Abstract:
An image processing apparatus includes an image reader for reading an image. A display controller displays the read image on a display device. A determination unit receives an area specified by an operation performed on the image displayed on the display device so as to determine a processing area to be subjected to predetermined image processing. A setting unit sets an operation area for providing an instruction to execute the predetermined image processing on the processing area determined by the determination unit, the operation area being based on an end point of the area specified by the operation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for editing and correcting image data. The invention also relates to a program implementing the above-described method and a storage medium storing such a program therein. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Hitherto, to perform image processing, such as trimming or color correction, the following procedure has been taken. After specifying a rectangular area, to be subjected to image processing, from the top left to the bottom right, as shown in  FIG. 7A , with a pointing device, for example, a mouse, the type of image processing is determined by selecting a button or a menu disposed at the corner of the window on a user interface (hereinafter referred to as a “UI”). Then, an “OK button” or a “correction start button” is pressed to perform correction processing (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-034744). Alternatively, in a system without a “correction start button”, as shown in  FIG. 7B , the mouse is dragged to specify a rectangular area and is then dropped to set the area and also to perform correction at the same time. 
     In the first method, however, the end point of the rectangular area can be far away from the “correction start button”, in which case, the user has to move the pointing device a long distance. Also, if there are plural similar buttons or small image buttons arranged at the corner of the UI, it is difficult to distinguish the “correction start button” from the other buttons. 
     In the second method, if the user is unfamiliar with the operation of the pointing device, he/she may not drop the mouse at a desired place and may fail to correctly specify the rectangular area, in which case, correction is conducted based on the wrongly specified area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
     The present invention provides an image processing apparatus including: an image reader for reading an image; a display controller for displaying the read image on a display device; a determination unit for receiving an area specified by an operation performed on the image displayed on the display device so as to determine a processing area to be subjected to predetermined image processing; and a setting unit for setting an operation area for providing an instruction to execute the predetermined image processing on the processing area determined by the determination unit, the operation area being based on an end point of the area specified by the operation. 
     The present invention also provides an image processing method including: an image reading step of reading an image; a display control step of displaying the read image on a display device; a determination step of receiving an area specified by an operation performed on the image displayed on the display device so as to determine a processing area to be subjected to predetermined image processing; and a setting step of setting an operation area for providing an instruction to execute the predetermined image processing on the processing area determined by the determination step, the operation area being based on an end point of the area specified by the operation. 
     The present invention further provides a program having modules for allowing a computer to read the modules and to control a predetermined image processing method. The modules include: an image reading module for allowing a computer to read an image; a display control module for displaying the read image on a display device; a determination module for receiving an area specified by an operation performed on the image displayed on the display device so as to determine a processing area to be subjected to predetermined image processing; and a setting module for setting an operation area for providing an instruction to execute the predetermined image processing on the processing area determined by the determination module, the operation area being based on an end point of the area specified by the operation. 
     The present invention also provides a storage medium storing a program for allowing a computer to execute the above-described image processing method. 
     According to the present invention, in a system for specifying an area, for example, a rectangular area, and executing image processing on the specified area, an instruction can be given to perform image processing, such as correction, without the need to move a pointing device a long distance from the end point of the specified area. Additionally, the user can check the specified area before starting correction, and as a result, correction is not conducted based on the wrongly specified area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a display example when a rectangular area is specified from the top left to the bottom right and when the end point of the specified area is clicked. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a display example when a rectangular area is specified from the top left to the bottom right in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a display example when a rectangular area is specified from the bottom left to the top right in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates a display example when a rectangular area is specified from the bottom right to the top left in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3D  illustrates a display example when a rectangular area is specified from the top right to the bottom left in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a display example when a correction start button is displayed near the end point of a specified rectangular area. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a rectangular-area specifying process in an image editing method according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating another rectangular-area specifying process in an image editing method according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates a rectangular area specified with a correction start button in the related art. 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates a rectangular area specified without a correction start button in the related art. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings through illustration of embodiments. 
     First Embodiment 
     An overview of a first embodiment is as follows. After specifying a rectangular area from the top left to the bottom right, as shown in  FIG. 2 , by using, for example, a mouse, the coordinates of the bottom right corner (end point) where the mouse is dropped are stored. Thereafter, when the same coordinates (or adjacent coordinates) are specified again, image processing, such as color correction, is performed. Accordingly, after checking the rectangular area, the user can perform image processing simply by clicking the mouse one more times almost without moving the mouse. Even if the user fails to specify a rectangular area, he/she can retry before executing image processing. 
