Patent Publication Number: US-2015062641-A1

Title: Image display control apparatus, method, non-transitory computer readable recording medium, and image display system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-181757, filed Sep. 3, 2013, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image display control device, an image display control method, an image display control program, and an image display system to select two or more pieces of image information from a plurality of pieces of image information to which identification numbers are granted and to perform preview display of the selected image information on a display device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Various techniques for selecting necessary image information from a plurality of pieces of image information stored in advance and performing preview display of the content have been proposed. A method of changing the display target page of the finished image according to an instruction operation on the guide scale image has been proposed in JP2007-110677A (paragraphs [0019] and [0020], FIG. 6, and the like). In addition, JP2007-110677A describes that the scale of the guide scale image may be arranged so as to become exponentially narrow toward the outside from the inside. 
     A method of selecting an electronic document and the page through the bar control, which is a collection of a plurality of markers, has been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,100,119B (FIGS. 5 and 6B and the like). In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 7,100,119 describes that the width of the designated marker is made to be relatively great. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Incidentally, if the amount of image information to be searched for is increased, the time for selecting the desired image information is increased accordingly. In the methods proposed in JP2007-110677A and U.S. Pat. No. 7,100,119B, however, it is difficult to finely adjust the current search position while checking the total amount of image information. As a result, there has been a problem in that a long time is required until desired image information is found and selected. 
     The invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problem, and it is an object of the invention to provide an image display control device, an image display control method, an image display control program, and an image display system that can efficiently select desired image information without spending a lot of time even if the amount of image information to be searched for is significantly large. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an image display control device that selects two or more pieces of image information from a plurality of pieces of image information to which identification numbers are granted and performs preview display on a display device. The image display control device includes: a track bar creating section that creates display data of a track bar having a bar portion with a fixed length and a slider that is freely movable along an extending direction of the bar portion; an identification number allocation section that assigns each of the identification numbers according to a standard scale obtained by matching a full range of the identification number with an entire position of the bar portion; and a selection range determining section that determines a selection range of the identification number, which is assigned by the identification number allocation section, from an instruction position of the slider of the track bar displayed based on the display data created by the track bar creating section. The identification number allocation section assigns each of the identification numbers according to an enlarged scale, which is larger than the standard scale, at a peripheral position of the slider. 
     Thus, in the standard scale obtained by matching the full range of the identification number with the entire position of the bar portion of the track bar, at the peripheral position of the slider, each identification number is assigned according to the enlarged scale that is larger than the standard scale. Accordingly, it is possible to adjust the current search position finely in the enlarged scale region while checking the total amount of image information in the standard scale region. As a result, even if the amount of image information to be searched for is significantly large, it is possible to efficiently select the desired image information without spending a lot of time. 
     Preferably, the identification number allocation section sets the peripheral position when a specific input operation is received and assigns each of the identification numbers according to the enlarged scale at the peripheral position. 
     Preferably, the identification number allocation section assigns each of the identification numbers according to the standard scale when the slider is moved away from the peripheral position. 
     Preferably, the track bar creating section creates the display data by changing a width of the slider according to the number of possible displays of the image information. 
     Preferably, the track bar creating section creates the track bar in which a display form at the peripheral position is different from a display form at a residual position. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an image display control method of selecting two or more pieces of image information from a plurality of pieces of image information to which identification numbers are granted and performing preview display on a display device. The image display control method causes a computer to execute: a creation step of creating display data of a track bar having a bar portion with a fixed length and a slider that is freely movable along an extending direction of the bar portion; an allocation step of assigning each of the identification numbers according to a standard scale obtained by matching a full range of the identification number with an entire position of the bar portion; and a determination step of determining a selection range of the assigned identification number from an instruction position of the slider of the track bar displayed based on the created display data. In the allocation step, each of the identification numbers is assigned according to an enlarged scale, which is larger than the standard scale, at a peripheral position of the slider. 
     According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided an image display control program for selecting two or more pieces of image information from a plurality of pieces of image information to which identification numbers are granted and for performing preview display on a display device. The image display control program causes a computer to execute: a creation step of creating display data of a track bar having a bar portion with a fixed length and a slider that is freely movable along an extending direction of the bar portion; an allocation step of assigning each of the identification numbers according to a standard scale obtained by matching a full range of the identification number with an entire position of the bar portion; and a determination step of determining a selection range of the assigned identification number from an instruction position of the slider of the track bar displayed based on the created display data. In the allocation step, each of the identification numbers is assigned according to an enlarged scale, which is larger than the standard scale, at a peripheral position of the slider. 
