Abstract:
A printing system simultaneously prints both images and related information which is recorded together with the images. The print output may be unsuitable for use, depending on the combination of the image layout and positions where the related information is printed. To obviate this problem, an image processing apparatus lays out, on a recording medium, a plurality of images and information related to each of the images. The image processing apparatus has an image layout changing unit and an image layout controlling unit. The image layout changing unit changes a layout method for laying out the plurality of images. The image layout controlling unit determines, in accordance with the layout method changed by the layout changing unit, whether the related information is to be located within or outside areas of the associated images.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a printing system for printing an image together with related information and more particularly, to control of a position where the related information is printed. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Printing systems are known in which a plurality of images received from an image input apparatus are suitably laid out and printed on a single sheet of paper. In general, this kind of printing system is sorted into two types, according to the image layout method. 
   In one type of printing system, a user specifies the number of images to be printed on a single sheet of paper, so that a printing system automatically determines the size of the images, as well as the locations where the images are to be printed. This method is suitably used when at-a-glance check of many mages is desired, or when the sheet carrying the printed images is divided into pieces or segments of an identical size, each segment carrying one image. 
   In general, this type of printing system employs a seal paper dividable into 16 segments. This type of seal paper usually has 16 severable blocks arranged in four columns and four lines, each block when severed being usable as a seal. Papers are available having perforations formed along the boundaries of the blocks for easy severance. Printing of a multiplicity of images at a time on such a seal paper advantageously saves time and cost of the sheet. 
   In general, this type of printing system is designed to automatically trim or rotate independent images so that all the images are laid-out for printing in an equal size to fully occupy the printable areas available on the sheet for printing. 
   In another type of printing system, the user is allowed to freely select the printing conditions such as the printing position, size and the orientation of each image so that the printing system automatically arranges the images in accordance with the printing conditions selected by the user. This type of printing system advantageously enables free layout of the images based on the user&#39;s taste, although it requires laborious work for selecting the printing conditions for each of the images. 
   This type of printing system provides a print product which is equivalent to an album containing many snap photos and, therefore, can greatly reduce the work for producing two or more sets of albums of the same layout. 
   Printing systems are also known which print an image together with information that is related to the image and that has been simultaneously recorded with the recording of the image. For instance, there is a printing system which prints photographic images recorded by a camera together with the dates of the shots, so that the dates the photographs were taken can be easily recognized on the product print. 
   This kind of printing system, capable of printing images together with related information, can be sorted into two types, according to the position where the related is information is printed: namely, a printing system of a type that prints the related information in a marginal area outside the frame of the image, and a printing system of a type that prints the related information such that the related information is superimposed on a portion of the image. 
   A printing system is also known which permits, prior to execution of printing on a sheet, a manual adjustment of the positions where the related information is to be printed. 
   The printing systems of the kind described, which simultaneously prints images and related information recorded at the same time as the recording of images, may provide undesirable printing results depending on the print positions of the related information and the arrangement of the images. 
   This problem is encountered with, for example, a printing system which automatically sizes and arranges a plurality of images while printing information relating to the images on marginal regions outside the images. When the individual printed images are severed, therefore, the related information may be separated from the images. Consequently, the severed images have to be distributed or otherwise used without being accompanied by the related information. To obviate such a problem, it is necessary to take a suitable countermeasure such as manual readjustment of printing positions of the related information or reduction of the printed image size so as to preserve information printing regions within the printable areas of the blocks on the sheet. 
   A problem is also encountered with a printing system of the type which affords a user to select the printing positions and sizes of the images, while printing related information in a manner superimposed on a part of the associated image. When this type of system is used, it is necessary to manually change the printing position of the related information on all the images, in order that parts of the images are not hidden by the printed related information. 
   For instance, when the images are arranged to have the greatest possible size without preserving any margin for the printing of the related information, part of each image is undesirably hidden by the printed related information. Conversely, when margins are preserved for printing information such as date, the size of the images are undesirably reduced. 
