Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program for implementing the method, and storage medium storing the program

1. An image processing apparatus that performs a type of image processing selected from a plurality of types of image processing, on an image, comprising:

a display device that displays the image;

a designating device that designates a starting point and an ending point on the displayed image;

a first acquiring device that acquires information on the starting point and the ending point;

a selecting device that displays the plurality of types of image processing in an area set at a location based on the designated ending point on the displayed image and selects a type of image processing to be performed based on a user instruction;

a second acquiring device that acquires information on the selected type of image processing;

a defining device that defines a processing area of the displayed image, in which the selected type of image processing is to be performed, according to the acquired information on the starting point and the ending point and the acquired information on the selected type of image processing, wherein

a plurality of shapes for the processing area are set in advance according to the plurality of types of image processing, and

said defining device sets the shape of the processing area to one of the plurality of shapes in accordance with the acquired information on the selected type of image processing; and

a display changing device that changes display of the image in the defined processing area.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an image processing device that performs the selected type of image processing on at least part of the displayed image according to information on a part of the displayed image inside the defined processing area or a part of the displayed image outside the defined processing area and the selected type of image processing.

3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of types of image processing include a first type of image processing that is performed on the displayed image according to the information on the part of the displayed image inside the defined processing area, and a second type of image processing that is performed on the displayed image inside the defined processing area according to the information on the part of the displayed image outside the defined processing area.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a second display device that displays a selecting screen for selecting a type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image from among the plurality of types of image processing in a vicinity of the starting point or ending point.

5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said designating device designates a first position and a second position different from the first position as the starting point and ending point, respectively, and

said second display device displays the selecting screen in a vicinity of the designated ending point.

6. An image processing method of performing a type of image processing selected from a plurality of types of image processing, on an image, comprising:

a display step of displaying the image;

a designating step of designating a starting point and an ending point on the displayed image;

a first acquiring step of acquiring information on the starting point and the ending point;

a displaying step of displaying the plurality of types of image processing in an area set at a location based on the designated ending point on the displayed image;

a selecting step of selecting a type of image processing to be performed based on a user instruction;

a second acquiring step of acquiring information on the selected type of image processing;

a defining step of defining a processing area of the displayed image, in which the selected type of image processing is to be performed, according to the acquired information on the starting point and ending point and the acquired information on the selected type of image processing, wherein

a plurality of shapes for the processing area are set in advance according to the plurality of types of image processing, and

in said defining step, the shape of the processing area is set to one of the plurality of shapes in accordance with the acquired information on the selected type of image processing; and

a display changing step of changing display of the image in the defined processing area.

7. An image processing method according to claim 6 , further comprising an image processing step of performing the selected type of image processing on at least part of the displayed image according to information on a part of the displayed image inside the defined processing area or a part of the displayed image outside the defined processing area and the selected type of image processing.

8. An image processing method according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of types of image processing include a first type of image processing that is performed on the displayed image according to the information on the part of the displayed image inside the defined processing area, and a second type of image processing that is performed on the displayed image inside the defined processing area according to the information on the part of the displayed image outside the defined processing area.

9. An image processing method according to claim 6 , further comprising a second display step of displaying a selecting screen for selecting a type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image from among the plurality of types of image processing in a vicinity of the starting point or ending point.

10. An image processing method according to claim 9 , wherein

said designating step comprises designating a first position and a second position different from the first position as the starting point and the ending point, respectively, and

said second display step comprises displaying the selecting screen in a vicinity of the designated ending point.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a program stored thereon for causing a computer to execute an image processing method on an image by performing a type of image processing selected from a plurality of types of image processing, said method comprising:

displaying the image;

designating a starting point and an ending point on the displayed image;

acquiring information on the starting point and the ending point;

displaying the plurality of types of image processing in an area including the designated ending point on the displayed image to permit a type of image processing to be performed on the displayed image from among the plurality of types of image processing;

acquiring information on the selected type of image processing;

defining a processing area on the displayed image, in which the displayed image is to be subjected to the selected type of image processing, according to the acquired information on the starting point and the ending point and the acquired information on the selected type of image processing, wherein

a plurality of shapes for the processing area are set in advance according to the plurality of types of image processing, and

in said defining step, the shape of the processing area is set to one of the plurality of shapes in accordance with the acquired information on the selected type of image processing; and

changing display of the image in the defined processing area.