     According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided an image display system including: the image display control device described above; a storage device that stores a plurality of pieces of image information; and a display device that performs preview display of two or more pieces of image information that are selected from the plurality of pieces of image information stored in the storage device by the image display control device. 
     According to the image display control device, the image display control method, the image display control program, and the image display system according to the aspects of the invention, at the peripheral position of the slider in the standard scale obtained by matching the full range of the identification number with the entire position of the bar portion of the track bar, each identification number is assigned according to the enlarged scale that is larger than the standard scale. Accordingly, it is possible to adjust the current search position finely in the enlarged scale region while checking the total amount of image information in the standard scale region. As a result, even if the amount of image information to be searched for is significantly large, it is possible to efficiently select the desired image information without spending a lot of time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a print production system including an image display system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an electrical block diagram of a work station shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart provided to explain the operation of the image display system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic explanatory diagram for an identification number granting method. 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic explanatory diagram for a method of assigning an identification number according to the standard scale. 
         FIG. 5  is a first image diagram showing a preview screen of image information. 
         FIG. 6  is a second image diagram showing a preview screen of image information. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are image diagrams showing a selection screen in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIGS. 8A to 8C  are image diagrams showing a temporal change of the selection screen when a specific input operation is executed. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram showing the determination result of the scale in the display forms shown in  FIGS. 8A to 8C . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, for an image display control method according to the invention, an appropriate embodiment in the relationship with an image display control device, an image display control program, and an image display system to implement the image display control method will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying diagrams. 
     Diagram of the Overall Configuration of a Print Production System  10   
       FIG. 1  is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the print production system  10  including an image display system  38  according to the present embodiment. 
     A router  14  that is a device for relaying the connection with a network  12 , a server device  16  that can be accessed through the network  12  from each terminal device (not shown) belonging to an external network, a work station  18  (image display control device) that performs various kinds of information processing on the content data acquired from the server device  16  or the like, a print server  20  having a print processing function, and a printing device  24  that can form a print  22  based on the output data from the print server  20  are provided in the print production system  10 . 
     The server device  16  is a device that forms the core of the workflow management in the print production system  10 . The server device  16  is communicably connected to the work station  18  and the print server  20  through a local area network (LAN)  26  built in the print production system  10 . The server device  16  may be communicably connected to each terminal device (not shown) of a designer or a production company through the router  14  and the network  12 . 
     A storage device  28  that can store various kinds of data for the workflow is connected to the server device  16 . For example, content data, output data (for example, plate making data, printing plate data, or calibration data), a job ticket (for example, a job definition format (JDF) file), a color profile, color sample data, and the like are stored in the storage device  28 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , a database regarding image information (hereinafter, referred to as an image information DB  30 ) is constructed in the storage device  28 . The image information DB  30  is a collection of image information in units of a print job, a document, a page, or content, for example. 
     The work station  18  is a device that can create page-unit data (page data) after performing pre-flight processing on content data including a character, a graphic, a picture, a photograph, and the like. The work station  18  performs imposition processing according to a designated binding method or paper folding method with reference to the tag information of a job ticket. 
     A display device  32  that can display an arbitrary image for a variety of work is connected to the work station  18 . The display method of the display device  32  may be not only liquid crystal, organic electro-luminescence (EL), and a cathode ray tube (CRT) but also a projector that projects an image onto the screen. 
     The print server  20  performs raster image processing (RIP) on the plate making data or the like subjected to imposition processing, and supplies the obtained output data to the printing device  24 . 
     The printing device  24  outputs the print  22 , in which an image is formed on a print medium  34 , based on the output data supplied from the print server  20 . Types of the print medium  34  include not only paper, such as synthetic paper, thick paper, and aluminum-evaporated paper, but also resin such as vinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), tarpaulin, and a metal sheet. 
     When the printing device  24  is a proof press, a direct digital color proofing (DDCP), an ink jet color proofer, a low-resolution color laser printer (electrophotographic type), an ink jet printer, and the like may be used. 
     When a printing device  24  is a relief printing press, the print  22  in which an image is formed on the print medium  34  is output by depositing the ink through a printing plate  36  and an intermediate transfer member (not shown). 
     When the printing device  24  is a digital printing press, the print  22  can be directly output without generating the printing plate  36 . As a digital printing press, an ink jet printer, a wide format printer, an ink jet color proofer, a color laser printer, and the like may be used. 
