Character string arranging device, character string arranging method, program and recording medium

The present invention relates to a character string arrangement device or the like that performs image editing processing, and more specifically, a character string arrangement device or the like having a function of synthesizing an input character string with an image in real time and reflecting it on a display device. Regarding.

In recent years, in personal computers, an image editing method has been adopted in which a character string is inserted into an image of an arbitrary shape by an application tool such as "image editing software", a plurality of arranged character strings are rearranged, and the character string is stored in the image. It is considered.

As one of them, Patent Document 1 discloses an image editing method for forming an image by combining sentences and figures (illustrations, etc.) with respect to an image editing method for arranging a character string in an area having an arbitrary shape. .. In this image editing method, as described in paragraph number [0004] or the like, when the operator specifies the arrangement position of the sketch on the editing screen and instructs the composition of the description and the sketch, the image is edited. As a process, the presence or absence of overlap between the description and the sketch is checked for each character cell (dot matrix for one character), the characters that overlap with the sketch are shifted in the line direction, and a character movement process is performed to start a new line if necessary. , This works so that a one-page image with a descriptive text placed around the sketch is created. At the same time, paragraph numbers [0010] to [0016] also describe this image editing method in detail.

In addition, Patent Document 2 automates the work of allocating material data such as texts and photographs to be posted on paper when laying out a catalog using a computer system, and facilitates fine adjustment after allocation. The device is disclosed.

In this device, as described in paragraph number [0009] and the like, there are image data and character data particularly associated with the database, and the priority is given to either the image or the character for an area of an arbitrary shape. Attach and lay out.

At this time, if both images do not fit within the area of the arbitrary shape, the computer operates to warn the operator. At the same time, paragraph numbers [0067] to [0069] also describe this system in detail.

<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-243225</text></patcit><patcit num="2"><text>Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-194819</text></patcit>

<p> However, in the image editing system described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to arrange character strings in an area of an arbitrary shape, but in particular, since the character strings are arranged in units of character cells (dot matrix for one character), they are arranged. There is a problem that the moving distance of a character string of one unit is large and it is difficult to finely adjust the arrangement position of the character string.</p><p> Further, in the character / image allocation device described in Patent Document 2, a technique for automatically arranging image data or character data in an area having an arbitrary shape is disclosed, but a detailed layout of characters and images is disclosed. There is a problem that it is difficult to apply.</p><p> In addition, if the margin portion of the image data cannot be used and the margin portion is used, it is necessary to make corrections such as trimming the image data once, which increases the labor burden, that is, the character string. There is a problem that it is not easy to put such things in the image.</p><p> The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a character string arranging device or the like that easily synthesizes a character string or the like into an image.</p>

