Method and apparatus for subject image tracking in high definition film-to-video color correction
First Claim
1. A method for tracking a subject image recorded on a first medium and being electronically transferred to a second medium, said method comprising the steps of:
- generating a plurality of monochromatic channels from said subject image recorded on said first medium wherein each of said monochromatic channels represents a complementary color such that said plurality of monochromatic channels comprise a polychromatic image of said subject image;
selecting a white level for said second medium by specifying a first input amplitude for each monochromatic channel such that said first input amplitude corresponds to a first tone on said second medium;
selecting a black level for said second medium by specifying a second input amplitude for each monochromatic channel such that said second input amplitude corresponds to a second tone on said second medium;
converting said subject image for each monochromatic channel into a logarithmic domain;
providing a Hurter-Driffield (HD) characteristic curve for each logarithmic converted monochromatic channel, said HD characteristic curve depicting density of said subject image on said first medium on a vertical axis and relative logarithmic exposure of said subject image recorded on said first medium on a horizontal axis;
specifying a dynamic range for said subject image for each monochromatic channel on said relative logarithmic exposure axis;
mapping said white and black levels onto said dynamic range specified on said relative logarithmic exposure axis;
correcting said subject image in each monochromatic channel in accordance with said HD characteristic curves based on said dynamic range specified, said white and black levels being tracked through correction with said HD characteristic curve;
exponentiating said subject image for each corrected monochromatic channel out of said logarithmic domain while tracking said white and black levels; and
placing said subject image for each monochromatic channel into an output range compatible with said second medium in accordance with said white and black levels.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A subject image being electronically transferred from a first medium to a second medium is accomplished through tone scale tracking. Three monochromatic channels representing the subject image are generated from the first medium. In a preferred embodiment, an image processing system provides color correction for each channel by compensating for film and video characteristics that cause a degradation of color from the original subject image. Calibration of the system is provided by means for an operator to specify tone densities for the second medium that correlate to signal levels derived from the first medium for each channel. The image processing system tracks the tone densities calibrated to provide enhanced film masking. The image processing system also performs characteristic curve processing in accordance with a Hurter-Driffield (HD) curve. A characteristic curve interface is provided allowing an operator to place the subject image on the characteristic curve so that the image processing system tracks the location of the subject image on the curve.
26 Citations
39 Claims
-
1. A method for tracking a subject image recorded on a first medium and being electronically transferred to a second medium, said method comprising the steps of:
-
generating a plurality of monochromatic channels from said subject image recorded on said first medium wherein each of said monochromatic channels represents a complementary color such that said plurality of monochromatic channels comprise a polychromatic image of said subject image; selecting a white level for said second medium by specifying a first input amplitude for each monochromatic channel such that said first input amplitude corresponds to a first tone on said second medium; selecting a black level for said second medium by specifying a second input amplitude for each monochromatic channel such that said second input amplitude corresponds to a second tone on said second medium; converting said subject image for each monochromatic channel into a logarithmic domain; providing a Hurter-Driffield (HD) characteristic curve for each logarithmic converted monochromatic channel, said HD characteristic curve depicting density of said subject image on said first medium on a vertical axis and relative logarithmic exposure of said subject image recorded on said first medium on a horizontal axis; specifying a dynamic range for said subject image for each monochromatic channel on said relative logarithmic exposure axis; mapping said white and black levels onto said dynamic range specified on said relative logarithmic exposure axis; correcting said subject image in each monochromatic channel in accordance with said HD characteristic curves based on said dynamic range specified, said white and black levels being tracked through correction with said HD characteristic curve; exponentiating said subject image for each corrected monochromatic channel out of said logarithmic domain while tracking said white and black levels; and placing said subject image for each monochromatic channel into an output range compatible with said second medium in accordance with said white and black levels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for tracking a subject image recorded on film and being electronically transferred to high definition video, said method comprising the steps of:
-