     The server device  16 , the work station  18 , the storage device  28 , and the display device  32  form the image display system  38  that selects two or more pieces of image information  60  ( FIG. 2 ) from the image information DB  30  and performs preview display. 
     Electrical Block Diagram of the Work Station  18   
       FIG. 2  is an electrical block diagram of the work station  18  shown in  FIG. 1 . The work station  18  is a computer that basically includes a control unit  50 , a communication I/F  52 , an input unit  54 , a display I/F  56 , and a memory  58  (storage medium). 
     The communication I/F  52  is an interface that transmits and receives electric signals to and from an external device. Thereby, the work station  18  can acquire various kinds of data (for example, a plurality of pieces of image information  60 ) from the server device  16  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The input unit  54  includes various input devices, such as a mouse, a track ball, a keyboard, and a touch panel. The display I/F  56  is an interface for outputting a display control signal to the display device  32 . Accordingly, the display device  32  can display various images including a window W 1  ( FIG. 5  or the like) and a window W 2  ( FIG. 6  or the like). 
     The memory  58  stores a program, data, and the like required when the control unit  50  controls each component. In this example shown in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of pieces of image information  60  from the image information DB  30  ( FIG. 1 ) are stored. 
     The memory  58  may be a non-transitory and computer-readable storage medium. Here, computer-readable storage media are storage devices, such as portable media including a magneto-optical disc, a ROM, a CD-ROM, and a flash memory and a hard disk built in a computer system. The storage media may hold a program dynamically for a short period of time, or may hold a program for a fixed period of time. 
     The control unit  50  is configured to include an information processing device (so-called processor), such as a central processing unit (CPU). The control unit  50  can realize each function including a preview image selecting section  62  and a display data creating section  64  by reading and executing a program stored in the memory  58 . 
     The preview image selecting section  62  selects two or more pieces of image information  60  provided for preview display according to an operation through the input unit  54 . Specifically, the preview image selecting section  62  includes an identification number granting section  66  that grants an identification number to each of a plurality of pieces of image information  60 , an identification number allocation section  68  that assigns an identification number according to the scale to be described later, and a selection range determining section  70  that selects a range of the identification number. 
     The display data creating section  64  creates display data provided for display of various images. Specifically, the display data creating section  64  includes a screen creating section  72 , which creates a preview screen  100  ( FIG. 5 ) or the like, and a track bar creating section  74 , which creates a track bar control (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “track bar”). 
     Operation of the Image Display System  38   
     The image display system  38  according to the present embodiment is configured as described above. Subsequently, the operation of the image display system  38  (in particular, the work station  18 ) shown in  FIG. 1  will be described in detail primarily with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 3 . 
     In step S 1 , the identification number granting section  66  grants an identification number to each of a plurality of pieces of image information  60  registered in the image information DB  30 . Hereinafter, the image information  60  having a “print job” as a basic unit will be described as an example. 
       FIG. 4A  is a schematic explanatory diagram for an identification number granting method. For example, 1001 print jobs having print job names of “JOB0001” to “JOB1001” are registered in the image information DB  30  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Here, the identification number granting section  66  may sort 1001 print jobs according to the arbitrary rules and grant identification numbers sequentially from 1. Examples of the sort key include a print job name, a customer name, a deadline, type of production, layout of the page, the number of copies to be printed, and printing conditions (item directly involved in the printing process or the metadata). In the example shown in  FIG. 4A , a “print job name” is used as the sort key, and sorting in ascending order is performed. As a result, a minimum value (1) of identification numbers is granted to the print job “JOB0001”, and a maximum value (1001) of identification numbers is granted to the print job “JOB1001”. 
     In step S 2 , the identification number allocation section  68  assigns the identification numbers granted in step S 1  according to a predetermined linear scale. Here, a scale (hereinafter, referred to as a standard scale) obtained by matching the full range of the identification number with the entire position is adopted. 
       FIG. 4B  is a schematic explanatory diagram for a method of assigning an identification number according to the standard scale. When the position on the scale is normalized in [0, 1], the identification number allocation section  68  assigns a position “0” to the identification number 1 and assigns a position “1” to the identification number 1001. That is, when described in a general formula, a position “(k−1)/1000” is assigned to an identification number k (k=1 to 1001). 