<p> The first invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is a character string arrangement device for arranging a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area, and indicates an area in the image where editing is not permitted. The non-editable area calculating means for calculating the non-editable area, the character string area calculating means for calculating the character string area which is the area occupied by the character string, and the character string area and the non-editable area in the display area. A character string arranging device comprising: an arrangable area calculation means for calculating an arrangable area which is an area in which the character string can be arranged by calculating an area that does not overlap and displaying the character string in an identifiable manner. Is.</p><p> The display area indicates an area for displaying an image, a character string, or the like, and indicates the entire screen of the display device or a display area designated in the application. The image is a photographic image, an illustration image, an image including a logo mark, or the like. For example, a photographic image is divided into a subject portion and a margin portion, and a character string is arranged so that the subject portion is regarded as an uneditable area and does not overlap with the subject portion. The non-editable area is an area that does not allow superimposition of characters, compositing processing, etc. For example, in the case of a photographic image, it is a subject portion, and in the case of an illustration image, it is an illustration portion. A character string is a concept that includes words, numbers, symbols, symbols, etc., as well as images for compositing, such as images and illustrations having a predetermined shape, not limited to character strings. The character string area is an area occupied by a character string, for example, a rectangular area containing a character string for each line, an area having a shape in which a rectangular area for each character is combined, and the like. The arrangeable area is an area in which the character string area and the non-editable area do not overlap, and is an area in which the character string can be arranged. The display color of the distributable area may be displayed in a different color from the others, or may be shaded to distinguish it from the other areas so that it can be identified.</p><p> The character string arrangement device according to the first invention calculates an uneditable area indicating an area where editing is not permitted in the image displayed in the display area, and calculates a character string area which is an area occupied by the input character string. By calculating the area where the character string area and the non-editable area do not overlap, the placeable area which is the area where the character string can be placed is calculated, and the placeable area is displayed in an identifiable manner by color-coded display or the like.</p><p> Further, the character string arrangement device may acquire an image to which information regarding the non-editable area is added in advance, instead of calculating the non-editable area from the acquired image. In this case, it is not necessary to calculate the non-editable area in the character string arrangement device.</p><p> Further, it is desirable that the character string arranging device calculates a character string area and calculates and displays an arrangable area for each input of each character constituting the character string.</p><p> Further, when the character string arrangement device does not fit within the range of the arrangeable area, it is desirable that the character string arrangement device moves the character string area within the range of the arrangeable area. In this case, the character string arranging device may calculate the movement destination that minimizes the distance required for movement, and move the character string area to the movement destination.</p><p> Further, the character string arrangement device may calculate the character string area based on the height and width of each character constituting the character string. For example, the character string arrangement device may create a rectangular area containing a character string for each line to calculate the character string area, or create a rectangular area containing the character for each character. The character string area may be calculated. Further, the character string arrangement device scans the pixels on the display area while determining the arrangement of the character string area, and when there is no overlapping portion between the character string area and the non-editable area, the character string arrangement device corresponds to the display area. It is desirable that the union of the areas occupied by the character string area be the placeable area.</p><p> In the first invention, the character string arranging device indicates an image area in which a character string can be arranged in real time for each character input. Therefore, the operator confirms the area in which the character string can be arranged while checking the image. And character strings can be easily combined and edited. Further, since the character string arrangement device automatically arranges the input character string in the area where the input character string can be arranged, the labor of the operator can be reduced.</p><p> The second invention is a program that causes a computer to function as a character string arrangement device that arranges a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area, and edits indicating an area in which editing is not permitted in the image. The non-editable area calculating means for calculating the non-editable area, the character string area calculating means for calculating the character string area which is the area occupied by the character string, and the non-editable area overlap in the display area. It is a program that functions as an arrangeable area calculation means for calculating an arrangeable area which is an area where the character string can be arranged by calculating an area which does not become.</p><p> A third invention is a computer-readable recording medium that records a program that causes a computer to function as a character string arrangement device that arranges a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area. In the display area, the non-editable area calculation means for calculating the non-editable area indicating the area for which editing is not permitted, the character string area calculation means for calculating the character string area which is the area occupied by the character string, and the character string in the display area. A computer-readable computer that records a program that functions as an arrangeable area calculation means for calculating an arrangeable area that is an area in which the character string can be arranged by calculating an area in which the area and the non-editable area do not overlap. It is a recording medium.</p><p> The second invention is an invention relating to a program that causes a computer to function as a character string arrangement device of the first invention. A third invention is an invention relating to a computer-readable recording medium that records a program that causes a computer to function as the character string arrangement device of the first invention. The above program may be held in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed, or this program may be transmitted and received via a communication line.</p><p> The fourth invention is a character string arrangement method for arranging a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area, and is not editable for calculating a non-editable area indicating an area in which editing is not permitted in the image. By calculating the area calculation step, the character string area calculation step for calculating the character string area which is the area occupied by the character string, and the area where the character string area and the non-editable area do not overlap in the display area. , The character string arrangement method is characterized by comprising an arrangeable area calculation step for calculating an arrangeable area which is an area where the character string can be arranged.</p><p> The fourth invention is an invention relating to a character string arrangement method in the character string arrangement device of the first invention.</p>

<p> According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a character string arrangement device or the like that easily synthesizes a character string into an image.</p>

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a character string arrangement device 1 according to the present embodiment.

(1. Configuration) (1-1. Configuration of character string arrangement device 1) The character string arrangement device 1 includes a control unit 3 including a central processing unit (CPU) and a storage unit 5 such as ROM, RAM, and HDD. , Communication unit 7 such as a modem or LAN board connected to a network, printing unit 9 such as a printer, display unit 11 such as a CRT or liquid crystal display device, input unit 13 such as a keyboard, mouse or microphone, and image information. Etc. are composed of a media input / output unit 15 that reads and writes the data via the media, and each of them is connected to each other by a bus 17. The character string arrangement device 1 is a device such as a computer, and an execution program (application program) stored in the storage unit 5 or the like is started and operates.

Although not shown, the media input / output unit 15 includes an image acquisition device such as a digital camera for acquiring image information, a device for accessing portable media such as a flexible disk, and an external storage for storing the acquired image and the like. Devices etc. are connected.

(1-2. Configuration of storage unit 5) FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the storage unit 5 of the character string arrangement device 1. The storage unit 5 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 19 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 21. The ROM 19 is a read-only storage unit, and stores the OS (Operating System) 25, the execution program 23, etc., which are software that manages the entire system. The RAM 21 is a read / write storage unit, and includes an area for storing the image data 27 in the present embodiment, the work data 29 at the time of program execution, and the like.

An example in which the execution program 23, OS25, etc. are recorded in the ROM 19 in the recording unit 5 is shown, but of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and portable media such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM, an HDD, etc. The invention according to the present embodiment can be realized even if it is stored in an external storage device or the like.

