,80), (80,400), (560,400), (80,720) and (560,720), respectively.

FIG. 4illustrates content that has been stored in an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) file.

The first line declares that the document described in this XML file is based upon xml and that character encoding is in the utf-8 format. The second line indicates that the content described in this XML file regards a file having the file name “background1.jpg”. The content illustrated inFIG. 4concerns the image of the page52shown inFIG. 3. The third and tenth lines are root nodes. The fourth to ninth lines define the contents of the image compositing areas that have been formed on the page52represented by the file having the file name of the second line. Here “picture id” is identification data of the image compositing areas53A to53F, in which 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of “picture id” represent the image compositing areas53A,53B,53C,53D,53E and53F, respectively. Further, “left” indicates the X-coordinate positions of the upper-left origins of the image compositing areas53A to53F on the page52, “top” indicates the Y-coordinate positions of the upper-left origins of the image compositing areas53A to53F on the page52, “width” indicates the width of each of the image compositing areas53A to53F, “height” indicates the height of each of the image compositing areas53A to53F, and “3d” indicates, in the form of a percentage (%), the amount of pop-up (amount of parallax of a stereoscopic image) in a case where stereoscopic images have been pasted in the respective image compositing areas53A to53F.

If a stereoscopic image is pasted in the first image compositing area53A, the amount of parallax of this stereoscopic image will be 5% of the width. Similarly, the amounts of parallax of the second image compositing area53B, third image compositing area53C, fourth image compositing area53D, fifth image compositing area53E and sixth image compositing area53F will be 5%, 15%, 15%, 5% and 5% of the widths, respectively. In this embodiment, as mentioned above, an amount of parallax is defined for every image compositing area53, and the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image that has been pasted in each image compositing area is changed so as to become this defined amount of parallax (even though an amount of parallax has been defined for the stereoscopic image).

The image file representing the page and the XML file corresponding to this image file have been stored on the hard disk10. Rather than defining an amount of parallax for every image compositing area, an amount of parallax may be defined for every page. In such case an XML file in which an amount of parallax for every page has been described would be stored.

In a case where a stereoscopic image is displayed, the left-eye image70L, which is observed by the left eye of the observer, and the right-eye image70R, which is observed by the right eye of the observer, are required. In this embodiment, therefore, the left-eye image70L and right-eye image70R have been stored beforehand as the images desired to be displayed in the form of a stereoscopic image in the image compositing area.

FIG. 6illustrates a stereoscopic image having an amount of parallax that has been defined for this stereoscopic image.

If the left-eye image70L and right-eye image70R are superimposed, then the observer can view a portion71, where the two images have been superimposed, as a stereoscopic image. In this embodiment, an image portion within a zone72contained in the superimposed image portion71and having the same size as that of the image compositing area is displayed in the image compositing area. The image displayed in the image compositing area53appears as a stereoscopic image.

A parallax amount L1is defined for the stereoscopic image at the time of image capture. Normally, the stereoscopic image having the parallax amount L1is displayed. In this embodiment, however, a parallax amount has been defined for an image compositing area (or for the page), as mentioned above, and a stereoscopic image having the parallax amount that has been defined for this image compositing area, not the parallax amount L1at the time of capture, is displayed.

FIG. 7is an example of a stereoscopic image having an amount of parallax that has been defined for an image compositing area.

Let a parallax amount L2be the amount of parallax that has been defined for an image compositing area in which a stereoscopic image will be pasted. Even though the amount of parallax that has been defined for the stereoscopic image is L1, as shown inFIG. 6, by pasting this stereoscopic image in the image compositing area, a stereoscopic image having the parallax amount L2that has been defined for the image compositing area is displayed.

FIG. 8is an example of a stereoscopic image that has been pasted on the page52.

Assume that the stereoscopic image has been pasted in the second image compositing area53B. If the parallax amount L2has been defined for the second image compositing area53B, then even though the parallax amount that was defined for the stereoscopic image was L1, a stereoscopic image having the parallax amount L2(seeFIG. 7) is displayed in the second image compositing area53B.