     Similarly, when the position is converted into a position [0, Np] (unit is the number of pixels) on the image, the identification number allocation section  68  assigns the position “0” (pixel) to the identification number 1 and assigns a position “Np” (pixel) to the identification number 1001. That is, when described in a general formula, a position “(k−1)Np/1000” (pixel) is assigned to the identification number k (k=1 to 1001). 
     In step S 3 , the work station  18  performs preview display of a plurality of pieces of image information  60  on the display device  32 . In response to an instruction to start the display, the screen creating section  72  creates display data of the preview screen  100  ( FIG. 5 ) and then outputs the display data to the display I/F  56 . As a result, the window W 1  including the preview screen  100  is displayed on the display device  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a preview column  102 , which is a collection of the image information  60 , and an icon group  104 , which is configured to include a plurality of tool icons, are disposed on the preview screen  100 . 
     In the preview column  102 , a predetermined number of pieces (for example, 50 pieces) of image information  60  are disposed in a two-dimensional manner. In the initial setting, a preview display target is the image information  60  to which identification numbers of 1 to 50 are granted. The image information  60  (identification numbers 4, 5, and 9 to 50) other than the print jobs that are currently displayed can also be viewed by operating scroll bars  106  and  108 . In addition, it is possible to add desired annotation information, calibration history, or the like to the position (specifically, each piece of image information  60 ) of the preview column  102  according to an operation through the icon group  104 . 
     In step S 4 , the control unit  50  determines whether or not to continue the preview display in step S 3 . When the preview display continues (step S 4 : YES), the process proceeds to the next step (S 5 ). 
     In step S 5 , the control unit  50  determines whether or not there is a call request of the window W 2  ( FIG. 6 ). Specifically, this determination is performed according to whether or not a clicking operation of the input unit  54  ( FIG. 2 ) has been received in a state where a cursor  112  is located on the icon group  104  (specific icon  110 ). When there is no request (step S 5 : NO), the process returns to step S 3  and the control unit  50  repeats the operation of steps S 3  to S 5  sequentially. In contrast, when there is a request (step S 5 : YES), the process proceeds to the next step (S 6 ). 
     In step S 6 , the work station  18  displays a track bar  122  ( FIG. 7A ; window W 2 ) on the display device  32 . Prior to this display, the track bar creating section  74  creates display data of the track bar  122  according to the allocation result of the identification number allocation section  68 . Then, the screen creating section  72  creates display data of a selection screen  120  (including the track bar  122 ) and outputs the display data to the display I/F  56 . As a result, the window W 2  including the selection screen  120  is displayed on the display device  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the window W 2  is displayed so as to overlap with an approximately central position of the window W 1 . In a state where the window W 2  is displayed, the display state of the window W 1  changes to “passive”. In this example shown in  FIG. 6 , the preview column  102  and the icon group  104  are colored dark, and the control unit  50  temporarily disables an input operation through the window W 1 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are image diagrams of the selection screen  120  shown in  FIG. 6 . The track bar  122  for selecting the identification number, a balloon portion  124  present above the track bar  122 , and an erase mark  126  for hiding the window W 2  are disposed on the selection screen  120 . 
     The track bar  122  is configured to include a bar portion  128  having a fixed length (or a variable length) and extending in one direction (in this example shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a horizontal direction), a rectangular slider  130  provided on the bar portion  128 , and a scale number  132  present above the bar portion  128 . 
     The slider  130  is configured so as to be movable along the horizontal direction in a range from one end position  134  to the other end position  136  of the bar portion  128 . The scale number  132  includes five numbers disposed at approximately equal intervals, specifically, “1”, “250”, “500”, “750”, and “1001”. 
     “1” corresponding to the minimum value of identification numbers is written at the one end position  134  of the bar portion  128 . “1001” corresponding to the maximum value of identification numbers is written at the other end position  136  of the bar portion  128 . In other words, the entire bar portion  128  expresses a standard scale that linearly assigns the full range of the identification number. Hereinafter, a region expressing the standard scale of the image region including the track bar  122  is referred to as a standard scale region  138 . 
     Character information regarding the indicated range of the slider  130  is written in the balloon portion  124 . In the example shown in  FIG. 7A , a lower limit (1) of the indicated range and the entire print job name “JOB0001” corresponding to the lower limit and an upper limit (50) of the indicated range and a part of the print job name “JOB0050” corresponding to the upper limit are written. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7A , when a drag operation along the direction indicated by the arrow A is performed in a state where the cursor  112  is located at the position of the slider  130 , the slider  130  and the balloon portion  124  are moved in the direction indicated by the arrow A so as to follow the cursor  112 . Then, when a drop operation is performed, the movement of the slider  130  and the balloon portion  124  is stopped. 