(2. About the operation of the character string arrangement application) In the character string arrangement device 1 of the present embodiment, when the execution program 23 of the character string arrangement application stored in the storage unit 5 is started, the control unit 3 sets the control unit 3. The character string arrangement application window 31 shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the display unit 11 of the liquid crystal display device or the like. The control unit 3 may load the execution program 23 stored in the portable media, the external storage device, or the like into the RAM 21 and execute the program.

As shown in FIG. 3A, an application end button 46, an image display area 33, a text area 45, an OK button 47, and the like for terminating the application are arranged in the character string arrangement application window 31.

In the image display area 33, an image 35 on the network acquired via the communication unit 7 or an image 35 acquired from a portable medium, an external storage device, or the like via the media input / output unit 15 is displayed.

If the image 35 described in the present embodiment is, for example, a photographic image, the image 35 is divided into a subject 37 portion and a margin 39 portion. The character string to be entered in the text area 45 shall be placed in the margin 39 part.

Further, as will be described later, the image display area 33 and the upper left of the image 35 are arranged so as to be aligned with each other, and the coordinate axis X41 is set in the horizontal direction and the coordinate axis Y43 is set in the vertical direction with the upper left of the image display area 33 as a reference point. As a dot, the position of the dot in the image 35 shall be specified.

3 (b) and 3 (c) are diagrams showing how characters are arranged on the image 35 when characters or the like are input to the text area 45. In Fig. 3 (b), when two characters of "Ai" are input, the character string area 49-1 where "Ai" is placed is shown in the upper left of image 35, and "Ai" can be placed at the same time. The character-arrangeable area 51-1 is displayed in different display colors (in Fig. 3 (b), the character-arrangeable area 51-1 is indicated by diagonal lines).

As the input character string increases by one character, such as "ai" + "u" + "e" ..., each time it is input, it is displayed in the character string area 49-2 as shown in Fig. 3 (c), and the characters are arranged. The possible area 51-2 is smaller than the area shown in FIG. 3 (b).

The operator can move the character string area 49-2 within the range of the character arrangement area 51-2 by dragging and dropping it to a desired position on the screen 35. Further, as will be described later, in the present embodiment, when the moved area of the character string deviates from the character arrangement area 51-2, the character arrangement at the position closest to the upper left coordinate of the character string area 49-2 is possible. Area 51-2 has a function to automatically move the character string area 49-2.

(3. Processing Procedure) (3-1. Main Processing Procedure) Next, the processing procedure of the character string arrangement device 1 of the present embodiment is shown according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 10. It should be noted that FIGS. 11 to 19 are diagrams for explaining the flowchart, which will be described as appropriate. In addition, the character string arrangement device 1 loads a program (execution program 23, OS25 program, etc.) stored in the storage unit 5 (HDD, etc.) or the like onto the RAM 21, and under the control of the CPU (control unit 3), the following Perform each step of.

FIG. 4 shows the main processing procedure of the character string arrangement device 1 of the present embodiment. First, the control unit 3 of the character string arrangement device 1 performs the initial setting information acquisition process 1000 such as image acquisition. Details will be described later. When the initial setting information acquisition process 1000 is completed, the control unit 3 performs event monitoring 2000.

The event monitoring 2000 is to monitor the operation obtained from the input unit 13 such as a mouse or a keyboard. When the application end button 46 shown in FIG. 3 is clicked, the event monitoring 2000 ends and the character string arrangement application ends. Details will be described later.

(3-2. Initial setting information acquisition process) FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the initial setting information acquisition process 1000. First, the operator starts the character string arrangement application in the character string arrangement device 1 of the present embodiment. The control unit 3 appropriately loads and executes the execution program 23 of the character string arrangement application stored in the ROM 19 of the storage unit 5 into the RAM 21. The execution program 23 may be stored in a portable medium, an external recording device, or the like.

The control unit 3 displays the character string arrangement application window 31 shown in FIG. 3A on the display unit 11 of the liquid crystal display device or the like. When the operator specifies the image 35 that is the basis for inputting and synthesizing the character string (the description of the method of specifying the image 35 is omitted), the control unit 3 acquires the specified image 35 (step 1001), and the operation is performed. Character string arrangement The upper left of the image 35 is aligned with the upper left of the image display area 33 of the application window 31 and displayed. That is, the reference point 53 (0,0) of the image 35 (shown in FIG. 11) coincides with the reference point (0,0) of the coordinates of the image display area 33.

The image 35 is stored in a storage unit 5, a portable medium, an external recording device, or the like. Further, the image 35 may be read from the communication unit 7 via the network.

FIG. 11 shows the acquired image 35. Image 35 is composed of 37 parts of the subject and 39 parts of the margin. In the present embodiment, the character string is arranged in the margin 39 part while avoiding the overlap of the character string in the subject 37 part.

