Method of organizing digital images on a page

• US 20020040375A1
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Published: 04/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: McIntyre, Dale F., Simon, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US09/825,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20020040375A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/517
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A system, software product and method for organizing a plurality of digital images in a predetermined page format. The digital images are grouped in a plurality of different page layouts. The page layouts are analyzed in accordance with a predetermined criteria. A page layout is selected based on the predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. A method of organizing a plurality of images including at least one image placeholder in a predetermined page format, comprising the steps of:

grouping said plurality of images into a plurality of different page layouts, wherein said plurality of images are not placed in said placeholder;

analyzing each of said different page layouts in accordance with a predetermined criteria; and

selecting the page layout based on said predetermined criteria.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising placing said plurality of images in said selected page layout.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined criteria comprises the amount of white space in each of said page layouts.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said analyzing said different page layouts comprises scoring each of said different page layouts.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of further scaling the images of said selected page layout by different amounts.

6. A method according to claim 3 wherein the amount of white space is minimized by using stochastic algorithms.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined criteria includes placing images in said different page layouts in a non-overlapping pattern.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said placing of said plurality of images in said different page layouts comprises scaling all of said images such that they fit within said page format.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said analyzing of said different page layouts comprises a iteration of comparing sequentially two different page layouts and selecting the best page layout until little or no further improvement in scoring is obtained.

10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of scaling individual images of the page layout obtained after said iteration.

11. A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of rotating said images a predetermined amount.

12. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of spatially balancing the spacing between said images.

13. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of positioning said images in said selected page layout so as to provide a desired border on said page.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said white space is determined vertically between adjacent images in said page layouts.

15. A method according to claim 12 wherein said white space is determined horizontally between adjacent images in said page layouts.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said background image is displayed with at least one reduced characteristic.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said at least one reduced characteristic is color saturation.

19. A method according to claim 17 further including the step of:

identifying at least one image to be placed at a predetermined image location.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said image is an image placeholder.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein said image placeholder is correlated to an area of interest of said background image.

22. A method according to claim 16 further comprising placing said plurality of images in said selected page layout.

23. A method according to claim 16 wherein said predetermined criteria comprises the amount of white space in each of said page layouts.

24. A method according to claim 16 wherein said analyzing said different page layouts comprises scoring each of said different page layouts.

25. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of further scaling the images of said selected page layout by different amounts.

26. A method according to claim 23 wherein the amount of white space is minimized by using stochastic algorithms.

27. A method according to claim 16 wherein said predetermined criteria includes placing images in said different page layouts in a non-overlapping pattern.

28. A method according to claim 16 wherein said placing of said plurality of images in said different page layouts comprises scaling all of said images such that they fit within said page format.

29. A method according to claim 16 wherein said analyzing of said different page layouts comprises a iteration of comparing sequentially two different page layouts and selecting the best page layout until little or no further improvement in scoring is obtained.

30. A method according to claim 29 further comprising the step of scaling individual images of the page layout obtained after said iteration.

31. A method according to claim 29 further comprising the step of rotating said images a predetermined amount.

32. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of spatially balancing the spacing between said images.

33. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of positioning said images in said selected page layout so as to provide a desired border on said page.

34. A method according to claim 31 wherein said white space is determined vertically between adjacent images in said page layouts.

35. A method according to claim 23 wherein said white space is determined horizontally between adjacent images in said page layouts.

39. A method according to claim 38 wherein said stored page layout is used with a second plurality set of images.

16. A method of organizing a plurality of images in a predetermined page format including a background image, comprising the steps of:

identifying an image to be used as a background image;

grouping said plurality of images into a plurality of different page layouts including said background image;

analyzing each of said different page layouts in accordance with a predetermined criteria; and

selecting the page layout based on said predetermined criteria.

36. A computer software product for organizing a plurality of images in a predetermined format comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program which when loaded into a computer causes the computer to perform the following steps:

grouping said plurality of images into a plurality of different page layouts;

wherein said plurality of images are not placed in a predefined area on said page;

analyzing each of said different page layouts in accordance with a predetermined criteria; and

selecting the page layout based on said predetermined criteria.

37. A method of organizing a plurality of images in a predetermined page format, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of digital images;

providing at least one image placeholder;

selecting a number of said images and said at least one image placeholder for placement on said predetermined format;

grouping said plurality of images and said image placeholder into a plurality of different page layouts;

analyzing each of said different page layouts in accordance with a predetermined criteria; and

selecting the page layout based on said predetermined criteria.

38. A method of organizing a first set of plurality of images in a predetermined page format, comprising the steps of:

grouping said plurality of images into a plurality of different page layouts, wherein said plurality of images are not placed in said placeholder;

analyzing each of said different page layouts in accordance with a predetermined criteria;

selecting the page layout based on said predetermined criteria; and

storing said selected page layout for later use.