FIG. 9is a flowchart illustrating processing for generating an electronic album.

As mentioned above, a desired page is selected from among the images45of pages being displayed in the page display area44(step61). The page selected is displayed in the editing area48(step62).

A stereoscopic image to be pasted on the page displayed in the editing area48is selected from among the images42being displayed in the image display area41, and this stereoscopic image is pasted in an image compositing area that has been formed on the page (step63). The amount of parallax that has been defined for the image compositing area in which this stereoscopic image has been pasted is read from the XML file that corresponds to the image file of the page on which this image compositing area has been formed (step64). The amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image pasted in the image compositing area is changed from the amount of parallax that has been defined for this stereoscopic image to the amount of parallax that has been defined for the image compositing area (step65).

In the embodiment described above, an image compositing area has been formed on a page. When a stereoscopic image is pasted in this formed image compositing area, a stereoscopic image having the amount of parallax that has been defined for this image compositing area is displayed. By contrast, in an embodiment described next, image compositing areas in which stereoscopic images will be pasted are not defined for a page, and the user pastes a stereoscopic image at a preferred position.

FIG. 10is an example of a page constituting a electronic album. (It goes without saying that although the page can be considered a single template that does not constitute an electronic album, a plurality of images are pasted in a case where the page is considered a single template.)

A page80has been assigned “background2.jpg” as a file name. Stipulated for the page80are an area82that makes the amount of parallax relatively large and an area81that makes the amount of parallax relatively small. A border defining the area82may or may not be displayed. These areas81and82can also be considered pasting areas (image compositing areas) in which stereoscopic images are pasted.

When a stereoscopic image is pasted in the area82, the amount of parallax thereof is enlarged in comparison with a case where a stereoscopic image is pasted in the area81[e.g., the amount of parallax is made 10% of the width of the stereoscopic image (the superimposed portion)]. Conversely, when a stereoscopic image is pasted in the area81, the amount of parallax thereof is reduced in comparison with a case where a stereoscopic image is pasted in the area82(e.g., the amount of parallax is made 5% of the width of the stereoscopic image).

FIG. 11illustrates content that has been described in an XML file corresponding to the page80shown inFIG. 10.

The first line declares that the document described in this XML file is based upon xml and that character encoding is in the utf-8 format, in a manner similar to the declaration described in the XML file shown inFIG. 4. The second line indicates that the content described in this XML file regards a file having the file name “background2.jpg”. The content illustrated inFIG. 11concerns the page80shown inFIG. 10. The third, sixth and eighth lines are root nodes. The fourth line stipulates that the amount of parallax of the circular area82(area id=1) is 10% of the width of a pasted stereoscopic image. The fifth line indicates that X and Y coordinates of the center of the circular area82are (110,100) (pixels) and that the diameter thereof is 60 (pixels). The seventh line stipulates that the amount of parallax of the area81(area id=2) outside the circular area82is 5% of a width of the pasted stereoscopic image.

By describing the XML file in this manner, the amount of parallax can be changed in accordance with the position where a stereoscopic image is pasted, as mentioned above.

FIGS. 12 and 13illustrate the manner in which stereoscopic images are pasted.

In this embodiment, it is determined in which of the areas81,82more than half of the area of a stereoscopic image83pasted on page80falls. The amount of parallax that has been defined for the area (81or82) in which more than half of the area of stereoscopic image83exists is adopted as the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image83.

In a case where more than half of the area of stereoscopic image83pasted on the page80falls within the area81, as shown inFIG. 12, the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image83is made the comparatively small amount of parallax that has been defined for the area81.

In a case where more than half of the area of stereoscopic image83pasted on the page80falls within the area82, as shown inFIG. 13, the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image83is made the comparatively large amount of parallax that has been defined for the area82.