     FIG. 3  shows a layout of images used in a case where the requirement for maximizing the size of the images is not so critical. In this layout, all the images are oriented upright for easier at-a-glance observation, with some of the images having been rotated through 90°. This image layout affords sufficiently large marginal areas. However, superimposition of date information on the images makes it difficult to observe these images which have already been reduced in size. 
   Hitherto, no image processing method and apparatus have been proposed which permit easy determination as to whether information related to images is to be printed within or outside the images, depending on the arrangement of the images. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome at least one or all of the problems of the known art heretofore described. 
   Thus, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily set, in accordance with the layout of images, the locations where information related to the images are to be printed: namely, to make it easy to determine whether the related information is to be printed within or outside the images. 
   To this end, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus which lays out, on a recording medium, a plurality of images and information related to each of the images, comprising: an image layout changing unit for changing the layout method for laying out the plurality of images; and an image layout controlling unit which determines, in accordance with the layout method changed by the layout changing unit, whether the related information is to be located within or outside the areas of the images. 
   Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily set the location where the related information is to be printed, even when one of the images has been rotated in the image layout. 
   To this end, in the image processing apparatus of the invention, the layout controlling unit is configured to cause, when one of the images is rotated, the image layout changing unit to rotate the layout of the information related to the rotated image. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily set the location of related information, in accordance with conditions such as the kind of the printing medium on which the images and related information are to be recorded and the layout of the images on this medium. 
   To this end, the image layout changing unit changes the layout of the images depending on the kind of the printing medium. 
   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. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of a printing system as an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration of a printing result obtained through a printing operation in a fixed layout mode; 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of a printing result obtained through a printing operation in a free layout mode; 
       FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of a control unit incorporated in the printing system; 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing the process performed by the control unit; 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of an image layout table stored in a hard disk; 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing an initializing process performed by the control unit in a step of the process shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an illustration of an image layout update screen displayed on a monitor; and 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing a printing process performed by the control unit in a step of the process shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  shows the configuration of a printing system incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a control unit  101  performs control of operation for receiving input from a user, delivering output to the user, as well as operation of various devices connected thereto. The printing system has an image reader (IR)  102  for reading images from a storage medium (SM)  104  storing images, and a printer  103  for printing the images on a printing medium such as a sheet of paper. The image reader  102  and the printer  103  are connected to the control unit  101  through an USB interface, respectively. 
     FIG. 4  shows the configuration of the control unit  101 . 
   The control unit  101  has a computer  401  provided with an USB interface  402  to which a plurality of USB devices are connectable, and incorporates a hard disk  403 . As previously stated, the image reader  102  and the printer  1103  are connected to the USB interface  402 . The computer  401  has a monitor  405 . A mouse  404  and a keyboard  406  are connected to the computer  401  through the USB interface. Thus, the user can operate the control unit  101  by means of the mouse  404  and the keyboard  406 . 
   Images read from the image storage medium  102  are stored in the hard disk  403  in the form of a JPEG file. The layout information concerning the manner of layout of the images is stored in the form of a table. 
     FIG. 6  shows, by way of example, the table of the image layout information. When the image storage medium  104  is read by the image reader  102 , the images stored in the storage medium  104  are copied to the hard disk  403 , so that the image layout information in the table is wholly updated. 
   The image layout information includes the following items of information: an image number  601 , an image file name  602 , a page number  603  of the page containing an image, coordinates  604  of the left end of the image trimming region, coordinates  605  of the upper end of the image trimming region, coordinates  606  of the right end of the image trimming region, and the coordinates  607  of the lower end of the image trimming region, horizontal position  608  of the image center, vertical position  609  of the image center, display magnification  610  of the image, rotation angle  611  of the image, and the character string  612  of related information. 
   The control unit  101  has two layout modes: namely, a fixed layout mode in which images are automatically laid out and printed in a suitable image size, and a free layout mode which permits a user to freely select the print positions and sizes of the images at the user&#39;s discretion. These layout modes are switchable by the user. The operation performed by the control unit partly varies according to the layout mode selected by the user. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the “fixed layout mode” is a mode in which a printing medium such as a printing paper sheet is divided into a plurality of regions or blocks, and the images are magnified or demagnified into the size of the blocks and arranged without leaving any margin between adjacent images. Thus, no margin is available for printing the related information. 
