Abstract: Disclosed is a technique that eliminates problems that result when a face image fails to be detected in a case where the image of a subject obtained continuously is subjected to face-image detection processing. A face-image portion is detected in the image of a subject. If an evaluation value for evaluating the degree of face likeliness of the face-image portion is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the result of face detection is updated. A timer is set. If the timer has not timed out in a case where the evaluation value of a face image in the next frame of the image of the subject is less than the threshold value, the face-image portion of the preceding frame is regarded as the face-image portion of the next frame and processing regarding this face-image portion is executed. Thus, even if a face-image portion is no longer detected, processing regarding a face-image portion can be executed using the face-image portion of the preceding frame.

Abstract: Starting from the image of a person that was shot at a certain time, images of the person that were shot in the past or future of the certain time are found. A number of frames of search-target images are grouped in the order of the years in which they were shot. An image that was shot at a certain time is specified as an initial search-source image. From within the group to which the specified search-source image belongs, a search-target image containing a face image that resembles a face image contained in the specified search-source image is found. By using the found search-target image as a new search-source image, an image containing a face image that resembles the face image contained in the new search-source image is found from among search-target images that belong to the group of the preceding (or following) year. Present or past images of the person are found while the search-source image that serves as an object the comparison for finding images is updated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique that eliminates problems that result when a face image fails to be detected in a case where the image of a subject obtained continuously is subjected to face-image detection processing. A face-image portion is detected in the image of a subject. If an evaluation value for evaluating the degree of face likeliness of the face-image portion is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the result of face detection is updated. A timer is set. If the timer has not timed out in a case where the evaluation value of a face image in the next frame of the image of the subject is less than the threshold value, the face-image portion of the preceding frame is regarded as the face-image portion of the next frame and processing regarding this face-image portion is executed. Thus, even if a face-image portion is no longer detected, processing regarding a face-image portion can be executed using the face-image portion of the preceding frame.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printing method and a printing system for printing a pair of images on both sides of a recording sheet. When printing a first image on a first side of a recording sheet, a printer records directional marks records on the recording sheet to indicate the direction of the first image on the recording sheet. Thereafter when the recording sheet with the first image is manually set in the printer for printing a second image on the back side, the directional marks are detected from the recording sheet to detect the posture of the recording sheet in the printer: the direction of the recording sheet with respect to the first image, as well as which side of the recording sheet is oriented for printing. If the back side is not oriented for printing, the printer stops printing the second image, and makes a warning.

Abstract: A photomontage system which can select an appropriate document size of a picture to be sensed without requiring user's knowledge about the document sizes, and carry out effective image processing in accordance with the size. An image reader scans in a maximum size a printed photograph placed thereon, and supplies a main processor with the sensed image. The main processor applies the sensed image into service size frames in a display processor, and displays them as a selection picture. In response to the selection of a user who selects the picture (frame) that correctly displays the sensed image, a operation detector circuit detects its document size, and sends a command to a combiner processor. In accordance with the selected document size, the combiner processor clips an image from the sensed image and combines it with a prepared image. The composite image is supplied to a printer to be printed out.

Abstract: The position of a first pointer displayed on a display screen of a monitor display device is designated by a mouse. Data representing the position of a second pointer transmitted through an integrated digital service network 40 is received, and the position thereof is detected. In order to display the first and second pointers on the monitor display device, luminance data and chrominance data representing images of the pointers are generated by a character generator. The above data and image data stored in an image memory are synthesized in an image synthesizing circuit and an image obtained by the synthesis is applied to the monitor display device, so that the first and second pointers are displayed on the display screen of the monitor display device.