Image processing apparatus and method, photographing system, controlling method for the system, and computer-readable memory

An image processing apparatus characterized by comprising:

• acquisition means for specifying a to-be-output area of an image represented by image data as an output image and acquiring a size of the output image;
• selection means for selecting, on the basis of the size of the output image acquired by said acquisition means, one image output size from a plurality of types of image output sizes set in advance;
• layout determination means for determining a layout of the output image in an output area having the image output size selected by said selection means;
• display means for displaying on the basis of a layout state determined by said layout determination means;
• and
• change means for changing the layout state of the output image in the output area in accordance with an instruction for changing the layout state displayed by said display means.

An image processing method characterized by comprising:

• the acquisition step of specifying a to-be-output area of an image represented in image data as an output image and acquiring a size of the output image;
• the selection step of selecting, on the basis of the size of the output image acquired in the acquisition step, one image output size from a plurality of types of image output sizes set in advance;
• the layout determination step of determining a layout of the output image in an output area having the image output size selected in the selection step;
• the display step of displaying on the basis of a layout state determined in the layout determination step;
• and
• the change step of changing the layout state of the output image in the output area in accordance with an instruction for changing the layout state displayed in the display step.

A storage medium which storing a control program for causing a computer to control an output image size, characterized in that the control program comprises:

• a code of the acquisition step of specifying a to-be-output area of an image represented in image data as an output image and acquiring a size of the output image;
• a code of the selection step of selecting, on the basis of the size of the output image acquired in the acquisition step, one image output size from a plurality of types of image output sizes set in advance;
• a code of the layout determination step of determining a layout of the output image in an output area having the image output size selected in the selection step;
• a code of the display step of displaying on the basis of a layout state determined in the layout determination step;
• and
• a code of the change step of changing the layout state of the output image in the output area in accordance with an instruction for changing the layout state displayed in the display step.

An image processing system for processing image data obtained by computerizing an input image and outputting the image data to an output medium, said system comprising:

• designation means for designing an observation area in the image data;
• selection means for selecting one appropriate output medium size from a plurality of output media sizes based on the observation area designated by said designation means;
• and
• changing means for changing output method when said selection means cannot select an appropriate output medium size.

An image processing method for processing image data obtained by computerizing an input image and outputting the image data to an output medium, said method comprising:

• a designation step of designating an observation area in the image data;
• a selection step of selecting one appropriate output medium size from a plurality of output medium sizes based on the observation area designated in said designation step;
• and
• a changing step of changing output method when said selection step cannot select an appropriate output medium size.

A photographing system for photographing an object and outputting image data to an output medium based on photographed object image, said system comprising:

• photographing means for photographing an object and obtaining image data representing photographed object image;
• designation means for designating an observation area in the image data;
• selection means for selecting one appropriate output medium size from a plurality of output media sizes based in the observation area designated by said designation means;
• and
• changing means for changing output method when said selection means cannot select an appropriate output medium size.

A photographing system from photographing an object and outputting image data to an output medium based on photographed object image, said system comprising:

• photographing means for photographing an object and obtaining image data representing photographed object image;
• designation means for designating an observation area in the image data;
• and
• selection means for selecting, after an observation area is designated by said designation means, one appropriate output medium size from a plurality of output medium sizes based on the observation area designated by said designation means.

A control method of controlling a photographing system for photographing an object and outputting image data to an output medium based on photographed object image, said method comprising:

• a photographing step of photographing an object and obtaining image data representing photographed object image;
• a designation step of designating an observation area in the image data;
• a selection step of selecting one appropriate output medium size from a plurality of output medium sizes based on the observation area designated in the designation step;
• and
• a changing step of changing output method when the selection step cannot select an appropriate output medium size.

A control method of controlling a photographing system for photographing an object and outputting image data to an output medium based on photographed object image, said method comprising:

• a photographing step of photographing an object and obtaining image data representing photographed object image;
• a designation step of designating an observation area in the image data;
• and
• a selection step of selecting, after an observation area in designating on the designation step, one appropriate output medium size from a plurality of output medium sizes based on the observation area designated in said designation step.

A computer-readable memory storing program code for a computer to control a photographing system for photographing an object and outputting image data to an output medium based on photographed object image, comprising:

• program code for a photographing step of photographing an object and obtaining image data representing photographed object image;
• program code for a designation step of designating an observation area in the image data;
• and
• program code for a selection step of selecting, after an observation area is designated in the designation step, one appropriate output medium size from a plurality of output medium sizes based on the observation area designated in the designation step.