   In contrast, in the “free layout mode”, margins are set between adjacent images as initial values to permit printing of related information therein, although this mode allows the user to freely determine the layout of the images. 
   Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the layout method is changed in accordance with the switching of the layout mode, and whether the related information is to be located within the area of the images or outside the areas of the images is determined in accordance with the change in the layout method. 
     FIG. 5  shows a basic process which is performed by the control unit  101  of the printing system embodying the present invention regardless of whether the layout mode is the fixed layout mode or the free layout mode. 
   In Step S 501  of the process, the control unit  101  determines whether a storage medium  104  has been read by the reader  102 . If the storage medium  104  has been read, data of all the images stored in the storage medium  104  is copied into the hard disk  403 , and the layout information items such as the image number  601  and the image file name  602  are recorded. If any related information such as the photographing date has been stored together with the images, such related information is also recorded in the form of character strings  612 . 
   In Step S 502 , the image layout information is initialized and stored in the hard disk  403 . The initial values of the image layout information vary according to the selected image layout mode. 
   Step S 503  causes the monitor  405  to display a layout information update screen, to enable the user to update the image layout information recorded in the hard disk  403 . 
   Upon completion of the display of the layout information update screen, the control unit  101  proceeds with the process to Step S 504  which allows the user to enter any instruction by means of the mouse  404 . If any instruction is entered, the process advances to Step S 505 . 
   Step S 505  determines whether the entered instruction is to change, i.e., update, the layout information. If the answer is affirmative, the process advances to Step S 506  in which the updated image layout information is recorded in the hard disk  403 . The process then returns to Step S 503 , otherwise the process advances to Step S 507 . 
   Step S 507  determines whether the entered instruction is to switch the image layout mode. If the answer is affirmative, the process returns to Step S 502  which initializes the layout information, otherwise the process advances to Step S 508 . 
   Step S 508  determines whether the entered instruction is a printing instruction for printing the images. If the answer is affirmative, the process advances to Step S 509  in which the images stored in the hard disk  403  are printed in accordance with the image layout information which also is-stored in the hard disk  403 , otherwise the process returns to Step S 504  to wait for a further entry of instruction. 
   Step S 502  sets different initial values of image layout information for different image layout modes. 
   The processing performed in the initializing step S 502  for initializing the layout information will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
   The processing begins with Step S 701  which initializes the position of images. By way of example, the illustrated embodiment treats four images which are to be located at the left upper corner, right upper corner, left lower corner and the right lower corner of a sheet which is used as the printing medium. To this end, Step S 701  sets three values for each image: namely, the page number  603  of the page containing the images, horizontal position  608  of the center of the image, and the vertical position  609  of the center of the image. The illustrated quadrant arrangement of the images is only illustrative. Thus, the initial values may preferably be automatically adjusted depending on factors such as the size of the printing medium, kind of the printing medium, and so forth. 
   For instance, the initialization may be performed such that the quadrant image layout is used when the printing medium is an A-4 size sheet, whereas, when the printing medium is a B-5 size sheet, a columnar arrangement having only two images is used. 
   The printing medium may be a sheet having perforations which divide the area of the sheet into four blocks: namely, an upper left block, an upper right block, a lower left block and a lower right block. In such a case, the initialization is automatically performed to assign images to these four blocks. Thus, the present invention permits the use of a printing medium on which printing regions have already been defined. 
   Thus, the initial layout of images is determined based on the size and kind of the printing medium and based also on the layout mode, and the printing locations of the related information are also determined automatically in accordance with the initial image layout. 
   Then, Step S 702  is executed to initialize the angles of rotation of the images. 
   When the free layout mode has been selected in the illustrated embodiment, the images are initially held in their original orientations, so that the rotation angles  611  of the images are set to zero. When this layout mode is used, the user can, of course, freely rotate the images by manual operation after the initialization. 
