Coherent image selection and modification

• US 20080131010A1
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilensky, Gregg D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 Region-based segmentation

Abstract

An example method includes receiving a first selection location and at least one selection parameter with respect to digital data. A portion of the digital data is selected relative to the first selection location. The selecting of the portion includes assigning an energy value to each pixel within a selection proximity of the selection location. The selection proximity is determined based on the selection parameter and the energy value being a function of distance from the selection location. The selecting of the portion further includes generating a selection value for each pixel within the selection proximity, based on the assigned energy value and on a pixel characteristic difference between the relevant pixel and at least one neighboring pixel. The selection value determines whether the relevant pixel is included in the selected portion of the digital data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first selection location and at least one selection parameter with respect to digital data; and

selecting a portion of the digital data relative to the first selection location, the selecting including;

assigning an energy value to each pixel within a selection proximity of the selection location, the selection proximity being determined based on the selection parameter and the energy value being a function of distance from the selection location; and

calculating a selection value for each pixel within the selection proximity of the selection location based on the assigned energy value and on a pixel characteristic difference between the relevant pixel and at least one neighboring pixel;

the selection value to determine whether the relevant pixel is included in the selected portion of the digital data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pixel characteristic difference comprises a pixel color difference.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection parameter is a radius, and the selection proximity is determined based on the radius.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculation of the selection value includes calculating a selection value for each pixel within the radius so as to minimize a sum of energy of the pixels within the radius.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection has a polarity, the energy value being assigned to each pixel being at least partially based on the polarity of the selection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection value is a binary value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection value is a gradient value.

8. The method of claim 1, including receiving an adjustment parameter associated with a parametrically-controlled adjustment to be made to the selected portion of the digital data.

9. The method of claim 1, including receiving a second selection location, and selecting the portion of the digital data relative to the first and second selection locations.

10. The method of claim 1, including:

receiving a plurality of selection locations, each selection location having an associated adjustment parameter having a type of adjustment;

identifying a set of selection locations having adjustment parameters having a common type of adjustment; and

selecting the portion of the digital data relative to the set of selection locations.

11. A system comprising:

an interface component to receive a first selection location and at least one selection parameter with respect to digital data; and

a selection component to create a selection mask for the digital data relative to the first selection location, the selecting including;

assigning an energy value to each pixel within a selection proximity of the selection location, the selection proximity being determined based on the selection parameter and the energy value being a function of distance from the selection location; and

calculating a selection value for each pixel within the selection proximity of the selection location based on the assigned energy value and on a pixel characteristic difference between the relevant pixel and at least one neighboring pixel;

the selection value to determine whether the relevant pixel is included in the selection mask of the digital data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the pixel characteristic difference comprises a pixel color difference.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the selection parameter is a radius, and the selection proximity is determined based on the radius.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the calculation of the selection value includes calculating a selection value for each pixel within the radius so as to minimize a sum of energy of the pixels within the radius.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the selection has a polarity, the energy value being assigned to each pixel being at least partially based on the polarity of the selection.

16. The system of claim 11, including an adjustment component and wherein the interface component is to receive at least one adjustment parameter associative the selection location, the adjustment parameter associated with a parametrically-controlled adjustment to be made by the adjustment component using the selection mask of the digital data.

17. The system of claim 11, including receiving a second selection location, and selecting the mask of the digital data relative to the first and second selection locations.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the interface component is to receive a plurality of selection locations, each selection location having an associated adjustment parameter identifying a type of adjustment, identifying a set of selection locations having adjustment parameters, identifying a common type of adjustment, and wherein the selection component is to define the mask for the digital data relative to the set of selection locations.

19. A method including:

receiving a marker location with respect to source digital data;

performing a selection of a selected portion of the source digital data, based on the marker location and a selection parameter, the selection being performed using data coherency;

performing a parametrically-controlled activity with respect to the source digital data, based on an activity parameter; and

localizing an effect of the parametrically-controlled activity to the selected portion of the source digital data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein source digital data is digital image data, and wherein the selection is performed using characteristic coherency between adjacent pixels in the digital image data.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the performing of the selection includes assigning an energy value to each pixel within a selection proximity of the marker location, the energy value being a function of distance from the marker location.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the performing of the selection includes calculating a selection value for each pixel with the selection proximity based on the assigned energy value and on a pixel characteristic difference between a respective pixel and at least one neighboring pixel, the selection value to determine whether the relevant pixel is included in the selected portion of the digital data.