It may be so arranged that rather than deciding the amount of parallax in accordance with into which of the areas81,82more than half of the area of the stereoscopic image83falls, the amount of parallax is changed gradually in accordance with moving of the stereoscopic image83from area81to area82or from area82to area81. Specifically, it may be so arranged that the percentage of the amount of parallax is changed in accordance with the percentage of the area of stereoscopic image83that falls within area81or82. For example, if the percentage of the area of stereoscopic image83that falls within area81and the percentage of the area of stereoscopic image83that falls within area82is in a ratio of 2:1, then the amount of parallax is decided in such a manner that the percentage of the amount of parallax of area81and the percentage of the amount of parallax of area82will take on a ratio of 2:1. [In this case, the amount of parallax is (10×2+5)/3 or about 8%].

FIG. 14illustrates the manner in which a stereoscopic image84has been pasted on page80.

Thus, the amount of parallax of a stereoscopic image is changed so as to have an amount of parallax that has been defined for the area82. However, there are also cases where a range over which the amount of parallax of a stereoscopic image is adjustable is defined. (Such range would be recorded in the header of the image file representing the stereoscopic image.) In a case where the amount of parallax that has been defined for the area82(and similarly with regard also to image compositing area53and area81) exceeds the range over which the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image is adjustable, the stereoscopic image can also be enlarged in size so as to take on the amount of parallax that has been defined for area82. A representation of the stereoscopic image84thus enlarged in size is shown inFIG. 14. By enlarging the right-eye image70R and the left-eye image70L constituting the stereoscopic image, as shown inFIG. 6or7, the stereoscopic image is enlarged in size.

FIG. 15illustrates another embodiment and shows an example of left and right pages90L and90R, respectively, of a left-right spread. This embodiment is such that in the case of pages of a spread, the amount of parallax of image compositing areas at the central portion of the spread is increased.

XML files corresponding to respective ones of the pages90L and90R also have been stored. It may of course be so arranged that the two pages of the spread are represented by a single image file and a single XML file is stored so as to correspond to this single image file.

Image compositing areas91to94have been formed in two rows and two columns on the left page90L. Similarly, image compositing areas95to98have been formed in two rows and two columns on the right page90R. These image compositing areas91to98are identical in size and shape.

Amounts of parallax that have been defined for the image compositing areas92,94,95and97formed on the inner sides of the left page90L and right page90R (the central portion of the spread) so as to be enclosed in a zone99have been defined as being “large” (e.g., 15% of the width of the image compositing areas91to98). Amounts of parallax that have been defined for the image compositing areas91,93,96and98formed on the outer sides of the left page90L and right page90R have been defined as being “small” (e.g., 5% of the width of the image compositing areas91to98).

If stereoscopic images are pasted in the image compositing areas92,94,95and97on the inner side, their amount of parallax increases. If stereoscopic images are pasted in the image compositing areas91to98on the outer side, their amount of parallax decreases. Since the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic images displayed on the inner side of the spread pages increases, the stereoscopic image are comparatively easy to view when the electronic album is viewed.

FIGS. 16 and 17illustrate a modification and show the left and right pages90L and90R, respectively.

With reference toFIG. 16, an amount of parallax has been defined for each of the image compositing areas91to98. The characters reading “LARGE”, “MEDIUM” and “SMALL” in the image compositing areas91to98indicate the extent of amount of parallax. The amount of parallax of the image compositing areas91,92,96and98is “MEDIUM”, the amount of parallax of the image compositing areas93,94and97is “SMALL” and amount of parallax of the image compositing area95is “LARGE”.

FIG. 18illustrates the definition of amount of parallax.

If the amounts of horizontal offset between a left-eye image and a right-eye image that form a stereoscopic image are 5%, 10% and 15% of the width of the image compositing area, then the amounts of parallax are “SMALL”, “MEDIUM” or “LARGE”, respectively. If the width of the image compositing area is 1000 pixels, then the amounts of horizontal offset of 5%, 10% and 15% are 50 pixels, 100 pixels and 150 pixels, respectively.