In FIG. 11, assuming that the upper left pixel of the image 35 is the reference point 53 (0,0) and the lower right pixel of the image 35 is the diagonal point 54, the X coordinate of the diagonal point 54 indicates the image width 55. It is Max_X, and the Y coordinate is Max_Y indicating the image height 56. The control unit 3 stores the data of the image width 55 (Max_X) and the image height 56 (Max_Y) in the storage unit 5 (RAM 21) as work data 29 (step 1002).

For example, in the case of a VGA (640 × 480) image, Max_X = 640 and Max_Y = 480 are obtained. Further, in the case of a photographic image having about 2 million pixels (for example, 1600 × 1200), Max_X = 1600 and Max_Y = 1200 are obtained.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 3 converts the subject 37 part into the bit information 1 and the margin 39 part into the bit information [0] for all the pixels of the image 35, and the image data. It is stored in RAM 21 of the storage unit 5 as 27 (step 1003).

Regarding the process of converting image data into bit information shown above, a technique is disclosed in which the bit information of the subject portion is [1] and the bit information of the margin portion is [0]. Can be used (see JP-A-2003-224819).

Further, in the case of an image taken by a camera or the like adopting the above technology, the camera or the like performs processing in which the bit information of the subject portion is set to [1] and the bit information of the margin portion is set to [0]. The conversion process in the character string arrangement device 1 becomes unnecessary.

The control unit 3 ends the initial setting information acquisition process 1000, and proceeds to the step of event monitoring 2000.

(3-3. Event monitoring) An event is an operation obtained from the input unit 13 such as a mouse or keyboard. The control unit 3 monitors the event, that is, is in the input waiting state. Figure 6 shows the flowchart of event monitoring 2000.

When the event occurs (step 2001), the control unit 3 reads the event information, and when the event is "application end", that is, when the application end button 46 is clicked in FIG. 3 (YES in step 2002). , Suspend the processing event (step 2003) and exit the application.

If the event is other than "application termination", for example, inputting a character in the text area 45, clicking the OK button 47, or moving a character string (NO in step 2002), the event processing has already been performed in the control unit 3. If it is in the middle (YES in step 2004), the event processing is interrupted (step 2005), and the process proceeds to step 3000 of event processing. If event processing is not in operation (NO in step 2004), the process proceeds to step 3000 of event processing.

The event monitoring shown in FIG. 6 is executed as a thread (or process) separate from the event processing 3000, and the control unit 3 constantly monitors the occurrence of the event.

Therefore, even if the step moves to the event processing 3000 and the event processing shown in FIG. 7 is being executed, when the control unit 3 detects the occurrence of an event in the event monitoring thread (or process), the step moves to the step of event occurrence 2001. ..

When the event monitoring thread (or process) and the event processing thread (or process) are executed at the same time in this way and the control unit 3 detects the occurrence of an event in the event monitoring thread (or process), the control unit 3 In step 2005 of event monitoring shown in FIG. 6, the event processing that has already been executed is interrupted, and new event processing is executed again in step 3000.

As described above, by accepting an interrupt during execution of the event processing thread (or process), the latest character string area can be reflected on the image, so that real-time display is possible.

(3-3-0. Event processing) Next, the flowchart of the event processing 3000 shown in FIG. 7 will be described. When the event process 3000 is started, the control unit 3 first performs the character string shape data acquisition process 4000. The details will be described with reference to FIG. 8, but the input character string is calculated as a rectangular area for each line, and the shape of the character string consisting of at least one line is acquired as the data in which the rectangular area is synthesized.

Next, the control unit 3 performs the arrangeable area display process 5000. The details will be described with reference to FIG. 9, but the area where the input character string can be arranged (character arrangement area 51 shown in FIG. 3) is displayed.

If a character string is continuously input (step 3001: character string input), the process returns to the character string shape data acquisition process 4000, and each time a character string is input, the processes of steps 4000 and 5000 are repeated to repeat the character string. The shape data of the character is acquired and the area display that can be arranged is updated.

When the character string input is completed and the OK button 47 is clicked by the operator (step 3001: OK button click), the control unit 3 performs the character string layout arrangement process 6000. Details will be described with reference to FIG. When the character string layout arrangement process 6000 is completed, the control unit 3 ends the event process 3000 and returns to the event monitoring 2000.

(3-3-1. Character string shape data acquisition process) FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the character string shape data acquisition process 4000. When an event occurs in the text area 45 shown in FIG. 3A, the control unit 3 reads the input character string and acquires the shape of the character string as data. Events in the text area 45 are operations such as character input, confirmation of input characters, character size change, format change, and line feed. When the input mode is direct input, it is confirmed for each character, except for the direct mode, it is confirmed when the dotted line under the character disappears, and every time it is confirmed, all the character strings in the text area 45 are read and the shape of the character string Shall be obtained.

