Output image data generating device and method of generating output image data

Abstract

A CPU selects multiple objective image data to be pasted on ornamental image data, analyzes the selected multiple objective image data, and rates the image qualities of the respective image data. The CPU specifies the number of plural layout locations included in the ornamental image data and the priority order of the plural layout locations, and allocates the multiple objective image data to the plural layout locations in the ornamental image data, based on the specified priority order and the ratings of the multiple objective image data. The CPU executes image quality adjustment with regard to the multiple objective image data allocated to the plural layout locations and pastes the quality-adjusted image data on the ornamental image data according to layout control information, so as to generate resulting output image data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An output image data generating device that generates output image data from multiple objective image data and ornamental image data according to layout control information, wherein the layout control information specifies layout locations and layout dimensions of the multiple objective image data to be laid out on the ornamental image data, said output image data generating device comprising:
 an image data acquisition module that obtains the multiple objective image data;   a ornamental image data acquisition module that obtains one or plurality of the ornamental image data;   an image analysis module that analyzes each of the obtained multiple objective image data;   a layout location assignment module that allocates the multiple objective image data to plural layout locations included in the obtained ornamental image data, based on a result of the analysis; and   an output image data generation module that generates output image data from the multiple objective image data and the ornamental image data, according to the layout control information and the allocation of the respective objective image data to the plural layout locations.   
     
     
         2 . An output image data generating device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said image analysis module rates image qualities of the obtained multiple objective image data, and
 said layout location assignment module sequentially allocates the multiple objective image data to the plural layout locations included in the ornamental image data in a descending order of the ratings.   
     
     
         3 . An output image data generating device in accordance with  claim 1 , said output image data generating device further comprising:
 a correction value setting module that analyzes each of the multiple objective image data allocated to one of the plural layout locations and sets a correction value with regard to the objective image data; and   an image quality adjustment module that executes image quality adjustment of each objective image data with the setting of the correction value,   wherein said output image data generation module generates the output image data from the multiple objective image data that has gone through the image quality adjustment.   
     
     
         4 . An output image data generating device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said correction value setting module analyzes each of the multiple objective image data to obtain a characteristic value of the objective image data with regard to an image quality-relating parameter and sets the correction value of the objective image data, in order to cancel out or at least reduce a difference between the characteristic value and a preset reference value with regard to the image quality-relating parameter. 
     
     
         5 . An output image data generating device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said layout location assignment module sequentially allocates the multiple objective image data to the plural layout locations in the ornamental image data until all the plural layout locations of the ornamental image data are occupied. 
     
     
         6 . An output image data generating device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the layout control information additionally specifies a priority order of the plural layout locations, and
 said layout location assignment module sequentially allocates objective image data having a better result of analysis to a layout location having a higher priority in the ornamental image data.   
     
     
         7 . An output image data generating device in accordance with  claim 6 , said output image data generating device further comprising:
 a priority order setting module that, when said ornamental image data acquisition module obtains the plurality of ornamental image data, refers to the layout control information regarding the plurality of ornamental image data to set a priority order of all layout locations included in the plurality of ornamental image data,   wherein said layout location assignment module sequentially allocates the multiple objective image data to the layout locations included in the plurality of ornamental image data in the priority order, until all the layout locations included in the plurality of ornamental image data are occupied.   
     
     
         8 . An output image data generating device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said image analysis module computes statistical values of each of the multiple objective image data with regard to contrast, brightness, color balance, chroma/saturation, and sharpness, evaluates the image quality of the objective image data based on the computed statistical values and preset reference values with regard to the contrast, the brightness, the color balance, the chroma/saturation, and the sharpness, and gives a better result of analysis to a smaller difference between the statistical value and the preset reference value. 
     
     
         9 . An output image data generating device in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein a higher priority is given to a layout location having greater layout dimensions. 
     
     
         10 . An output image data generating device in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein a higher priority is given to a layout location that is placed closer to a center of the ornamental image data. 
     
     
         11 . An output image data generating device in accordance with  claim 1 , said output image data generating device further comprising:
 a modification module that changes at least either selection of the objective image data to be laid out in the layout locations in the ornamental image data or the allocation of the multiple objective image data to the plural layout locations executed by said layout location assignment module.   
     
     
         12 . An output image data generating method that generates output image data from multiple objective image data and ornamental image data according to layout control information, which specifies layout locations and layout dimensions of the multiple objective image data to be laid out on the ornamental image data,
 said output image data generating method comprising the steps of   obtaining the multiple objective image data;   obtaining one or plurality of the ornamental image data;   analyzing each of the obtained multiple objective image data;   allocating the multiple objective image data to plural layout locations included in the obtained ornamental image data, based on a result of the analysis; and   generating output image data from the multiple objective image data and the ornamental image data, according to the layout control information and the allocation of the respective objective image data to the plural layout locations.   
     
     
         13 . An output image data generating method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the layout control information additionally specifies a priority order of the plural layout locations, and
 said layout location allocating step sequentially allocates objective image data having a better result of analysis to a layout location having a higher priority in the ornamental image data.   
     
     
         14 . An output image data generating method in accordance with  claim 12 , said output image data generating method further comprising the step of rating image qualities of the analyzed multiple objective image data, and
 wherein said layout location allocating step sequentially allocates the multiple objective image data to the plural layout locations included in the ornamental image data in a descending order of the ratings.