Image processing method and apparatus for automatically attaching a designated text/graph on an image

An image processing method for use with an image printing apparatus, comprising steps of:

• (a) retrieving a specified digital image and a designated text/graph;
• (b) processing said specified digital image, thereby obtaining image information associated with a right-side-up image of said specified digital image, and comprising the sub-steps of:
• (b1) dividing said digital image into at least a first region and a second region, converting the digital data of said digital image into gray levels to obtain a first average gray level of said first section and a second average gray level of said second section, and comparing said first average gray level with said second average gray level, thereby discriminating a first possible upper section of said right-side-up image;
• (b2) dividing said digital image into at least a third region and a fourth region, converting the digital data of said digital image into gray levels to obtain a third average gray level of said third section and a fourth average gray level of said fourth section, and comparing said third average gray level with said fourth average gray level, thereby discriminating a second possible upper section of said right-side-up image;
• (b3) comparing the gray levels of said first possible upper section with said second possible upper section, thereby discriminating a most possible upper section of said right-side-up image as said image information;
• and
• (c) automatically intensifying said designated text/graph according to said image information and attaching said intensified text/graph on a specific position relative to said right-side-up image, thereby printing said specified digital image and said designated text/graph.

An image printing apparatus communicated with a digital image capture apparatus or a digital image storage device, said image printing apparatus comprising:

• a processing unit communicated with said digital image capture apparatus or said digital image storage device for retrieving and processing a specified digital image and a designated text/graph from said digital image capture apparatus or said digital image storage device;
• a storage unit connected to said processing unit for storing therein said specified digital image and said designated text/graph;
• and
• a printing unit connected to said processing unit and controlled by said processing unit to print said processed specified digital image and said processed designated text/graph,
• wherein said processing unit performs an image processing process including steps of:
• (a) retrieving said specified digital image and said designated text/graph;
• (b) processing said specified digital image, thereby obtaining image information associated with a right-side-up image of said specified digital image, and comprising the sub-steps of:
• (b1) dividing said digital image into at least a first region and a second region, converting the digital data of said digital image into gray levels to obtain a first average gray level of said first section and a second average gray level of said second section, and comparing said first average gray level with said second average gray level, thereby discriminating a first possible upper section of said right-side-up image;
• (b2) dividing said digital image into at least a third region and a fourth region, converting the digital data of said digital image into gray levels to obtain a third average gray level of said third section and a fourth average gray level of said fourth section, and comparing said third average gray level with said fourth average gray level, thereby discriminating a second possible upper section of said right-side-up image;
• and (b3) comparing the gray levels of said first possible upper section with said second possible upper section, thereby discriminating a most possible upper section of said right-side-up image as said image information.