FIG. 13 shows the first line (i = 1) of the character string input in the text area 45. The value of j indicates the character number from the beginning of the line. Even if the size of a plurality of characters contained in one line varies, it is assumed that each character string is obtained as rectangular data. That is, the character having the highest character height among the characters constituting one line is defined as the height of the rectangular data for one line of the character string, and the cumulative character width for one line is defined as the width of the rectangular data for one line of the character string. To do.

For example, in the character string shown in FIG. 13, assuming that the row reference point 57 of the row (i = 1) is (0,0), the diagonal points are the coordinates indicating the row size 59, and the X coordinates of the diagonal points are Row_Width. Define the Y coordinate as Row_Height. "Row" means "of the row". As shown in FIG. 15, which will be described later, Row_Width indicates a row width of 67, and Row_Height indicates a row maximum height of 69. The unit of the coordinates of the text area 45 is a dot (the smallest unit for reproducing an image), and the unit of data (line width 67, line maximum height 69, etc.) is also a dot.

FIG. 14 shows character string data 60 composed of a plurality of lines in which further character strings are input while being broken. FIG. 14 shows the character string data 60 consisting of three lines, and the line widths 67 of the first, second, and third lines are W, respectively.₀, W₁, W₂The maximum height 69 of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rows is H, respectively.₀, H₁, H₂Is. Further, the maximum character string width 61 as the character string data 60 is defined as Max_Width, and the character string height 63 is defined as Total_Height.

As will be described later, the above data (W)₀, W₁, W₂, H₀, H₁, H₂, Max_Width, Total_Height, etc.) are calculated according to the flowchart of the character string shape data acquisition process 4000 of FIG. 8, and are stored in the RAM 21 of the storage unit 5 as the work data 29 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

The character string shape data acquisition process 4000 of FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart. First, the control unit 3 sets i = 1 (1st line), j = 1 (1st character), the cumulative width of characters for each line: Width = 0, and the maximum height of the line: Height = 0 as initial values. (Step 4001). The Width shown in FIG. 8 is the Row_Width (row width 67) in FIGS. 15 and 16, and the High is the Row_Height (row maximum height 69).

The control unit 3 acquires the character information of the i-th line and the j-th line (step 4002). For example, the character "a" on the first line (i = 1) and the first line (j = 1) shown in FIG. 13 has information on the character width w and the height h. Further, information such as the type of character font and the presence / absence of editing may be acquired.

Compare the height h of the acquired character information with the maximum height of the line: Height, and if Height &lt;h (YES in step 4003), replace Height with the value of h (step 4004), and step 4005. Proceed to. If Height h (NO in step 4003), proceed to step 4005 without changing the Height value.

Next, when the input character is a line feed code (YES in step 4005), the control unit 3 obtains the character string in the i-th row as rectangular data and sets the array Row [i] = (Width, Height). , The work data 29 shown in FIG. 15 is stored in the storage unit 5 (step 4006). That is, for each row 65 (i), the row width 67 (Row_Width) and the row maximum height 69 (Row_Height) are stored. For example, the line width 67 of the first line is 30 (dots), and the line maximum height 69 is 10 (dots).

Note that the row width 67 (Row_Width) and row maximum height 69 (Row_Height) in FIG. 15 correspond to the X coordinate (Row_Width) and Y coordinate (Row_Height) of the row size 59 shown in FIG. Even if it is composed of lines, it is converted into one rectangular data for each line.

Next, the control unit 3 initializes the row width and the row maximum height for each row. That is, Width = 0 and Height = 0. In addition, one line is added (i = i + 1), j = 0 (step 4007), and the process proceeds to step 4010.

On the other hand, in step 4005, if the input character is not a line feed code (NO in step 4005), that is, if a character is input, the character width w is added to the cumulative width of the characters (line width 67). Line width 67: Update as Width = Width + w (step 4008).

The control unit 3 obtains the array Row [i] = (Width, Height) as the rectangular data of the character string in the i-th row (step 4009). Further, the control unit 3 updates the data (i, Row_Width, Row_Height) of FIG. 15 and stores it in the work data 29 of the storage unit 5, and proceeds to step 4010.

Proceed to step 4010, if the text area 45 has the next character (YES in step 4010), control 3 executes j = j + 1 (step 4011) and processes the next character from step 4002. repeat.

When the next character disappears in the text area 45 (NO in step 4010), the control unit 3 stores the maximum value of the row width 67 (Row_Width) shown in FIG. 15 as Max_Width in the storage unit 5 as work data 29 (NO in step 4010). Step 4012). For example, in FIG. 15, Max_Width is 50 (dots) in the case of Row (2) in the second row.

