Seiko Epson Corporation

Ayahiro Nakajima

Kenji Matsuzaka

Seiji Aiso

Kenji Fukasawa

Naoki Kuwata

Michihiro Nagaishi

Mutsuto Tezuka

Takashige Tanaka

When image data are input from a memory card or the like, a printing apparatus detects face region captured in these image data. Where the size and position of a face region fall within permitted ranges therefor set in advance in a permitted range table derived via sense evaluation testing, the input image data is selected as a printing target candidate. If the face region size and position do not each fall within their permitted range, however, the image data is not selected as a printing target. As a result, image data suitable for printing can be efficiently selected as printing targets from image data that contain human faces.

Image selection device and image selection method

With a minimal process load, to determine level of the image of an image data file, for image data files of a format that saves images in the form of coefficients of discrete frequency components. Image data that includes a plurality of coefficients representing the pattern of change of color of the image are acquired (Step S). Multiple sets of basic pattern data that respectively include a plurality of basic coefficients representing basic patterns of color change are prepared. Then, based on a comparison of the two, one set of selected basic pattern data is selected from among the multiple sets of basic pattern data (Step S). Subsequently, the blur level of the image of the image data is calculated, based on the basic blur level associated with the selected basic pattern data (S-S).

Printing device, image data file processing device, method of selecting image data file, and computer program product

The focusing information visualization system of the invention extracts an edge having an edge intensity of not less than a first reference value Thand an edge width of not greater than a second reference value Thin a photographic image and displays the extracted edge in a preset color at a position of the edge extraction to be overlapped with the original photographic image on a screen. A focused area defined by the extracted edge is displayed as N divisional areas. In response to a user's operational specification of one divisional area among the N divisional areas, an enlarged photographic image corresponding to the specified divisional area at a desired magnification ratio is displayed on the screen. This arrangement adopts the automatic rough judgment and the user's final visual check to accurately recognize the focusing status of the photographic image.

Focusing information visualization device, and corresponding method, program and recording medium

A printer fetches a horizontal direction DCT coefficient group and a vertical direction DCT coefficient group for each block from the JPEG data. The printer selects edge patterns similar to the brightness changes expressed by these coefficient groups from a specified table, and records those pattern numbers in a RAM. The printer judges whether or not the brightness changes of the blocks with each other adjacent are continuous based on the pattern number of each block recorded in the RAM. And by connecting the edge patterns when those brightness changes are continuous, the printer accumulates the blur widths that exist extending over the blocks. Then, based on this cumulative value, the printer determines the presence or absence of image blur. It is possible thereby to detect with good precision the blur of images even for high resolution images while reducing the used memory capacity.

Image blur detection using cumulative blur widths

A printing method for printing an image based on image data, the printing method includes: loading the image data from a storage medium in which the image data is stored; printing an order sheet, wherein the order sheet includes an index image representing the loaded image data to receive from a user entry of information for printing the image; recognizing the information entered in the order sheet via scanning of the printed order sheet; and printing a corrected image made by executing image correction to the image based on the recognized entered information.

Image printing using order sheet

When a printing device inputs image data from a memory card, the printing device prints an order sheet whereon are arranged a chart of the image data and setting entry fields for filling in a variety of settings for generating a movie based on these image data. The user uses various marking fields provided on the order sheet to specify the display times for the various image data and the effects to be performed on the various image data. When the printing device uses a scanner to read in the filled-out order sheet, movie data is generated based on the content that is set using this order sheet. The user is able to generate movies easily using this type of printing device.

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Matsumoto, Japan

Ayahiro Nakajima