Image pickup apparatus, method and program with composite-image creating function

An image processing method comprising:

• picking up successive frame images of an object at predetermined time intervals;
• storing a buffer memory in time series a predetermined number of successive ones of the frame images picked up;
• specifying a composition start position and a composition end position on the predetermined number of successive image frames to thereby delimit a time range in which successive ones of the predetermined number of successive image frames fall;
• specifying, in accordance with an instruction input by a user, at least one same part of the frame images to define an area range;
• reading from the buffer memory the respective successive frame images falling in the delimited time range, and combining the read frame images only with respect to the specified at least one same part in the defined area range, thereby producing a composite image;
• displaying the composite image on a display screen;
• responsive to an enter command, recording the composite image displayed on the display screen in a predetermined memory;
• changing the time range by changing at least one of the specified composition start position and the specified composition end position;
• reading from the storage device the respective successive frame images falling in the changed time range, and combining the read frame images with respect to only the specified at least one same part in the defined area range, thereby producing an updated composite image when the composition range is changed;
• displaying the updated composite image on the display screen;
• and
• responsive to the enter command, recording the updated composite image displayed on the display screen in the predetermined memory.

A computer readable recording medium having stored thereon an image processing program for controlling an image pickup apparatus to perform functions of:

• picking up successive frame images of an object at predetermined time intervals;
• storing a buffer memory in time series a predetermined number of successive ones of the frame images picked up;
• specifying a composition start position and a composition end position on the predetermined number of successive image frames to thereby delimit a time range in which successive ones of the predetermined number of successive image frames fall;
• specifying, in accordance with an instruction input by a user, at least one same part of the frame images to define an area range;
• reading from the buffer memory the respective successive frame images falling in the delimited time range, and combining the read frame images only with respect to the specified at least one same part in the defined area range, thereby producing a composite image;
• displaying the composite image on a display screen;
• responsive to an enter command, recording the composite image displayed on the display screen in a predetermined memory;
• changing the time range by changing at least one of the specified composition start position and the specified composition end position;
• reading from the storage device the respective successive frame images falling in the changed range, and combining the read frame images with respect to only the specified at least one same part in the defined area range, thereby producing an updated composite image when the composition range is changed;
• displaying the updated composite image on the display screen;
• and
• responsive to the enter command, recording the updated composite image displayed on the display screen in the predetermined memory.