Image combining apparatus, image combining method and storage medium

An image combining method of an image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of images photographed by a photographic device, the method comprising:

• generating a virtual three-dimensional space on a display on which an image is displayed, and displaying a spherical surface or a frame expressing a spherical surface in the virtual three-dimensional space;
• selecting images;
• arranging the selected images on the spherical surface or the frame expressing a spherical surface;
• moving a visual point from which the spherical surface or the frame expressing a spherical surface is observed;
• carrying out a rotating operation, or a parallel moving operation onto the images arranged on the spherical surface or the frame expressing a spherical surface, in accordance with an operation instruction;
• and
• combining the plural operated images into one image.

A storage medium having stored therein a program to be executed by an image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of images photographed by a photographic device, the program comprising:

• a frame display step of generating a virtual three-dimensional space on a display on which an image is displayed, and of displaying a spherical surface or a frame expressing a spherical surface in the virtual three-dimensional space;
• an image selecting step of selecting images;
• an image arranging step of arranging the images selected in the image selecting step on the spherical surface or the frame expressing a spherical surface;
• a visual point moving step of moving a visual point from which the spherical surface or the frame expressing a spherical surface is observed;
• an operating step of, in accordance with an operation instruction, carrying out a rotating operation, or a parallel moving operation onto the images arranged on the spherical surface or the frame expressing a spherical surface in the image arranging step;
• and
• a combining step of combining the plural images operated in the operating step into one image.