Automated image processing

• US 20060197963A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cimpress Schweiz GmbH (Cimpress Plc)
• Original Assignee: Vistaprint Technologies Limited (Cimpress Plc)
• Inventors: Hanechak, Brian D., Dulaney, Robert L., Royal, Eliza H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

Automated electronic document design systems and methods for appropriately sizing and positioning uploaded user images into predefined image areas in a product design being created in a Web environment. For an image that is not to be cropped when incorporated into the design, the image is sized to fit within the selected image area and positioned in the image area according to a predefined anchor location. The aspect ratio of the original image is maintained. For an image that is available for cropping when incorporated into the design, the image is sized and cropped to create a version of the image that fills the image container.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for incorporating an uploaded image into a product design, the method comprising

providing a product design for displaying to a user, the design displaying to the user an image area having a predetermined position and predetermined first and second dimensions in the design and intended to contain an uploaded image,

in response to a request by the user to incorporate an uploaded image into the image area, creating a resized image by automatically resizing the uploaded image such that the resized image retains the aspect ratio of the uploaded image, one of the dimensions of the resized image is equal to the corresponding dimension of the area, and the other dimension of the resized image is equal to or smaller than the corresponding other dimension of the area,

revising the product design by automatically incorporating the resized image into the product design such that the resized image appears within the area, and

providing the revised product design for displaying to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the image area has at least one associated anchor point for use in positioning the design image within the area.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising

determining if the resolution of the resized image meets a predetermined minimum resolution requirement and, if not,

creating a reduced image that retains the aspect ratio of the uploaded image and meets the minimum resolution requirement, and

revising the product design by incorporating the reduced image into the area instead of the resized image.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to reposition the resized image within the area.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to reposition the design image at least partially outside the area.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to resize and reposition the design image within the product design.

7. A computer-implemented method for incorporating an uploaded image into a product design, the method comprising

providing a product design for displaying to a user, the design displaying to the user an image area having a predetermined position and predetermined first and second dimensions in the design and intended to contain an uploaded image,

if the user requests a first type of incorporation of an uploaded image into the image area in the design, creating a resized image by automatically resizing the uploaded image such that the resized image retains the aspect ratio of the uploaded image, one of the dimensions of the resized image is equal to the corresponding dimension of the area, and the other dimension of the resized image is equal to or smaller than the corresponding other dimension of the area, and revising the product design by automatically incorporating the resized image into the product design such that the resized image appears within the area,

if the user requests a second type of incorporation of an uploaded image into an image area in the design, resizing and cropping the uploaded image to create an image version that is the same size as the image area, and revising the product design by automatically incorporating the image version into the product design such that the image version appears within the area,

providing the revised product design for displaying to the user.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the resizing is performed automatically such that one of the dimensions of the design image is substantially equal to the corresponding dimension of the area and the other dimension of the design image is equal to or larger than the corresponding other dimension of the area.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the resizing is performed manually by the user.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the image area is one of a plurality of image area types and wherein the requested type of incorporation is determined by the type of the image area.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the image is one of a plurality of image types and wherein the requested type of incorporation is determined by the image type of the selected image.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the requested type of incorporation is selected at the time of image selection

13. A computer-implemented product design method comprising

providing a product design for displaying to a user, the design containing and displaying to the user at least one image area of a first type and at least one image area of a second type, each image area having a predetermined position and predetermined first and second dimensions in the design and intended to contain an uploaded image

if the user requests incorporation of an uploaded image into an image area of the first type, creating a resized image by automatically resizing the uploaded image such that the resized image retains the aspect ratio of the uploaded image, one of the dimensions of the resized image is equal to the corresponding dimension of the area, and the other dimension of the resized image is equal to or smaller than the corresponding other dimension of the area, and revising the product design by automatically incorporating the resized image into the product design such that the resized image is positioned within the area,

if the user requests incorporation of an uploaded image into an area of the second type, resizing and cropping the uploaded image to create an image version that is the same size as the image area, and revising the product design by automatically incorporating the image version into the product design such that the image version is positioned within the area, and

providing the revised product design for displaying to the user.