Masking tool

• US 20060078223A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Edwards, Eric, Fisher, Clay Harvey, Jonach, Kurt, Manowitz, Neal Jacob, Tree, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/283
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4092 Image resolution transcoding, e.g. by using client-server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/00 Image enhancement or restoration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3872 Repositioning or masking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/815 for controlling the resolution by using a single image

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of masking comprises an operation of selecting a masking tool based on operations performed on a digital camera by a user. The masking tool is positioned over a masked portion of an image and an effect is applied. The effect is applied on the image outside the masked portion.

Claims

1. A system for controlling effects performed on a displayed image, comprising:

a digital camera adapted to control a translucent masking tool positioned over the image and defining a portion of the image that is currently precluded from being altered when the effects are applied to the image.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a server implemented with a software that, when executed, performs masking and application of the effects on the image.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a server to store a software application downloaded by the digital camera to perform masking and application of the effects to the image.

4. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a server loaded with an image having a first resolution and the digital camera being loaded with the image having a second resolution, wherein the effects applied to the image having the second resolution is correspondingly performed by the server on the image having the first resolution.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first resolution being a higher resolution than the second resolution.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the translucent masking tool has a customized shape selected by cycling through a series of masking tool icons displayed on a display of the digital camera.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the translucent masking tool is created by tracing a pattern over at least a portion of the image using a stylus to produce an enclosed pattern operating as the translucent masking tool.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein an area inside the enclosed pattern is a masked portion of the image and is precluded from being altered when the effects are applied to the image.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein an area outside the enclosed pattern is altered when the effects are applied to the image.

10. The system according to claim 7 wherein upon selection, an area outside the enclosed pattern is a masked portion of the image precluded from being altered when the effects are applied to the image.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the translucent masking tool is movable relative to the image.

12. A method of masking comprising:

selecting a masking tool based on operations performed on a digital camera;

positioning the masking tool over a masked portion of an image; and

applying an effect onto the image outside the masked portion.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the selecting of the masking tool includes cycling through a series of masking tool icons displayed on a display of the digital camera, each masking tool icon representing a different shape for the masking tool.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the masking tool is translucent.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the positioning of the masking tool includes positioning the masking tool over the masked portion of the image displayed on the digital camera, the image having a first resolution.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the applying of the effect includes applying the effect on the image having the first resolution that applies a corresponding effect on an image having the second resolution stored on a server in communication with the camera.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first resolution being a lower resolution than the second resolution.

18. A system comprising:

a server; and

a client in communication with the server, the client being adapted to edit an image stored on the server by controlling a position of a masking tool over the image, the masking tool defining a portion of the image precluded from being altered when an effect is applied to the image.

19. The system according to claim 18 further comprising a server implemented with a software that, when executed, performs masking and application of the effect on the image.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the server is loaded with the image having a first resolution level and the digital camera being loaded with the image having a second resolution level lesser in resolution that the first resolution level, wherein the effect being applied to the image having the second resolution level under control of the client which causes a corresponding effect to be performed by the server on the image having the second resolution level.