   When the fixed layout mode has been selected in this embodiment, rotation angles of the images are initially set to 0° or 90° so that the direction of the longer side of each image coincides with the direction of the longer side of the printable area on the printing medium. For instance, when the printing area has a longer vertically extending axis, the rotation angle  611  of the image to be printed in this printing area is set to 0° if the image has a longer vertically extending axis, and to 90° if the image has a horizontally extending longer axis. 
   Subsequently, Step S 703  is executed to initialize the image trimming regions. 
   When the free layout mode has been selected in the illustrated embodiment, trimming of the images is not initially executed, so that the coordinates  604  of the left end of the trimming region and the coordinates  605  of the upper end of the trimming region are set to 0 (zero), while the coordinates  606  of the right end of the trimming region and the coordinates  607  of the lower end of the trimming region are set to values corresponding to the width and the height of the image file, respectively. 
   When the fixed layout mode is used in this embodiment, trimming is conducted such that the aspect ratio, i.e., the ratio between the height and the width, of the image is equal to that of the printing area. The trimming is initially performed such that either the top and bottom ends or the left and right ends of the image is cut and trimmed by an equal amount. The coordinates  604  of the left end of the trimming region, coordinates  605  of the upper end of the trimming region, coordinates  606  of the right end of the trimming region and the coordinates  607  of the lower end of the trimming regions are set so as to minimize the areas of the image that are severed and removed by the trimming. 
   Step S 704  initializes the display magnification of the images. 
   When the free layout mode is used in this embodiment, the area in which an image is printable is set to be 10% smaller than the whole block allocated to each image, i.e., 10% smaller than the area which has a width ½ that of the entire printable area of the printing sheet and a height which is ½ the height of the entire printable area. This magnification affords a marginal area in which information related to each image is printable. 
   When the fixed layout mode is used, the display magnification  610  of the image is set so that each image is printed to fully occupy the quarter area of the entire printable area on the printing sheet, i.e., to fill up the area having a width which equals to ½ that of the entire printable area and a height which equals to ½ that of the entire printable area. 
     FIG. 8  shows, by way of example, a layout information update screen which is displayed on the monitor  405  in Step S 503 . 
   A table  901  contains a list of pieces of layout information associated with the respective images recorded in the hard disk  403 . The user is allowed to change the value of any item in any one of pieces of layout information, by clicking on the item by the mouse  404  and entering a new value through the keyboard  406 . 
   When the size of the list of the layout information contained in the table  901  is too large to be displayed, the user can scroll the screen to bring the layout information of the desired image into the display area. 
   Switching between the layout mode of the printing system between the fixed layout mode and the free layout mode is possible by clicking on a changing button  903  on the display. 
   When the user clicks on a printing button  904 , printing data is sent to the printer  103  in accordance with the layout information. 
   Any invalid values entered into the table  901  is neglected. For instance, when values entered as the coordinates  609  of the vertical position of an image fall out of the printable area on the printing sheet, or when angular values other than 0°, 90° or a multiple of 90° is entered as the image rotation angle  610 , such values are regarded as being invalid and are neglected accordingly. The items of each piece of layout information may be linked together such that, when the value of one item is changed, values of other items in the piece of layout information pertaining to an image are automatically changed correspondingly. For instance, when the display magnification  610  of an image is changed while the system is operating in the fixed layout mode, values of the coordinates  604 ,  605 ,  606  and  607  of the left, upper, right and lower ends of the trimming region are automatically changed so as not to cause the printed image to protrude from the designated printing area allocated to the image. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, a table that permits direct entry and change of values of layout information is displayed as the layout information update screen. This, however, is only illustrative and the update or change of the values of layout information may be implemented by using an interface that graphically displays the image layout on the screen to permit the user to change the values of layout information by a suitable operation such as a dragging operation of the mouse  404 . 
   A description will now be given of the printing processing executed in Step S 509 , with specific reference to  FIG. 9 . 
   The processing begins with Step S 1001  in which a data area is preserved in the hard disk  403 , for temporarily storing the printing data to be transmitted to the printer  103 . 