generating a plurality of monochromatic channels from said subject image recorded on said film wherein each of said monochromatic channels represents a complementary color such that said plurality of monochromatic channels comprise a polychromatic image of said subject image; selecting a white level for said high definition video by specifying a first input amplitude for each monochromatic channel such that said first input amplitude corresponds to a first tone on said high definition video; selecting a black level for said high definition video by specifying a second input amplitude for each monochromatic channel such that said second input amplitude corresponds to a second tone on said high definition video; converting said subject image for each monochromatic channel into a logarithmic domain; providing a Hurter-Driffield (HD) characteristic curve for each logarithmic converted monochromatic channel, said HD characteristic curve depicting density of said subject image on said film on a vertical axis and relative logarithmic exposure of said subject image recorded on said film on a horizontal axis; specifying a dynamic range for said subject image for each monochromatic channel on said relative logarithmic exposure axis; mapping said white and black levels onto said dynamic range specified on said relative logarithmic exposure axis; defining a subject black level on said relative logarithmic exposure axis of said characteristic curve corresponding to a base exposure level that said subject image was recorded on said film; defining a subject contrast on said relative logarithm exposure axis of said characteristic curve, said subject contrast defining said dynamic range corresponding to a subject contrast of said subject image as recorded on said film; correcting said subject image in each monochromatic channel in accordance with said HD characteristic curve based on said dynamic range specified, said white and black levels being tracked through correction with said HD characteristic curve; exponentiating said subject image for each corrected monochromatic channel out of said logarithmic domain while tracking said white and black levels; balancing a gray scale of said subject image for each monochromatic channel such that said gray scale is relatively linear and uniform in a central tone region corresponding to a linear portion of said HD characteristic curve; selecting a green monochromatic channel as a reference channel from said plurality of monochromatic channels; specifying an output white level for said green channel equaling said white level for said green channel at said first input amplitude selected; specifying an output black level for said green channel equaling said black level for said green channel at said second input amplitude selected; and adjusting output white and black levels for each remaining monochromatic channels such that said remaining monochromatic channels float relative to said green monochromatic channel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An apparatus for tracking a subject image recorded on a first medium and being electronically transferred to a second medium, said apparatus comprising:
-
film scanner means for generating a plurality of monochromatic channels from said subject image recorded on said first medium wherein each of said monochromatic channels represents a complementary color such that said plurality of monochromatic channels comprise a polychromatic image of said subject image; calibration means coupled to said film scanner means for calibrating said subject image of each monochromatic channel, said calibration means accepting each monochromatic channel, said calibration means comprising; white level means for selecting a white level for said second medium by specifying a first input amplitude for each monochromatic channel such that said first input amplitude corresponds to a first tone on said second medium, and black level means for selecting a black level for said second medium by specifying a second input amplitude for each monochromatic channel such that said second input amplitude corresponds to a second tone on said second medium, logarithmic conversion means for converting said subject image for each calibrated monochromatic channel into a logarithmic domain; Hurter-Driffield (HD) characteristic curve means for generating a (HD) characteristic curve for each logarithmic converted monochromatic channel, said HD characteristic curve depicting density of said subject image on said first medium on a vertical axis and relative logarithmic exposure of said subject image recorded on said first medium on a horizontal axis; dynamic range means for specifying a dynamic range on said relative logarithmic exposure axis identifying said subject image for each monochromatic channel; mapping means for mapping said white and black levels onto said dynamic range specified on said relative logarithmic exposure axis; film correction means for correcting said subject image in each monochromatic channel in accordance with said HD characteristic curve based on said dynamic range specified, said white and black levels being tracked through correction with said HD characteristic curve; exponentiating conversion means for converting said subject image for each film corrected monochromatic channel out of said logarithmic domain while tracking said white and black levels; and output range means for placing said subject image for each monochromatic channel into an output range compatible with said second medium in accordance with said white and black levels. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
Specification