With reference toFIG. 17, consider amounts of parallax of the inner-side image compositing areas92,94,95and97enclosed in zone99in a case where amounts of parallax have been defined for the image compositing areas91to98. An amount of parallax is added onto these amounts of parallax, which have been defined for the image compositing areas92,94,95and97, taking into consideration the fact that these image compositing areas are on the inner side of the pages. (This is a first parallax-amount revision.) As a result, the amounts of parallax of the image compositing areas92,94,95and97are leveled up. The amount of parallax of the image compositing area92thus changes from “MEDIUM” to “LARGE”, the amount of parallax of the image compositing areas94and97changes from “SMALL” to “MEDIUM” and the amount of parallax of the image compositing area95changes from “LARGE” to “EXTRA LARGE”. By way of example, the “EXTRA LARGE” amount of parallax means an amount of offset that is 20% of the width of the image compositing area95.

Thus, the amount of parallax is enlarged with regard to the image compositing areas92,94,95and97at the central portion of the spread pages90L and90R. The amount of parallax may be represented by number of pixels rather than by “LARGE”, “MEDIUM”, “SMALL”. In a case where the amount of parallax is enlarged, an amount of parallax that is a fixed value may be added or multiplication may be performed at a numeric scaling factor that is greater than 1. Furthermore, it may be so arranged that in a case where image compositing areas have been formed not on the pages of a left-right spread but on the pages of an upper-lower spread or on only one page of left and right pages or of upper and lower pages, the amount of parallax of the image compositing areas formed at the central portion is enlarged. Furthermore, it may be so arranged that even in a case where image compositing areas have not been defined, as shown inFIGS. 10 to 14, the amount of parallax of a stereoscopic image is enlarged in similar fashion if the stereoscopic image has been pasted at a portion near the spread (i.e., the portion near the center when the pages are spread).

FIG. 19is a flowchart illustrating processing for generating an electronic album. Processing steps inFIG. 19identical with those shown inFIG. 9are designated by like step numbers and need not be described again. This embodiment is such that the amount of parallax is enlarged in a case where a stereoscopic image is pasted in a image compositing area on the inner side of spread pages.

Assume that a page of a spread has been selected (step61) and is displayed in the editing area48. A stereoscopic image is pasted in an image compositing area that has been formed on the page (step63). It is determined whether the image compositing area in which the stereoscopic image has been pasted is an area on the inner side (i.e., whether it is an image compositing area inside the zone99as mentioned earlier) (step101).

If the image compositing area is an area on the inner side (“YES” at step101), then the amount of parallax is revised (by the first parallax-amount revision) so as to exceed the amount of parallax that has been defined for the image compositing area (step102). If the amount of parallax that has been defined for the image compositing area is “MEDIUM”, then the amount of parallax is revised to “LARGE”, as mentioned above. The other amounts of parallax are similarly revised. If the image compositing area is not an area on the inner side (“NO” at step101), then the processing of step102is skipped.

The amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image that has been pasted in the image compositing area is changed to the amount of parallax revised at step102or to the amount of parallax read at step64(step103).

In the foregoing embodiment, it may be so arranged that in a case where the amount of parallax of a stereoscopic image that has been pasted in a desired image compositing area from among the image compositing areas91to98has been adjusted by the user (using parallax-amount adjusting means), the amount of parallax of image compositing areas other than the image compositing area in which has been pasted the stereoscopic image whose amount of parallax has been adjusted is similarly revised. (This is a third parallax-amount revision.) For example, if the amount of parallax of a stereoscopic image that has been pasted in a certain image compositing area is multiplied by a factor of 1.1, then the amount of parallax of stereoscopic images that have been pasted in the other image compositing areas also is multiplied by a factor of 1.1.

FIG. 20illustrates a modification and shows an example of the pages of an upper-lower spread.

Image compositing areas111to114have been formed in two rows and two columns on an upper-side page110U, and image compositing areas115to118have been formed in two rows and two columns on a lower-side page110L. Amounts of parallax have been set for each of these image compositing areas115to118in the manner described above.

