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Method and apparatus for producing dynamic imagery in a visual medium

  • US 20030174285A1
  • Filed: 03/14/2002
  • Published: 09/18/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for producing a composite motion picture image on a stage using live images of characters and set components combined with computer generated images, the method comprising:

  • generating a database of computer generated image element signals indicative of computer generated images, each image having a plurality of computer image elements, with a pre-established geometric position relative to one another;

    generating a database of computer image element position signals correlating the position of each of the image elements in a stage geometry;

    recording character and set image element signals indicative of live character and set component images within the stage geometry, each image having a plurality of character and set image elements;

    recording, simultaneously with the live character and set image element signals, character and set position signals which associate a character or set component position with a corresponding position in the stage geometry, generating recording apparatus position signals indicative of the position of a recording apparatus in the stage geometry and optical field signals indicative of the optical field of view of the recording apparatus for the live character and set component images;

    generating optical parameter signals corresponding to the optical parameters of the recording apparatus;

    modifying the computer image element position signals in dependence on values of the recording apparatus position signals, optical parameter signals and optical field signals;

    identifying select ones of the character and set image element signals to be replaced by select ones of the computer generated image element signals in dependence on the computer image element position signals and the character and set position signals;

    substituting the identified character and set image element signals with corresponding ones of the computer generated image element signals to form a set of initial composite image signals;

    generating in substantially real time an initial composite image of the live character and set component images and the computer generated images from the initial composite image signals; and

    presenting, in substantially real time, the initial composite image to a display associated with the recording apparatus.

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