     If a button is displayed, as shown in  FIGS. 3A through 3D , in an area containing the end point of the previously stored specified rectangular area, the operability can be enhanced in terms of the visibility. For example, after specifying a rectangular area, as shown in  FIG. 3A , from the top left to the bottom right with a mouse, a “correction start” button is displayed at the bottom right corner (end point) where the mouse is dropped. This enables the user to perform image processing, such as correction, simply by clicking the mouse one more times without moving the mouse a long distance. Additionally, it is sufficient to display a button for specifying an area: it would otherwise be difficult to distinguish such a button from other buttons unrelated to image processing. 
     When a rectangular area is specified, as shown in  FIG. 3B , by moving the mouse from the bottom left to the top right, the “correction start button” is displayed at the top right. 
     When a rectangular area is specified, as shown in  FIG. 3C , by moving the mouse from the bottom right to the top left, the “correction start button” is displayed at the top left. 
     When a rectangular area is specified, as shown in  FIG. 3D , by moving the mouse from the top right to the bottom left, the “correction start button” is displayed at the bottom left. 
     When the “correction start button” is overlapped with the rectangular area, it may be difficult to see the state in the rectangular area. In this case, the “correction start button” may be displayed, as shown in  FIG. 4 , near the end point and outside the rectangular area. The position of the button may contain the end point of the specified area, or may simply be near the end point. 
     In this embodiment, the end point indicates an area (or point) in an image when the area is specified and set by the user. The configuration of the area to be specified is not restricted to rectangular. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming system to which an image editing apparatus of the first embodiment can be applied. 
     The image forming system in the first embodiment includes, as shown in  FIG. 1 , an image processing apparatus  100  for generating print data (containing control commands, which apply to print data in the following description) and a printer  170  for forming images based on the print data. 
     The information processing apparatus  100  includes a memory  110 , a central processing unit (CPU)  130 , a hard disk controller (HDC)  120 , a hard disk (HD)  121 , a floppy disk controller (FDC)  125 , a floppy disk drive (FD)  126 , a printer controller (PRTC)  140 , a keyboard controller (KBC)  150 , a keyboard (KB)  151 , a cathode ray tube controller (CRTC)  160 , and a CRT  161 . 
     The memory  110  contains an application  111 , which is loaded from the HD  121 , for performing image editing processing of the present invention; a printer driver  112 , which is software for generating print data corresponding to the printer  170 ; a spooler area  113  for spooling print data to be supplied to the printer  170 ; an operating system (OS) (not shown); a work area (not shown), etc. 
     The CPU  130  is operated based on the application  111 , the printer driver  112 , and the OS in the memory  110 . When power is supplied, the information processing apparatus  100  is booted from a ROM (not shown) and is loaded from the HD  121  to the memory  110 , and then, the information processing apparatus  100  functions as the image forming system. The CPU  130  can access the HD  121  via the HDC  120 . 
     The PRTC  140  sequentially sends print data stored in the spooler area  113  to the printer  170 . The KBC  150  controls the KB  151  to input instruction data from the user into the image processing apparatus  100 . The CRTC  161  controls the CRT  161 , which is a display device. The blocks of the KBC  150 , the KB  151 , the CRTC  160 , and the CRT  161  form a UI, and another block, for example, a pointing device, may be added. 
     The printer  170  includes an interface  171  for receiving print data from the information processing apparatus  100  and for reporting various statuses to the information processing apparatus  100 , a printer controller  172  for interpreting received printer data so as to generate bitmap image data, and a printer engine  173  for receiving the bitmap image data from the printer controller  172  so as to generate images. The printer  170  is also provided with other elements, for example, an operation panel (not shown). 
     In the image forming system configured as described above, when connecting the printer  170  to the image processing apparatus  100  for the first time, a printer driver for generating printer data corresponding to the printer  170  must be installed. Generally, the installation operation of the printer driver is performed only once. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a rectangular-area specifying process in an image editing method of the present invention. This process starts when the user starts specifying a rectangular area for the read image data by using a pointing device, such as a mouse. 
     It is assumed that this process is executed based on a program stored in the HD  121  and loaded into the memory  110  by the CPU  130 . 
     The user first determines the type of image processing and then starts dragging the mouse from a certain position in the image to specify an area to be subjected to image processing. Then, the process shown in  FIG. 5  starts. 
     In this embodiment, an area is specified by dragging the mouse and then by dropping it. However, the start point and the end point may be specified with a touch pad, or a center point and a radius may be specified to determine a circular area. 
     Although the image processing is described below in the context of image correction, any type of image processing, for example, trimming, rotation, or image inversion, may be conducted. 
     In this embodiment, the end point indicates the area in an image specified and set by the user. 
     In step S 11 , it is determined whether a correction start button, which is described below, has been clicked. If the point clicked is not the button, it is determined that the user is to specify a new rectangular area. Then, in step S 12 , the point at which the user has started to drag the mouse is obtained. 