   Step S 1002  reads the piece of layout information concerning the first one of the image in the image layout information table stored in the hard disk  403 . 
   Step S 1003  reads from the hard disk  403  the data of the image designated by the image file name  602  of the layout information. 
   Step S 1004  magnifies or demagnifies, in accordance with the display magnification  610  contained in the image layout information, the image data that has been trimmed based on the coordinates  604 ,  605 ,  606  and  607  of the left, upper, right and lower ends of the image trimming region. This step also executes rotation of the magnified or demagnified image in accordance with the image rotation angle  611  contained in the image layout information. The image data thus obtained is recorded in the hard disk  403  so as to be used as the printing data so that the image data is to be printed at a position designated by the horizontal and vertical positions  608 ,  609  of the image center on a page which is specified by the page number  603  which designates the page in which the image is to be printed. 
   The process then advances to Step S 1005  which determines whether any character string  612  of related information has been recorded. If no such character string has been recorded, the process skips to Step S 1009 . 
   Conversely, if a character string  612  of related information has been recorded, the process advances to Step S 1006  which examines the image layout mode in which the printing system is operating. If the printing system is in the fixed layout mode, the process advances to Step S 1007 , whereas, if the present layout mode is the free layout mode, the process skips to Step S 1008 . 
   Step S 1007  modifies the printing data such that the information relates to an image is printed by being superimposed on the image. In this operation, the location and the direction of the character string to be printed are changed in accordance with the angle  611  of rotation of the image. If the rotation angle is 0°, the character string is printed without being rotated, so as to extend rightward from a position under the left lower portion of the image. When the rotation angle is 90°, the character string is rotated 90° and printed so as to extend downward from a position near the left upper end of the image. When the rotation angle is 180°, the character string is rotated 180° and printed so as to extend leftward from a position near the right upper end of the image. When the rotation angle is 270°, the character string is rotated 270° and printed so as to extend downward from a position near the right upper end of the image. 
   In Step S 1008 , the printing data in the hard disk  403  is changed so that the related information may be printed outside the image. In this case, the character string representing the related information is printed at a position right below the image, without being rotated. 
   In Step S 1009 , the piece of the image layout information concerning the first image and the corresponding image data file are deleted from the hard disk  403 . 
   Step S 1010  determines whether any data still remains in the image layout information table. The image layout information table is empty if all the data has been printed and deleted. In such a case, the processing is finished after sending the printing data recorded in the hard disk  403  to the printer  103 . If any data remains in the image layout information table, the process returns to Step S 1002  to commence the operation for printing the next image, i.e., the image defined by the remaining data. 
     FIG. 2  shows, by way of example, a printing result obtained through the printing operation in the fixed layout mode. Images  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  204  have been printed on the printing medium in accordance with the recorded information. 
   In this case, the printing medium is a sheet of paper having an entire printable area of 1200 pixels in the horizontal or line direction and 1600 pixels in the vertical or columnar direction. 
   The image  201  is composed of 800 pixels in the line direction and 600 pixels in the columnar direction. This image is disposed in the left upper quarter of the sheet in accordance with the procedure previously described in connection with  FIG. 7 . In this case, the image center positions are represented by (300, 400), the rotation angle is 90°, the trimming region is expressed by {(0,0)-(800,600)} and the magnification is 100%. The date  205  on which the image  201  was taken is printed by a character string which has been rotated 90° to extend downward from a position near the left upper end of the image. 
   The image  202  is composed of 1200 pixels in the line direction and 600 pixels in the columnar direction. This image is disposed in the right upper quarter of the sheet in accordance with the procedure previously described in connection with  FIG. 7 . In this case, the image center positions are represented by (900, 400), the rotation angle is 90°, the trimming region is expressed by {(200,0)-(1000,600)} and the magnification is 100%. The date  206  on which the image  202  was taken is printed by a character string which has been rotated 90° to extend downward from a position near the left upper end of the image. 