Next, the control unit 3 stores the sum of the row maximum heights 69 (Row_Height) shown in FIG. 15 as Total_Hight as the work data 29 of the storage unit 5 (step 4013). For example, in FIG. 15, Total_Hight = 10 + 18 + 12 = 40 (dots). As described above, the character string shape data acquisition process 4000 is completed, and the process proceeds to the arrangeable area display process 5000 shown in FIG.

(3-3-2. Arrangeable area display process) FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the arrangeable area display process 5000. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the arrangeable area display process 5000 calculates the area (character arrangeable area 51-1) in which the character string input in the text area 45 can be arranged, and calculates the color and the like. It is a process to change and display. Each time a character is input, the character placement area 51-1 is updated. That is, as the area occupied by the character string data expands, the area in which characters can be arranged is reduced.

The flowchart of FIG. 9 is based on the image data 27 (FIG. 12) of the image 35 obtained by the initial setting information acquisition process 1000, and first, the character string data 60 to be combined is the subject 37 part (that is, the dot data is [1]. ] Part) is scanned in order from the reference point 53 (0,0) to see if it does not overlap. Next, if the character string data 60 can be arranged, the coordinates at which the upper left of the character string data 60 is arranged, the X coordinate 83, and the Y coordinate 85, are set as Flag_X and Flag_Y in the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 of FIG. Store it.

The flowchart of FIG. 9 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the control unit 3 sets x = 0 and y = 0 as initial values (step 5001). That is, the process is started from the reference point 53 (0,0) of the image data 27 in FIG. Judge whether the image data 27 of the coordinates (x, y) is [0], and if it is not [0] (that is, when the dot is the subject 37 part) (NO in step 5002), the coordinate axis X direction Proceed to step 5009 with x = x + 1 (step 5008).

If the image data 27 of the coordinates (x, y) is [0], that is, if the image data 27 has a margin of 39 (YES in step 5002), the entire dot constituting the character string data 60 to be combined has a margin of 39. Move on to the process of determining whether or not the data can be placed in.

Arrangement position information of the character string data 60 shown in FIG. 16 based on the coordinates (x, y), the row width 67 (Row_Width) for each row (i) 65 shown in FIG. 15, and the row maximum height 69 (Row_Height). Is calculated and stored in the storage unit 5 (step 5003).

Next, the control unit 3 sets the dots of the entire character string data 60 from the upper left coordinates (x, y), line width 67, and line maximum height 69 information of the character string data 60 based on the arrangement position information of FIG. Is obtained as Bit information 75, registered, and stored in the storage unit 5 (step 5004). That is, if the image data 27 ([0] or [1]) at the position where the character string data 60 is arranged is obtained as the Bit information 75 [0000110001 ...] and all the Bit information 75 are [0] (step). YES) of 5005), it is judged that it is possible to place the upper left coordinate 77 of the character string data 60 at the coordinate (x, y).

The control unit 3 registers the coordinates 77 (x, y) in the X coordinates 83 and the Y coordinates 85 of the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 of FIG. 18 (step 5006). Assuming that the coordinates 77 (x, y) are at the positions shown in FIG. 17, it is possible to arrange the character string data 60-1, and the range (character string) occupied by all the dots of the character string data 60-1. Change the color of the shaded area indicating data 60-1 (step 5007). Alternatively, the corresponding area may be shaded or the like.

Next, the control unit 3 advances scanning in the coordinate axis X direction, sets x = x + 1 (step 5008), and proceeds to step 5009.

On the other hand, in step 5005, if even one [1] is included in the Bit information 75 (NO in step 5005), the character string is the subject 37, for example, as in the position of the character string data 60-2 in FIG. Since it covers the part (because part or all of the character string overlaps the subject 37 part), it is judged that the character string cannot be arranged at the position of the coordinates (x, y). The control unit 3 advances the scan in the coordinate axis X direction, sets x = x + 1 (step 5008), and proceeds to step 5009. The character string data 60-2 and 60-3 in FIG. 17 are shown for explaining the calculation of the arrangeable area, and are displayed as shown in FIG. 17 because they actually cover 37 parts of the subject. Do not mean.

Next, if the value of the coordinate x is x&gt; Max_X-Max_Width (YES in step 5009), the X coordinate is set to 0 and the scan proceeds in the Y direction of the coordinate axis (x = 0, y = y + 1) (step 5010). .. If the value of the coordinate x is not x&gt; Max_X-Max_Width, the process returns to step 5002.

Following step 5010, if the value of the coordinate y is y&gt; Max_Y-Total_Height (YES in step 5011), the placeable area display process 5000 is finished, and if the value of the coordinate y is not y&gt; Max_Y-Total_Height, the step Return to 5002. That is, the final scanning position determined by step 5009 and step 5011 is the position at coordinate 79 shown in FIG.

