Image editing apparatus, image editing method, and image editing program

Abstract

The present invention provides an image editing apparatus which decreases a CPU load required for previewing a group of finished images used for continuous presentation, such as a photo movie, and reduces a processing time. The image editing apparatus includes an image obtaining unit obtaining material images; a converting unit carrying out conversion on an image, included in the material images, of which load required for playback is greater than a predetermined load reference, the conversion additionally creating a proxy image corresponding to the image and having a smaller load required for the playback; and a preview playback unit playing back, as a preview, the proxy image and material images which are included in the material images and are other than the image corresponding to the proxy image in a predetermined order.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An image converting apparatus for carrying out conversion on a material image, comprising:
 an image obtaining unit configured to obtain the material image; and   a converting unit configured to carry out the conversion on the material image when load required for playback of the material image is greater than a predetermined load reference, the conversion additionally creating a proxy image corresponding to the material image and having a smaller load required for the playback.   
     
     
         16 . The image converting apparatus of  claim 15 ,
 wherein said converting unit avoids carrying out the conversion on the material image when the load required for the playback of the material image is equal to or smaller than the load reference.   
     
     
         17 . The image converting apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a preview playback unit configured to play back, as a preview, the proxy image and the material image other than the material image corresponding to the proxy image in a predetermined order.   
     
     
         18 . An image converting method for carrying out conversion on a material image, comprising:
 obtaining the material image; and   carrying out the conversion on the material image when load required for playback of the material image is greater than a predetermined load reference, the conversion additionally creating a proxy image corresponding to the material image and having a smaller load required for the playback.   
     
     
         19 . The image converting method of  claim 18 ,
 wherein said carrying out the conversion avoids carrying out the conversion on the material image when the load required for the playback of the material image is equal to or smaller than the load reference.   
     
     
         20 . The image converting method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 playing back, as a preview, the proxy image and the material image other than the material image corresponding to the proxy image in a predetermined order.