   The image  203  is composed of 400 pixels in the line direction and 400 pixels in the columnar direction. This image is disposed in the left lower quarter of the sheet in accordance with the procedure previously described in connection with  FIG. 7 . In this case, the image center positions are represented by (300, 1200), the rotation angle is 0°, the trimming region is expressed by {(50,0)-(350,400)} and the magnification is 200%. The date  207  on which the image  203  was taken is printed by a character string extend rightward from a position near the left end of the image, without being rotated. 
   The image  204  is composed of 2400 pixels in the line direction and 3200 pixels in the columnar direction. This image is disposed in the right lower quarter of the sheet in accordance with the procedure previously described in connection with  FIG. 7 . In this case, the image center positions are represented by (900, 1200), the rotation angle is 0°, the trimming region is expressed by {(0,0)-(2400,3200)} and the magnification is 25%. The date  208  on which the image  204  was taken is printed by a character string which extends rightward downward from a position near the left lower end of the image, without being rotated. 
   The print thus obtained may be cut by scissors so as to severe the four quadrants from one another, whereby four independent images each carrying the printed related information, i.e., the photographing date, are obtained for distribution. 
     FIG. 3  shows, by way of example, a printing result obtained through the printing operation in the free layout mode. Images  301 ,  302 ,  303  and  304  have been printed on the printing medium in accordance with the recorded information. 
   In this case, the printing medium is a sheet of paper on having an entire printable area of 1200 pixels in horizontal or line direction and 1600 pixels in the vertical or columnar direction. 
   The image  301  is composed of 800 pixels in the line direction and 600 pixels in the columnar direction. This image is disposed in the left upper quarter of the sheet in accordance with the procedure previously described in connection with  FIG. 7 . In this case, the image center positions are represented by (300, 400), the rotation angle is 0°, the trimming region is expressed by {(0,0)-(800,600)} and the magnification is 67.5%. The date  305  on which the image  301  was taken is printed below the image, without being rotated. 
   The image  302  is composed of 1200 pixels in the line direction and 600 pixels in the columnar direction. This image is disposed in the right upper quarter of the sheet in accordance with the procedure previously described in connection with  FIG. 7 . In this case, the image center positions are represented by (900, 400), the rotation angle is 0°, the trimming region is expressed by {(0,0)-(1200,600)} and the magnification is 45%. The date  306  on which the image  302  was taken is printed below the image, without being rotated. 
   The image  303  is composed of 400 pixels in the line direction and 400 pixels in the columnar direction. This image is disposed in the left lower quarter of the sheet in accordance with the procedure previously described in connection with  FIG. 7 . In this case, the image center positions are represented by (300, 1200), the rotation angle is 0°, the trimming region is expressed by {(0,0)-(400,400)} and the magnification is 135%. The date  307  on which the image  303  was taken is printed below the image without being rotated. 
   The image  304  is composed of 2400 pixels in the line direction and 3200 pixels in the columnar direction. This image is disposed in the right lower quarter of the sheet in accordance with the procedure previously described in connection with  FIG. 7 . In this case, the image center positions are represented by (900, 1200), the rotation angle is 0°, the trimming region is expressed by {(0,0)-(2400,3200)} and the magnification is 22.55%. The date  308  on which the image  304  was taken is printed below the image without being rotated. 
   Thus, when the free layout mode is used to permit the user to freely appoint the printing positions and sizes of the images, the information relates to each image can automatically be printed so as not to be superimposed on the associated image. 
   It is to be noted, however, that the image processing apparatus is not limited to the type which permits free selection between the fixed layout mode and the free layout mode. 
   For instance, the fixed layout mode may be modified to allow the user to select demagnification of the image so as to create a marginal region. In such a case, the arrangement may be such as to automatically determine or in accordance with a manual instruction entered by the user whether the related information is to be printed within or outside the area of the image. 
   The arrangement may also be such that the different magnifications or demagnifications apply to the columnar or vertical direction and the line or horizontal directions. In such a case, whether the related information is to be printed along a longer side or the shorter side of the image, and whether the related information is to be located within or outside the image area, may be manually or automatically selected in accordance with the difference in the magnification between the vertical and horizontal directions. 