When the upper left coordinates (x, y) of the character string data 60 are scanned on the image data 27, the value of the arrangement position information in FIG. 16 is updated each time the scanning is performed. In addition, the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 (FIG. 18) shows the X coordinate 83, each time the character string arrangeable position is obtained (that is, each time the position where all the Bit information 75 of step 5005 is [0] is obtained). The number of data at Y coordinate 85 increases.

When the arrangeable area display process 5000 is completed, the process returns to FIG. 7, and if the character string input is continued (step 3001: character string input), the character string shape data acquisition process 4000 is repeated. When the character string input is completed and the OK button 47 is clicked (step 3001: OK button click), the control unit 3 moves to the character string layout arrangement process 6000. As shown in the event monitoring 2000 of FIG. 6, the event processing 3000 of FIG. 7 can be interrupted, and the event processing 3000 is newly performed each time a character string is input.

(3-3-3. Character string layout arrangement process) Next, the character string layout arrangement process 6000 shown in FIG. 10 will be described. The character string layout arrangement process 6000 is a function of displaying the character string data 60 on the image 35 as shown in FIG. When the operator drags and drops the character string data 60 with a mouse or the like to move it to a position outside the character placement area, for example, when the character string data 60-3 is placed at the position of coordinate 89 in FIG. It is a function that automatically moves and displays the character string data 60-4 to the position where the character can be placed at the closest distance.

First, the control unit 3 displays the coordinates (that is, coordinates (0,0)) of the first line of the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 shown in FIG. 18 by aligning the upper left coordinates of the character string data 60 (FIG. 19). See step 6001).

When the OK button 47 for determining the placement position of the displayed character string data is clicked (YES in step 6002), the control unit 3 ends the character string layout placement process 6000 and returns to the standby state of the event monitoring 2000. ..

The control unit 3 monitors the coordinates 89 (a, b) on the upper left of the character string data at regular intervals (step 6003). That is, whether or not the character string data is moved on the image 35 is monitored at regular intervals.

When the coordinates (x, y) = (a, b), that is, when the character string data has not been moved (YES in step 6004), the process returns to step 6002 and the monitoring of the character string movement is continued.

When the coordinates (x, y) = (a, b) are not satisfied, that is, when the character string data is moved on the image 35 (NO in step 6004), the control unit 3 is in the upper left of the moved character string data 60. It is determined whether or not the coordinates 89 (a, b) are in the character string placeable coordinate list 81 (FIG. 18). The presence of the upper left coordinate 89 (a, b) of the character string data 60 in the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 indicates that the character string data 60 can be arranged at that position.

If the upper left coordinate 89 (a, b) of the character string data 60 is in the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 (YES in step 6005), the control unit 3 keeps the character string data 60 at that position and image 35. Display above (step 6006) and return to step 6002.

If the upper left coordinate 89 (a, b) of the character string data 60 does not exist in the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 (NO in step 6005), the control unit 3 sets the coordinate 89 (a, b) and the character string arrangeable coordinate list. Calculate Length 87 from all the coordinates (Flag_X, Flag_Y) displayed in 81 (see Fig. 18). The control unit 3 calculates Length 87 using the following equation (1) as a numerical index indicating the distance between the coordinates 89 (a, b) and the coordinates (Flag_X, Flag_Y). Length = (Flag_Xa)²+ (Flag_Yb)²......(1)

Further, the control unit 3 extracts the coordinates (x, y) in the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 having the minimum Length 87 (step 6007).

As shown in FIG. 19, the control unit 3 displays the character string data 60-3 as a dotted line at the position at coordinates 89 (a, b) (step 6008). The character string data 60-3 is indicated by a dotted line in the sense that it cannot be placed at this position because it overlaps with the subject 37.

The control unit 3 moves the character string data 60-4 to the position of the coordinates (x, y) of the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 where the Length 87 is the minimum, and displays the character string data 60-4 as a solid line (step). 6009), return to step 6002. That is, when the position where the character string data 60 is moved by the operator overlaps the subject 37, the control unit 3 automatically sets the character string at the position of the character arrangement area 51 (FIG. 19) where the movement distance is minimized. Move and display data 60.

The operator can consider the position where the character string data 60 once moved and placed on the image 35 is dragged and dropped with the mouse as many times as necessary until the "OK button" 47 in step 6002 is clicked. it can.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the step of the arrangeable area display process 5000, the color display and the diagonal line display of the arrangeable area are performed while inputting the character string, but at the same time, the character string arrangement which is the next step is performed. The character string data 60 may be displayed at the coordinate position of the first line of the possible coordinate list 81.

In the present invention, the arrangement position of the character string is automatically moved so that the character string does not overlap the subject 37 portion of the image 35. However, the image area in which the operator prohibits the arrangement of the character string is defined. You may specify it arbitrarily.

