Image processing apparatus, method of controlling image processing apparatus, and storage medium with determination as to whether image is already contained in album data for first subject and album data for second subject and specifying image as change target

1. A method of controlling an image processing apparatus capable of controlling (a) album data for a first subject containing a common page and an individual page for the first subject, and (b) album data for a second subject containing the common page and an individual page for the second subject, the method comprising:

a first determination step of performing a first determination process which determines whether or not a predetermined image which the image processing apparatus has is an image already contained in the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject;

a second determination step of performing a second determination process which determines whether or not the predetermined image which the image processing apparatus has is an image already contained in the album data for the first subject;

specifying a change target for a page contained in the album data for the first subject, wherein (1) control is performed such that an image other than any of images already contained in the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject is specified as a change target for the common page contained in the album data for the first subject by performing control in such a way to specify an image which is determined by the first determination process not to be an image already contained in the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject, and (2) control is performed such that an image other than any of the images already contained in the album data for the first subject is specified as a change target for the individual page for the first subject contained in the album data for the first subject by performing control in such a way to specify an image which is determined by the second determination process not to be an image already contained in the album data for the first subject;

displaying the specified change targets; and

changing at least one page contained in the album data for the first subject based on the specified change target according to a change operation for changing the album data for the first subject.

2. The control method according to claim 1 , further comprising generating the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject.

3. The control method according to claim 2 , wherein the common page is generated based on a parameter related to the first subject and a parameter related to the second subject,

wherein the individual page for the first subject is generated based on the parameter related to the first subject and not based on the parameter related to the second subject, and

wherein the individual page for the second subject is generated based on the parameter related to the second subject and not based on the parameter related to the first subject.

4. The control method according to claim 2 , wherein a plurality of parameters used to generate the common page and one or more parameters used to specify the change target for the common page contained in the album data for the first subject are different.

5. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein a change target for the individual page for the first subject is specified based on a parameter related to the first subject, and a change target for the individual page for the second subject is specified based on a parameter related to the second subject, and

wherein the individual page contained in the album data for the first subject is changed based on the specified change target according to a change operation for changing the album data for the first subject, and the individual page contained in the album data for the second subject is changed based on the specified change target according to a change operation for changing the album data for the second subject.

6. The control method according to claim 5 , further comprising:

generating the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject,

wherein one or more of parameters used to generate the individual page for the first subject and the one or more parameters used to specify the change target for the individual page contained in the album data for the first subject are the same.

7. The control method according to claim 5 , wherein control is performed such that an image other than any of the images already contained in the album data for the second subject is specified as the change target for the individual page for the second subject.

8. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein in a case where the common page contained in the album data for the first subject is changed, the changed common page is handled as the individual page contained in the album data for the first subject.

9. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein the change target for the common page to be specified is an image with which to replace an image contained in the common page.

10. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein the change target for the common page to be specified is a page with which to replace the common page.

11. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein the common page and the individual pages are each a double-page spread.

12. The control method according to claim 1 , further comprising uploading the album data for the first subject to a server.

13. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein the common page is contained in a plurality of pieces of album data including the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject,

wherein the individual page for the first subject is not contained in the plurality of pieces of album data except the album data for the first subject, and

wherein the individual page for the second subject is not contained in the plurality of pieces of album data except the album data for the second subject.

14. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the pages contained in the album data for the first subject, attribute information is set which indicates whether the page is the common page or the individual page for the first subject.

15. The control method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether a predetermined page is the common page or the individual page for the first subject,

wherein in a case where the predetermined page is determined to be the common page, control is performed such that an image other than any of the images already contained in the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject is specified as a change target for the predetermined page which is the common page contained in the album data for the first subject, and

wherein in a case where the predetermined page is determined to be the individual page for the first subject, control is performed such that an image other than any of the images already contained in the album data for the first subject is specified as a change target for the predetermined page which is the individual page for the first subject contained in the album data for the first subject.

16. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein an album is created by executing printing based on the album data for the first subject.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program which functions in an image processing apparatus capable of controlling (a) album data for a first subject containing a common page and an individual page for the first subject and (b) album data for a second subject containing the common page and an individual page for the second subject, and causes the image processing apparatus to function as a plurality of units comprising:

a first determination unit configured to perform a first determination process which determines whether or not a predetermined image which the image processing apparatus has is an image already contained in the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject;

a second determination unit configured to perform a second determination process which determines whether or not the predetermined image which the image processing apparatus has is an image already contained in the album data for the first subject,

a specification unit configured to specify a change target for a page contained in the album data for the first subject, wherein (1) control is performed such that an image other than any of images already contained in the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject is specified as a change target for the common page contained in the album data for the first subject by performing control in such a way to specify an image which is determined by the first determination process not to be an image already contained in the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject, and ( 2 ) control is performed such that an image other than any of the images already contained in the album data for the first subject is specified as a change target for the individual page for the first subject contained in the album data for the first subject by performing control in such a way to specify an image which is determined by the second determination process not to be an image already contained in the album data for the first subject;

a display unit configured to display the specified change targets; and

a change unit configured to change at least one page contained in the album data for the first subject based on the specified change target according to a change operation for changing the album data for the first subject.

18. An image processing apparatus capable of controlling (a) album data for a first subject containing a common page and an individual page for the first subject, and (b) album data for a second subject containing the common page and an individual page for the second subject, the image processing apparatus comprising:

(a) circuitry, (b) one or more processors and at least one memory, or (c) circuitry, one or more processors, and at least one memory, configured to function as a plurality of units comprising:

(A) a first determination unit configured to perform a first determination process which determines whether or not a predetermined image which the image processing apparatus has is an image already contained in the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject;

(B) a second determination unit configured to perform a second determination process which determines whether or not the predetermined image which the image processing apparatus has is an image already contained in the album data for the first subject;

(C) a specification unit configured to specify a change target for a page contained in the album data for the first subject, wherein (1) control is performed such that an image other than any of images already contained in the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject is specified as a change target for the common page contained in the album data for the first subject by performing control in such a way to specify an image which is determined by the first determination process not to be an image already contained in the album data for the first subject and the album data for the second subject, and (2) control is performed such that an image other than any of the images already contained in the album data for the first subject is specified as a change target for the individual page for the first subject contained in the album data for the first subject by performing control in such a way to specify an image which is determined by the second determination process not to be an image already contained in the album data for the first subject;

(D) a display unit configured to display the specified change targets; and

(E) a change unit configured to change at least one page contained in the album data for the first subject based on the specified change target according to a change operation for changing the album data for the first subject.