The amounts of parallax are revised in such a manner that they will exceed the amounts of parallax that have been defined for the image compositing areas111to114formed on the upper-side page110U and enclosed in a zone119.

Thus, it may be so arranged that the amount of parallax is enlarged (or reduced) not only on the inner side of a spread page but also at any image compositing area or portion where a stereoscopic image has been pasted.

The zones99,119that enlarge the amount of parallax in the foregoing embodiment may be defined in XML files and may be stored in the header of the file representing the page. Further, it goes without saying that the image compositing areas91to98and111to118may be described in an XML file that corresponds to the page in a manner similar to that shown inFIG. 4.

FIGS. 21 and 22illustrate another embodiment. This embodiment changes amount of parallax in accordance with the pasting position of a stereoscopic image.

The page of the electronic album is selected (step61) and the selected page is displayed in the editing area (step62). Next, it is determined whether the selected page is a page of a free layout (step121). If the selected page is not the page of a free layout (“NO” at step121), other processing, e.g., the processing from step63onward inFIG. 9, is executed.

If the selected page is the page of a free layout (“YES” at step121), a stereoscopic image is selected and the user indicates enlargement and placement of the selected stereoscopic image (step122). Enlargement and placement of the stereoscopic image are carried out in accordance with this instruction (step123). In a case where a plurality of stereoscopic images are pasted on the free-layout page, enlargement and placement, etc., of stereoscopic images are repeated.

When placement of the stereoscopic image ends, the sizes of the stereoscopic images that have been pasted on the free-layout page are detected (step124). The amount of parallax that has been defined for the overall page of the free layout is read from the XML file that corresponds to the page of the free layout. The amount of parallax of the stereoscopic images is changed to the amount of parallax that has been read. Thereafter, the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic images is revised in such a manner that the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image having the largest size will be the largest (step125). (This is a second parallax-amount revision.)

FIG. 22is an example of a page on which stereoscopic image have been pasted. (This page can be considered a single template.)

Stereoscopic images131,132and133have been pasted on a page130. The stereoscopic image having the large size is the stereoscopic image131. Accordingly, the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image131is made the largest. The amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image132, which is closest to the stereoscopic image131of largest size, is made the next largest, and the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image133, which is farthest from the stereoscopic image131, is made the smallest. For example, if the amount of parallax that has been defined for the free-layout page is 5% of the width of the page, then the amounts of parallax of the stereoscopic images131,132and133will be 7%, 4% and 2%, respectively, of the width of the page, by way of example.

In the foregoing embodiment, the stereoscopic image having the largest size among the plurality of stereoscopic images that have been pasted on the same page takes on the largest amount of parallax. As for the other stereoscopic images, the closest they are to the stereoscopic image of largest size, the larger their amount of parallax becomes. However, it may be so arranged that amount of parallax is decided in order of decreasing stereoscopic-image size irrespective of proximity to the stereoscopic image of largest size. In this case, in the example ofFIG. 22, the stereoscopic image having the largest amount of parallax is the stereoscopic image131, the stereoscopic image having the next largest amount of parallax is the stereoscopic image133, and the stereoscopic image having the smallest amount of parallax is the stereoscopic image132.

It may be so arranged that in a case where the zones81and82that stipulate amounts of parallax have been defined, as shown inFIG. 10, for a free-layout page, the amount of parallax is decided upon combining the amount of parallax that has been stipulated and the amount of parallax decided based upon the size of the stereoscopic image in the manner described above. For example, in a case where the amounts of parallax of the stereoscopic images131,132and133are “LARGE”, “MEDIUM” and “SMALL”, respectively, and stereoscopic image131,132or133falls within zone82, as shown inFIG. 10, the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image is leveled up. If stereoscopic image131,132or133falls within zone81, as shown inFIG. 10, then the stereoscopic image is leveled down.

Furthermore, in a case where placement of stereoscopic images that have been pasted is changed on a free-layout page, amount of parallax is changed in accordance with this change. For example, it may be so arranged that in a case where placement of a stereoscopic image is changed to the top, bottom, left or right of a page, the amount of parallax is enlarged. Further, it may be so arranged that amount of parallax is enlarged or decreased in accordance with an enlargement or a reduction in the size of the stereoscopic image.

