Imaging method and system

• US 20040257380A1
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Casciano, Anthony, Fink, Howard J., Herbert, Leslie B., Taxier, Karen M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3875 combined with enlarging or reducing enlarging or reducing per se H04N1/393

Abstract

Imaging methods and systems are provided for indicating at least one preferred output form for an area within a digital image. In accordance with the method, a selection area is determined within the digital image and a preferred output image form is determined for rendering an image comprising the selected area of the digital image, with the determination being based upon an image resolution of the digital image, the determined selection area and an output resolution associated with each output form. The preferred output image form is indicated.

Claims

1. A method for indicating a preferred output form for an area of a digital image:

determining a selection area within the digital image;

determining a preferred output image form for rendering an image comprising the selected area of the digital image, with the determination being based upon an image resolution of the digital image, the determined selection area and an output resolution associated with each output form; and

,

indicating the preferred output image form.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection area is adjustably selected and wherein the indicated preferred output image form is adjusted based upon adjustments to the selection area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection area is adjustably selected and wherein the indicated preferred output image form is adjusted at substantially the same time that the selection area is adjustably selected.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the preferred output image forms is based upon the output image rendering capabilities of an image rendering device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining an intended output image rendering device and wherein the step of determining the preferred output image form is determined based upon the output image rendering capabilities of the intended image rendering device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a compression setting for the image and wherein the step of determining the preferred output image form is based in part upon the determined compression settings.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises at least one of a video, text, printed, audio or tactile signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises an indication of a maximum preferred output size associated with a determined selection area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a display of more than one preferred output form, and wherein the step of indicating the preferred output image form comprises determining each output form for which there is sufficient image resolution in the selected area to permit an image used in conjunction with the output form to have a preferred appearance.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a display of alternate output sources and provides, for each alternate output source, an indication of preferred output image sizes based upon imaging capabilities for each output image source.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is based upon predetermined image rendering capabilities of more than one imaging device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination based is upon predetermined image rendering capabilities.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of receiving a signal indicating that an image is to be formed using the selection area, and forming an image using only the image information from the selection area, wherein the step of forming the image comprises forming an image having a size substantially similar to the size of the original image.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of presenting a request for authorization to form a second image based upon the portions of the digital image in the selected area.

21. A computer program product for performing the method of claim 1.

15. A method for indicating preferred output form for a portion of a digital image:

receiving a digital image having an image resolution;

receiving an initial selection area designation within the digital image;

determining a preferred output image form for rendering an image containing portions of the digital image that are within the initial selection area based upon the image resolution, the selection area designated and a predetermined resolution of at least one image output form; and

,

indicating the preferred output image form for the initial selection area of the image,

receiving subsequent selection area designations within the digital image;

determining a preferred output image form for rendering an image containing portions of the digital image that are within each subsequently designated selection area based upon the image resolution, the selection area and a predetermined resolution of at least one image output form; and

,

indicating the preferred output image form for each subsequent area designation.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of receiving an signal indicating that an image is to be formed using the selection area, and forming an image using area of the digital image within the selection area, wherein the step of forming the image comprises forming an image having a size substantially similar to the size of the digital image.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of presenting a request for authorization to form a second image based upon the portions of the digital image in the selected area and receiving a signal indicating that an image is to be formed using area of the digital image within the selection area, and forming an image using the area of the digital image within the selection area, wherein the step of forming the image comprises forming an image having a size substantially similar to the size of the digital image.

22. A computer program product for performing the method of claim 15.

18. A method for using a first digital image to form a second digital image, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting the first digital image;

receiving a selection of a portion of the first digital image;

determining which of a plurality of output forms are preferred for use with a second image formed based upon the selected area of the first digital image;

presenting an indication of each determined output form; and

,

forming a second image based upon the selected portion;

wherein the second image is formed only after an indication of each determined output form is presented.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of receiving a designation of one of the determined output forms wherein the step of forming the second image comprises forming a second image based upon the designation.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of presenting a request for authorization to form a second image based upon the portions of the digital image in the selected area and receiving an authorization.

23. A computer program product for performing the method of claim 18.

24. An imaging system comprising:

a source of a digital image having an image resolution;

an indicating system having human detectable indications of preferred image output forms;

a user interface system;

a controller operable in an image editing mode wherein the controller is adapted to cause the digital image to be presented on the display, to determine a selection area within the digital image based upon signals from the user interface system, to determine preferred output image forms for rendering an image including the selected area of the digital image, wherein the determination is based upon the image resolution of the digital image, the determined selection area and an output resolution associated with each output form, and, to cause the indicating system to indicate at least one preferred output image form.

25. The imaging system of claim 24, wherein the indicating system comprises at least one of a display, audio system, actuator, haptic feedback system or tactile feedback system.

26. The imaging system of claim 24, wherein the controller is further adapted to form a digital image using the image information from the selection area of the digital image and to generate an image having a size that is substantially similar to the size of the digital image from which the image information in the selection area is defined.

27. The imaging system of claim 26, wherein the controller generated image is generated only after the indication is presented and an authorization to generate the image is received.

28. The imaging system of claim 24, further comprising a communication module adapted to exchange digital images with another device.

29. The imaging system of claim 24, wherein the controller is adapted to detect signals from the user control system indicating that the selection area has been adjusted and adjusts the indication accordingly.

30. The imaging system of claim 24, wherein the controller causes the presented image, the selection area and the indication to be displayed at the same time.

31. The imaging system of claim 24, wherein the controller is further adapted to receive a signal indicating that an image is to be formed using the selection area, and to form an image using only the image information from the selection area, wherein the formed image has a size substantially similar to the size of the digital image.