     In this case, the content of the balloon portion  124  is immediately changed according to the stop position of the slider  130 . In the example shown in  FIG. 7B , a lower limit (251) of the indicated range and the entire print job name “JOB0251” corresponding to the lower limit and an upper limit (300) of the indicated range and a part of the print job name “JOB0300” corresponding to the upper limit are written. 
     In step S 7  of  FIG. 3 , the control unit  50  determines whether or not a specific input operation has been performed. For example, this is determined according to whether or not a long pressing operation (long tap) on the slider  130  has been received. When there is an operation (step S 7 : YES), the process proceeds to the next step (S 8 ). 
     When a long pressing operation on the slider  130  is performed, the outline of a slider  140  in a track bar  122   a  is highlighted as shown in  FIG. 8A . Then, when the long pressing operation is continued further, the display form of the track bar  122   a  is changed. 
     In step S 8 , the identification number allocation section  68  assigns some of the identification numbers granted in step S 1  again according to the different scale from the standard scale. Specifically, the identification number allocation section  68  sets a peripheral position  152  ( FIG. 8B ) when a specific input operation is received, and assigns each identification number according to the enlarged scale, which will be described later, at the peripheral position  152 . Then, the work station  18  displays a new track bar  122   b  on the display device  32  (step S 6 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 8B , a track bar  122   b  is configured to include a bar portion  128 , a wide slider  150 , and a scale number  154  in which the value has changed at the peripheral position  152  (rectangular region surrounded by the dotted line) of the slider  150 . As can be understood from  FIG. 8B , the peripheral position  152  (a part of the bar portion  128 ) expresses a scale (hereinafter, referred to as an enlarged scale) enlarged to a predetermined magnification (here, two times) with respect to the standard scale. That is, an enlarged scale region  156  corresponds to a region, which expresses a doubly enlarged scale, of the image region including the track bar  122   b.    
     Then, when the long pressing operation on the slider  150  is continued further, the display form of the track bar  122   b  is changed. Through the allocation processing (step S 8 ) performed again by the identification number allocation section  68 , the work station  18  displays a new track bar  122   c  on the display device  32  (step S 6 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 8C , the track bar  122   c  is configured to include a bar portion  128 , a wider slider  160 , and a scale number  154  in which the value has changed at the peripheral position  162  (rectangular region surrounded by the dotted line) of the slider  160 . As can be understood from  FIG. 8C , the peripheral position  162  (a part of the bar portion  128 ) expresses an enlarged scale that is 4 times the standard scale. That is, an enlarged scale region  166  corresponds to a region, which expresses a fourfold enlarged scale, of the image region including the track bar  122   c.    
       FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram showing the determination result of the scale in the display forms shown in  FIGS. 8A to 8C . 
     A bar graph  171  shows the scale in the display form shown in  FIG. 8A . The full range shown by the graph, that is, the full range of identification numbers of 1 to 1001, is the standard scale (area without filling). 
     A bar graph  172  shows the scale in the display form shown in  FIG. 8B . A range of identification numbers of 1 to 175 and 376 to 1001 of the full range shown by the graph is the standard scale. The range of the enlarged scale region  156  ( FIG. 8B ), that is, the range of identification numbers of 176 to 376, is a doubly enlarged scale (area of single hatching). The residual range is an object that is not to be displayed (area with filling). 
     A bar graph  173  shows the scale in the display form shown in  FIG. 8C . A range of identification numbers of 1 to 175 and 376 to 1001 of the full range shown by the graph is the standard scale. The range of the enlarged scale region  166  ( FIG. 8C ), that is, the range of identification numbers of 226 to 326, is a fourfold enlarged scale (area of double hatching). The residual range is an object that is not to be displayed (area with filling). 
     Incidentally, in  FIGS. 8B and 8C , the designated range can be changed according to the scale extended twice and 4 times by moving the wide sliders  150  and  160  located at the peripheral position  152  and  162  in the horizontal direction. In other words, the operator can finely adjust the designated range. 
     The track bar creating section  74  may create display data by changing the width of each of the sliders  140 ,  150 , and  160  according to the number of possible displays of the image information  60  (in the example shown in  FIG. 5 , 50 fixed values). The operator can check the designated range of the identification number at a glance based on the size of the width. In relation to this, the track bar creating section  74  may perform adjustment so as not to be less than the threshold value when changing the width of the slider  130  or the like. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation where it becomes difficult to hold the slider  130  or the like. 