FIG. 23is a flowchart illustrating processing for generating an electronic album according to another embodiment. Processing steps inFIG. 23identical with those shown inFIG. 9are designated by like step numbers and need not be described again.

When a page and a stereoscopic image are selected and the selected stereoscopic image is pasted in an image compositing area that has been formed on the page (steps61to63), the amount of parallax that has been defined for the stereoscopic image and the amount of parallax that has been defined for the image compositing area are read (step141).

If the difference between the read amounts of parallax is greater than a first threshold value (“YES” at step142), a warning is issued because the disparity between the amount of parallax that has been defined for the stereoscopic image and the amount of parallax that has been defined for the image compositing area is large (step143). If pasting of the stereoscopic image is not aborted (“NO” at step144), then the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image is changed to the amount of parallax of the image compositing area in which the stereoscopic image has been pasted (step65). If pasting of the stereoscopic image is aborted (“YES” at step144), then the processing of step65is skipped. It may be so arranged that pasting of a stereoscopic image is inhibited in accordance with the warning.

If the difference between the read amounts of parallax is not large (“NO” at step142), then a warning is not issued and the amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image is changed to the amount of parallax of the image compositing area in which the stereoscopic image has been pasted (step65).

FIGS. 24 and 25illustrate another embodiment. This embodiment notifies the user of a recommended image compositing area.

FIG. 24is a flowchart illustrating processing for generating an electronic album. Processing steps inFIG. 24identical with those shown inFIG. 9are designated by like step numbers and need not be described again.

When a stereoscopic image is selected (step151), the amount of parallax of the selected stereoscopic image is read (step152). Next, the perimeter of an image compositing area for which there has been defined an amount of parallax that will cause the difference between the amount of parallax defined for the stereoscopic image and the amount of parallax defined for the image compositing area to fall below a second threshold value (namely an image compositing area that is suitable for pasting of the selected stereoscopic image) is caused to flash (step153).

FIG. 25illustrates the left and right pages90L and90R, respectively. (The left page90L or the right page90R can be considered a single template.)FIG. 25corresponds toFIG. 17and items identical with those shown inFIG. 17are designated by like reference characters and need not be described again.

A frame160that flashes around the perimeter of the image compositing area92is being displayed. From among the image compositing areas91to98, the image compositing area92has an amount of parallax near the amount of parallax that has been defined for the selected stereoscopic image.

Owing to the flashing of the frame160, the user can ascertain that the image compositing area92enclosed by the frame160is an area suitable for pasting of the selected stereoscopic image.

With reference again toFIG. 24, the selected stereoscopic image is pasted in any image compositing area among the image compositing areas91to98(step154). The amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image is changed to the amount of parallax of the image compositing area in which the stereoscopic image has been pasted (step65).

The amount of parallax that has been defined for the above-mentioned stereoscopic image may be one that has been set using a computer rather than one that has been assigned by a stereoscopic imaging camera at the time of image capture.

In the foregoing embodiments, a stereoscopic image that is pasted on each page of an electronic album composed of a plurality of pages may be a single stereoscopic image rather than a plurality thereof.

The foregoing embodiments relate to an electronic album composed of a plurality of pages. However, the foregoing embodiments can be applied to a stereoscopic image pasting apparatus that pastes a plurality of stereoscopic image on a single template rather than an electronic album composed of a plurality of pages. In a case where a plurality of stereoscopic image are pasted on a single template, one page constituting the above-mentioned electronic album corresponds to one template. If a plurality of stereoscopic images are pasted on such a template, the above-mentioned image compositing areas (image pasting areas) may or may not be defined.

Furthermore, the electronic album includes not only the kind that can display pages turned over one at a time just as in the manner of a paper album but also the kind in which a plurality of pages are displayed in order one frame at a time as in the manner of a slideshow.