23. The method of claim 19, including automatically performing the parametrically-controlled selection and parametrically-controlled activity responsive to the receipt of the marker location.

24. The method of claim 19, including, subsequent to the performance of the parametrically-controlled activity, enabling user modification of at least one of the activity parameter and the selection parameter, while the marker location is maintained, and automatically modifying the localized effect of the parametrically-controlled activity based on the user modification.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the source digital data is digital image data, and the parametrically-controlled activity includes a parametrically-controlled adjustment activity to adjust a visual representation of the digital image data.

26. The method of claim 19, including performing the parametrically-controlled activity with respect to the source digital data, and subsequently localizing the effects of the parametrically-controlled activity to the selected portion of the source digital data.

27. The method of claim 19, including performing the parametrically-controlled selection of the selected portion, and subsequently localizing the effects of the parametrically-controlled activity with respect to the selected portion of the source digital data.

28. The method of claim 19, including detecting user-controlled relocation of the visual representation of the marker with respect to the source digital data, thereby to identify a further marker location with respect to the source digital data on which a further parametrically-controlled selection of a further selected portion is based.

29. The method of claim 19, including detecting modification of the selection parameter, while the activity parameter is maintained, and performing a parametrically-controlled selection of a further selected portion of the source digital data responsive to the detection of the modification of the portion selection parameter.

30. The method of claim 19, including detecting modification of the activity parameter, while the selection of the selected portion of the source digital data is maintained, and performing a further parametrically-controlled activity with respect to the source digital data responsive to the detection of the modification of the activity parameter.

31. The method of claim 19, including receiving a plurality of marker locations.

32. The method of claim 31 including defining a selection mask with respect to the source digital data, based on each of the plurality of marker locations and associated respective selection parameters.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein a first marker location of the plurality of marker locations has a polarity parameter associated therewith, the method including utilizing the polarity parameter to determine whether the localized effects of the parametrically-controlled activity are to be negatively or positively applied with respect to at least a portion of the selection mask defined based on the first marker location.

34. The method of claim 19, including detecting creation of an activity layer, which is distinct from the digital source data, that modifies a representation of the digital source data, and automatically performing the parametrically-controlled selection and activity with respect to the adjustment layer.

35. The method of claim 34, including detecting creation of a plurality of activity layers, and automatically performing respective parametrically-controlled selections and activities with respect to each of the plurality of activity layers.

36. A system comprising:

an interface component to receive a marker location with respect to source digital data; and

a selection component to define a selection mask with respect to the source digital data, based on the marker location and a portion selection parameter, the definition of the selection mask being performed using data coherency; and

an activity component automatically to perform a parametrically-controlled activity with respect to the source digital data, based on an activity parameter, and to localize an effect of the parametrically-controlled activity to the selection mask of the source digital data.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein source digital data is digital image data, and wherein the selection component is to define the selection mask using a characteristic coherency between adjacent pixels in the digital image data.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the selection component is to assign an energy value to each pixel within a selection proximity of the marker location, the energy value being a function of distance from the marker location.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the selection component is to calculate a selection value for each pixel with the selection proximity based on the assigned energy value and on a pixel characteristic difference between a respective pixel and at least one neighboring pixel, the selection value to determine whether the relevant pixel is included in the selection mask.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the adjust component is automatically to perform the parametrically-controlled selection and parametrically-controlled activity responsive to the receipt of the marker location by the interface component.

41. A system comprising:

selection means for defining a selection mask with respect to a source digital data, based on the marker location within the source digital data and a portion selection parameter, the definition of the selection mask being performed using data coherency; and

activity means for performing a parametrically-controlled activity with respect to the source digital data, based on an activity parameter, and for localizing an effect of the parametrically-controlled activity to the selection mask of the source digital data.

42. A machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

selecting a portion of digital data relative to a first selection location within the digital data, the selecting including;

assigning an energy value to each pixel within a selection proximity of the selection location, the selection proximity being determined based on a selection parameter, and the energy value being a function of distance from the selection location; and

calculating a selection value for each pixel based on the assigned energy value and on a pixel characteristic difference between the respective pixel and at least one neighboring pixel;

the selection value to determine whether the relevant pixel is included in the selected portion of the digital data.