Further, the arrangement on the image 35 is not limited to the character string, and may be another small image, an illustration, a symbol, or the like. As in the case of the character string, the area that can be arranged on the image 35 is calculated, and the small image, the illustration, the symbol, etc. are automatically arranged in the area that can be arranged.

Further, in the present invention, the character string or the like is directly input to the text area 45 by the operator, but the character string or the like may be read into the text area 45 from the file data.

Further, in the present invention, the area where characters can be arranged is displayed while avoiding the subject 37 portion of the image 35. For example, the color information (RGB component) of the pixels of the image 35 is acquired and the R component is equal to or less than a certain value. Various applications can be considered for the method of setting the character-arrangeable area, such as setting the pixel portion of the character to the character-arrangeable area.

Further, in the above description, the character string arrangement device creates a rectangular area containing a character string for each line and calculates the character string area, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a rectangular area including the character may be created for each character, and the union of the rectangular areas may be calculated as a character string area. Further, not limited to the rectangular area, an area having various shapes depending on the form of each character may be used as a character string area. For example, a predetermined distance range from the peripheral edge of the line of each character is calculated as a character string area. You may do it.

(4. Effect, etc.) As described above, in the present embodiment, the image 35 and the character string can be easily combined / edited while inputting the character string or the like and checking the image area in which the character string can be arranged in real time. There is an effect that can be done.

Further, in the present embodiment, the input character strings can be automatically arranged so as not to overlap with the subject or logo mark of the photograph on the image 35, which has the effect of reducing the labor of the operator.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the arrangement position of the character string can be moved in dot units, the deviation of the arrangement position of the character string can be finely adjusted.

Further, in the present embodiment, it can be applied to a system in which not only a still image but also a character string displayed on a moving image is automatically moved so as not to overlap a subject, a mark, or the like.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modifications or modifications within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

<figref num="1">The figure which shows the structure of the character string arrangement apparatus 1 in this embodiment.</figref><figref num="2">The figure which shows the structure of the storage part 5.</figref><figref num="3(a)">Character string arrangement application window in this embodiment</figref><figref num="3(b)">Figure with 2 characters entered</figref><figref num="3(c)">Diagram with multiple character strings entered</figref><figref num="4">Main processing procedure</figref><figref num="5">The figure which shows the subroutine of the initial setting information acquisition process 1000</figref><figref num="6">Diagram showing the subroutine of event monitoring 2000</figref><figref num="7">Diagram showing a subroutine of event processing 3000</figref><figref num="8">The figure which shows the subroutine of the data acquisition process 4000 in the form of a character string.</figref><figref num="9">Diagram showing the subroutine of the arrangeable area display process 5000</figref><figref num="10">The figure which shows the subroutine of the character string layout arrangement processing 6000</figref><figref num="11">Figure showing image 35</figref><figref num="12">The figure which shows the image data 27 converted into [0], [1]</figref><figref num="13">The figure which shows the character string i = 1</figref><figref num="14">Diagram showing character string data 60</figref><figref num="15">The figure which shows the rectangle information of the character string data 60</figref><figref num="16">The figure which shows the calculation of the overlap of the character string data 60 and an image.</figref><figref num="17">The figure explaining the calculation of the arrangement position of the character string data 60</figref><figref num="18">The figure which shows the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81</figref><figref num="19">The figure explaining the arrangement and the position movement of the character string data 60</figref>

Code description

1 ......... Character string placement device 3 ......... Control unit 5 ......... Storage unit 7 ......... Communication unit 9 ......... Printing section 11 ......... Display section 13 ......... Input section 15 ......... Media input / output section 17 ............ Bus 19 ......... ROM 21 ............ RAM 23 ......... Execution program 25 .... ..... OS 27 ......... Image data 29 ......... Working data 31 ......... Character string placement Application window 33 ... ...... Image display area 35 ......... Image 37 ............ Subject 39 ......... Margin 41 ....... .. Coordinate axis X 43 ......... Coordinate axis Y 45 ......... Text area 46 ......... Application end button 47 ........ .OK button 49-1, 49-2 ......... Character string area 51-1, 51-2 ......... Character placement area 53 ............ Reference point 54 ............ Diagonal point 55 ......... Image width 56 ......... Image height 57 ......... Line reference point 59 ......... Line size 60, 60-1, 60-2, 60-3 ......... Character string data 61 ......... Maximum string width 63 ......... String height 65 ......... Line 67 ......... Line width 69 ......... Maximum row height 71 ............ Coordinates (x) 73 ......... Coordinates (y) 75 ...... ... Bit information 77, 79, 89 ......... Coordinates 81 ......... Character string Arrangeable coordinate list 83 ......... X coordinates 85. ........ Y coordinate 87 ......... Length