   The unit rotation angle is not limited to 90°. For instance, a 30° clockwise rotation of a rectangular image with horizontally lying longer axis creates a small marginal space at the lower left corner. It is possible to allocate the related information to this marginal area, with or without a slight overlap on the image. 
   Preferably, the print size of the related information is controllable in accordance with the size of the marginal space and/or the size of the image. Such a function advantageously provides a neat appearance of the combined print combining the image and the related information. 
   This also serves to avoid a mismatch of size between the image and the character strings representing the related information, e.g., a too large length of the character strings for a given size of image. 
   The present invention my be implemented in the form of a system composed of a plurality of devices such as a host computer, interfaces, a reader, a printer and so on, or may be incorporated in an independent device such as a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus. 
   The functions of the embodiment heretofore described may be implemented by software program codes. Such program codes may be supplied to a computer in an apparatus connected to various kinds of devices or in a system linking such devices so as to be stored in the computer (CPU or MPU) of the apparatus or the system. The computer then operates and controls these devices in accordance with the stored program. Such a way of implementation of image processing also falls within the scope of the present invention. 
   In such a case, the software program codes implement the functions of the described embodiment. Thus, the program codes per se constitute one aspect of the present invention, as well as means for supplying the program codes to the computer, e.g., a computer-readable storage medium. 
   The storage medium storing the program codes may be a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, an optomagnetic disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, or the like. 
   The program codes when executed on a computer may implement the functions of the described embodiment by themselves, or in cooperation with another application software or an operating system (OS) running on the computer. It will be clear that the program codes that implements the required functions through cooperation with an OS or another application are also included in the scope of the present invention. 
   The arrangement may be such that the supplied program codes are stored in a memory provided in a function extension board of the computer or a function extension unit connected to the computer, and a processing unit such as a CPU provided on the function extension board or the function extension unit executes part or the whole of the processing, thereby implementing the functions of the described embodiment. Such an arrangement also falls within the scope of the present invention. 
   As will be understood from the foregoing description, the present invention offers the following advantages. 
   In the mode in which images are automatically and suitably sized and laid out, the related information corresponding to the images is automatically superimposed on the associated images and printed together with the images. 
   In the mode which permits the user to freely appoint the printing locations and sizes of images, information relates to each image is automatically printed in a marginal area preserved along a side of the image. 
   It is thus possible to produce printing output that suits the use intended by the user. 
   When the layout of a plurality of images is changed, whether the related information such as date information is to be printed inside or outside the associated image is automatically determined. Thus, the arrangement of prints of the related information can be automatically optimized in accordance with the layout method set by the user. 
   For instance, when a priority is given to maximization of the image print size while eliminating marginal areas as possible as shown in  FIG. 2 , superimposition of related information on the image is permissible. In such a case, the related information is printed by being superimposed on a part of the image. When it is desired to have all the images stand upright for easier at-a-glance observation as shown in  FIG. 3 , marginal areas are created while the image sizes are reduced in some cases. Such marginal areas can effectively be used as the areas for printing the information related to the images, so that the images are printed without being partly hidden by the printed related information. 
   According to the present invention, the user can select or switch the image layout method. Different initial values are set for the related information, depending on the layout method selected by the user. The user can then freely change the values to alter the locations and the sizes of the characters of the related information. It is therefore possible to optimize the layout of images and related information without requiring any specific skill and experience. In addition, the user once skilled and experienced can enjoy a greater versatility of image processing operations. 
   Further, the location and the direction of the characters representing the related information can also be rotated in accordance with the rotation of the associated image. It is therefore possible to obtain a print of images which are laid out for easier at-a-glance observation. 
   The image processing apparatus of the present invention is particularly useful and effective when it is configured to automatically switch the layout method in accordance with the kind or nature of the printing medium, e.g., a seal paper with an adhesive or a sheet having perforations which divide the printable area into a plurality of blocks for easy severance. 
   Although in the foregoing description the related information has been described in the context of date and time, such information is not exclusive and may include one or more items of attribute information such as a shutter speed, image size, whether a flashlight was used, and so on. 
   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.