     In addition, the track bar creating section  74  may create display data by making the display form at the peripheral positions  152  and  162  different from the display form at the residual position. As a specific example of the display, a display form to emphasize the peripheral positions  152  and  162  (for example, to relatively increase the brightness and saturation or to give visual effects to call attention) can be mentioned. Thus, the operator can check the change of the scale at a glance based on the difference in the display form. 
     When another operation is received, the control unit  50  may perform control to end the display on the enlarged scale and return to the display form shown in  FIG. 7B . As examples of “another operation”, an operation of moving the slider  150  or  160  away from the peripheral position  152  or  162  and an operation of moving the cursor  112  to the outside of the window W 2  can be mentioned. 
     Returning to step S 7  of  FIG. 3 , when there is no specific input operation (long pressing operation on the slider  130 ) (step S 7 : NO), the control unit  50  determines whether or not there has been any operation to end the selection in step S 9 . For example, this is determined according to whether or not a clicking operation on the erase mark  126  ( FIGS. 7A to 8C ) has been received. When there is no operation (step S 9 : NO), the process returns to step S 6  and the control unit  50  repeats the operation of steps S 6  to S 9  sequentially. 
     In contrast, when there is an operation (step S 9 : YES), the process proceeds to the next step (S 10 ). In this case, according to the clicking operation on the erase mark  126  ( FIG. 7A  or the like), the window W 2  is not displayed, and the display state of the window W 1  returns to “active”. 
     In step S 10 , the selection range determining section  70  determines the selection range of the identification number from the instruction position of the slider  130  or the like. Specifically, the selection range determining section  70  calculates the range (minimum and maximum values) of the identification number based on the position corresponding to the number of pixels of the slider  130  or the like and the correspondence relationship shown in  FIG. 4B . In all of the examples shown in  FIGS. 8A to 8C , the range of identification numbers of 251 to 300 is determined as a selection range. 
     Then, the process returns to step S 3 , and the work station  18  performs preview display of a plurality of pieces of image information  60 , to which the identification numbers within the selection range determined in step S 10  are granted, on the display device  32 . An object to be displayed in the preview column  102  ( FIG. 5 ) is the image information  60  to which identification numbers of 251 to 300 are granted. 
     Then, the process returns to step S 4  of  FIG. 3 , and the image display system  38  ends the operation regarding the preview display when the preview display is not continued (step S 4 : NO). 
     Effect of the Present Embodiment 
     As described above, the work station  18  as an image display control device selects two or more pieces of image information  60  from a plurality of pieces of image information  60  (image information DB  30 ), to which identification numbers are granted, and performs preview display on the display device  32 . 
     The work station  18  includes: the track bar creating section  74  that creates display data of the track bar  122  (the same as  122   a  to  122   c ) including the bar portion  128  with a fixed length and the slider  130  (the same as the sliders  140 ,  150 , and  160 ) that is freely movable along the extending direction of the bar portion  128 ; the identification number allocation section  68  that assigns each of the identification numbers according to the standard scale; and the selection range determining section  70  that determines the selection range of the identification number from the instruction position of the slider  130  (the same as in the sliders  140 ,  150 , and  160 ) of the track bar  122  (the same as in  122   a  to  122   c ) displayed based on the display data. The identification number allocation section  68  assigns each identification number according to the enlarged scale that is larger than the standard scale, instead of the standard scale, at the peripheral positions  152  and  162  of the sliders  150  and  160 . 
     In addition to the work station  18  described above, the image display system  38  includes the storage device  28  that can store a plurality of pieces of image information  60  and the display device  32  that performs preview display of two or more selected pieces of image information  60 . 
     By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to finely adjust the current search position in the enlarged scale regions  156  and  166  while checking the total amount of image information in the standard scale region  138 . Therefore, even if the amount of image information  60  to be searched for is significantly large, it is possible to efficiently select the desired image information  60  without spending a lot of time. 
     Supplement 
     This invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various changes can be freely made without deviating from the subject matter of this invention. 
     For example, the forms of the track bars  122   a  to  122   c  are not limited to the examples shown in  FIG. 7A  and the like, and any configuration can be adopted as long as the range (lower and upper limits) of the identification number can be specified. 
     In addition, applications of the image information  60  are not limited to the production of the print  22 , and may be production, viewing, and the like of various produced materials (electronic data, distribution service by streaming, and the like) provided for e-commerce.