Portrait printer system with digital image processing editing

• US 5,383,027 A
• Filed: 02/27/1992
• Issued: 01/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lifetouch National School Studios Incorporated (Shutterfly, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lifetouch National School Studios Incorporated (Shutterfly, LLC)
• Inventors: Holmes, Jon A., Harvey, Ronald B., Benson, Keith A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRAHM, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US07/842,569
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 358/296, 358/302, 358/448, 358/452, 358/462, 358/75, 358/76, 358/80, 355/20, 355/32, 355/38, 355/40, 355/44, 355/54, 355/77, 355/202, 354/75, 354/76, 354/77, 354/106, 354/109, 354/290, 354/354, 354/412, 395/115, 395/116, 395/145-147, 395/153, 395/155
• US Class Current: 358/296
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19594 using a television camera or a still video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3871 the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/407 Control or modification of tonal gradation or of extreme levels, e.g. background level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/58 Edge or detail enhancement; Noise or error suppression, e.g. colour misregistration correction H04N1/62 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0077 Types of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0404 Scanning transparent media, e.g. photographic film

Abstract

A portraiture printer system receives portrait film which carries portrait images provided by a portraiture camera. A frame grabber receives portrait images carried on the film and converts them into digitized images. An edit station processes the digitized images. The edit station manipulates the sequence of the images and their composition. A printer receives the digitized images and prints the digitized images on an image recording medium.

Claims

1. A system for printing developed portrait film previously exposed by a portrait camera, said film having digitally encoded information adjacent each frame, comprising:

a light source for projecting light through the developed portrait film;

an image input device adjacent the film positioned to receive light from the light source which has passed through the developed portrait film for providing an image output representative of an image on the developed portrait film;

an image convertor circuit including an input connected to the image input device and a digital output wherein the image output from the image input device is converted into a digital format comprising a digitized image provided on the digital output;

code reader means for reading said digitally encoded information from said film and providing an output;

edit station means coupled to the digital output for receiving digitized images, determining a sequence for the digitized images in accordance with a predetermined order defined by said output of said code reader means and providing an edit station output; and

printer means, coupled to the edit station means, for receiving the edit station output, converting the edit station output into an analog format and transferring the edit station output to an image recording medium whereby images transferred to the image recording medium are in the predetermined order.

2. The system of claim 1 including:

means for receiving an input representative of information related to the image on the portrait film;

means for creating a relational data base for images on the portrait film based upon information received by the means for receiving; and

wherein the edit station means includes means for organizing the relational data base whereby the relational data base is representative of the predetermined order of the digitized images.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the printer means includes:

light transmissive means positioned adjacent the image recording medium for selectively changing light transmissive characteristics based upon the digitized image; and

a light source adjacent the light transmissive means which projects light through light transmissive means and onto the image recording medium.

4. The system of claim 3 including means for mapping color density information based upon sensitivity of the image recording medium.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the edit station means includes input means for receiving an input representative of said predetermined order.

6. A portraiture printer system for printing portrait images produced from film previously exposed by a portraiture camera and developed, the portraiture printer system comprising:

means for receiving digitally encoded information from the film associated with a portrait image of a subject on the film and providing an information output;

an image input device for receiving a portrait image of the subject from the exposed and developed film and providing a portrait output representative of the portrait image;

means for digitally processing the portrait output based upon the information output and providing a processed output; and

a printer operatively positioned relative to an image recording medium and connected to the means for digitally processing, whereby portrait images derived from the processed output are transferred to the image recording medium.

7. The portraiture printer system of claim 6 wherein the means for digitally processing comprises means for selecting a sequence for portrait images based upon the information output provided by the means for receiving information.

8. The portraiture printer system of claim 6 wherein the means for digitally processing comprises:

means for receiving a plurality of images; and

means for grouping a plurality of individual images based upon the information output provided by the means for receiving information whereby a composite image is provided by the processed output.

9. The portraiture printer system of claim 6 wherein the portrait images are carried on an exposed and developed portrait film and the image input device comprises:

means for scanning the exposed and developed portrait film and providing an analog output representative of images carried on the exposed and developed portrait film; and

analog-to-digital converter means for converting the analog output into a digital format.

10. The portraiture printer system of claim 9 wherein the means for scanning has a plurality of spectral sensitivity ranges and the image input device includes a crosstalk elimination filter means for separating spectral content of the portrait film into the plurality of spectral sensitivity ranges.

11. The portraiture printer system of claim 9 wherein the analog-to-digital converter has a dynamic range and the image input device further includes means for matching the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter with a dynamic range of the portrait film.

12. The portraiture printer system of claim 6 wherein the encoded information is associated with the subject during exposure of portrait images by the portraiture camera.

13. The portraiture printer system of claim 6 wherein the means for digitally processing includes means for introducing text into the processed output.

14. The portraiture printer system of claim 6 wherein the means for digitally processing includes means for introducing graphics into the processed output.

15. A portraiture printer system for receiving portrait images of a plurality of subjects previously recorded on film and associated with encoded information relating to each of the portrait images by a portraiture camera, the portraiture printer system comprising:

image input means for receiving portrait images from the film and providing an image output representative of portrait images and signals representative of said encoded information;

an edit station coupled to the image input means including;

means for receiving a plurality of portrait images from the image output;

means for receiving a manual input; and

means responsive to the manual input and said signals for grouping a plurality of portrait images together to form a composite image; and

a printer connected to the edit station for printing the composite image on an image recording medium.

16. The portraiture printer system of claim 15 wherein the edit station includes means for introducing text into the composite image.

17. The portraiture printer system of claim 15 wherein the edit station includes means for introducing graphics into the composite image.

18. The portraiture printer system of claim 15 including:

information input means for receiving subject information related to portrait images received by the image input means; and

wherein the means for grouping comprises means for grouping a plurality of portrait images together based upon the subject information to form the composite image.