     In step S 13 , a rectangle is drawn so that the current position and the start position of the mouse are diagonal to each other. The rectangle may be a square. 
     It is then determined in step S 14  whether the mouse has been dropped. If not, step S 13  is repeated. When the mouse is dropped, the current position of the mouse becomes the end point, and the rectangle is defined in step S 15 . In step S 16 , the coordinates of the end point are stored, and the process is completed. 
     When the user clicks the mouse again, the process shown in  FIG. 5  is restarted. It is determined in step S 11  whether the coordinates of the point clicked by the user are equal to or adjacent to the coordinates of the previously stored end point. If the outcome of step S 11  is YES, the process proceeds to step S 17  in which correction processing is executed. The process is then completed. 
     Although the correction processing in step S 17  is performed based on the specified rectangle, an area outside the specified rectangle may also be corrected. For example, when smoothing correction is performed on a specified image of a face to produce beautiful skin, a rectangular area is selected mainly from the face. In actual correction, however, it is more natural and effective when performing smoothing correction not only on the face, but also on the neck and the chest linked to the face. In this manner, when a rectangular area is selected mainly from the face, it is preferable that the area subjected to correction is automatically modified to the optimal area according to the type of correction. 
     There is no strict definition for points adjacent to the end point. However, the adjacent points can be defined such that, when they are specified, correction processing is started in a manner similar to when the end point is specified. 
     Second Embodiment 
     In the first embodiment, the end point of the specified rectangular area is clicked one more times to start correction processing. If a button is displayed in an area containing the end point, the operability can be enhanced in terms of the visibility. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a rectangular-area specifying process when a correction start button is displayed. The user first determines the type of image processing to be performed, and then starts dragging the mouse at a certain point in the image to specify an area to be subjected to image processing. Then, this process starts. 
     In step S 21 , it is determined whether the correction start button has been clicked, and if the point clicked by the user is not the button, it is determined that the user is to specify a new rectangular area. Then, in step S 22 , the point at which the user has started dragging the mouse is obtained. 
     In step S 23 , a rectangle is drawn so that the current position and the start position of the mouse are diagonal to each other. The rectangle may be a square. 
     It is then determined in step S 24  whether the mouse has been dropped. If not, step S 23  is repeated. When the mouse is dropped, the current position of the mouse becomes the end point, and the rectangle is defined in step S 25 . In step S 26 , the coordinates of the end point are stored. 
     Then, in step S 27 , a “correction start button” for providing an instruction to start correction, such as that shown in  FIG. 3A , is displayed in the area containing the previously stored coordinates, and the process is then completed. 
       FIGS. 3B through 3D  are display examples of the correction start button when the mouse is dragged in the corresponding directions, as discussed in the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a display example of the correction start button when the mouse is dragged at the top left point and dropped at the bottom right point. As discussed in the first embodiment, the correction start button may be displayed, as shown in  FIG. 4 , near the end point so that the entire area can be seen clearly. 
     When the end point is positioned at an edge (for example, the bottom edge or the corner) of the image, or at an edge of the display area, the correction start button may be disposed somewhere else, for example, near the start point of the specified area. With this modification, the ease of operation can further be enhanced. This can be implemented by the function of the application  111  for allowing a computer to execute the above-described embodiments. All the functions of the above-described embodiments may be executed by hardware. 
     Whether the user drags the mouse again, the process shown in  FIG. 6  is restarted. If it is found in step S 21  that the correction start button has been clicked, the correction processing is performed in step S 28 , and then, the process is completed. 
     As in the first embodiment, although the correction processing in step S 28  is performed based on the specified rectangle, an area outside the specified rectangular may also be corrected. 
     Modifications 
     The present invention can be achieved by providing a storage medium in which software program codes implementing the functions of the above-described embodiments to the system or the apparatus and by allowing a computer (or a CPU or an MPU) of the system or the apparatus to read and execute the program codes. In this case, the program codes read from the storage medium or modules for executing the predetermined functions in the program implement the functions of the embodiments. Thus, a storage medium storing such program codes constitutes the present invention. As the storage medium used for supplying such program codes, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disk, a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), a CD-recordable (CD-R), magnetic tape. a non-volatile memory card, or a ROM, can be used. 
     As stated above, the computer can execute the program codes read from the storage medium to implement the functions of the above-described embodiments. Additionally, in the present invention, an OS running in the computer may partially or wholly execute the processing based on the instructions of the program codes to implement the functions of the above-described embodiments. 
     The program codes read from the storage medium may be written into a memory provided for a feature expansion board inserted into the computer or a feature expansion unit connected to the computer. Then, the CPU provided for the feature expansion board or the feature expansion unit may partially or wholly execute the processing based on the instructions of the program codes to implement the functions of the foregoing embodiments. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to what are presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-311449 filed Sep. 3, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.