Method for generating soft-edge mattes for visual elements of images
First Claim
1. In an image comprising a plurality of regions, including a first region including a visual element, a second region adjacent to the first region, and a third region adjacent to the second region, the second region disposed between the first and third regions, selected portions of the regions having a continuous luminance transition therebetween, a method for generating a soft-edge matte in the second region for the visual element in the first region, comprising the steps of:
- (a) specifying an inner outline to define an inner region of the image having a plurality of pixels, the inner region corresponding to the first region;
(b) specifying a soft-edge outline to define a soft-edge region of the image having a plurality of pixels, the soft-edge region including an area of the image between the inner outline and the soft-edge outline, the soft-edge region corresponding to the second region;
(c) establishing representative values for the pixels of the inner region; and
(d) establishing representative values for the pixels of the soft-edge region.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus are disclosed for generating mattes of film, video, or other visual image elements, in which the operator may specify soft-edge regions for the extended visible fall-off of certain difficult areas such as hair, clouds, shadows, and blurred objects. The elements may be either still or in motion, and automatic interpolation of keyframe regions may be used to simplify the generation of in-between frames to create traveling soft-edge mattes.
49 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. In an image comprising a plurality of regions, including a first region including a visual element, a second region adjacent to the first region, and a third region adjacent to the second region, the second region disposed between the first and third regions, selected portions of the regions having a continuous luminance transition therebetween, a method for generating a soft-edge matte in the second region for the visual element in the first region, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) specifying an inner outline to define an inner region of the image having a plurality of pixels, the inner region corresponding to the first region; (b) specifying a soft-edge outline to define a soft-edge region of the image having a plurality of pixels, the soft-edge region including an area of the image between the inner outline and the soft-edge outline, the soft-edge region corresponding to the second region; (c) establishing representative values for the pixels of the inner region; and (d) establishing representative values for the pixels of the soft-edge region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for generating a soft-edge matte for a visual element of a moving image, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) defining at least two keyframes separated by a plurality of in-between frames; (b) for each keyframe; (b.1) specifying a keyframe inner outline to define a keyframe inner region having a plurality of pixels; (b.2) specifying a keyframe soft-edge outline to define a keyframe soft-edge region having a plurality of pixels, the keyframe soft-edge region including an area between the keyframe inner outline and the keyframe soft-edge outline; (b.3) establishing representative values for the pixels of the keyframe inner region; and (b.4) establishing representative values for the pixels of the keyframe soft-edge region; (c) for each in-between frame; (c.1) interpolating an inner outline for the in-between frame from the keyframe inner outlines to define an inner region for the in-between frame, the inner region for the in-between frame having a plurality of pixels; (c.2) interpolating a soft-edge outline for the in-between frame from the keyframe soft-edge outlines to define a soft-edge region for the in-between frame, the soft-edge region for the in-between frame having a plurality of pixels and including an area between the inner outline for the in-between frame and the soft-edge outline for the in-between frame; (c.3) establishing representative values for the pixels of the inner region for the in-between frame; and (c.4) establishing representative values for the pixels of the soft-edge region for the in-between frame. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. In an image comprising a plurality of regions, including a first region including a visual element, a second region adjacent to the first region, and a third region adjacent to the second region, the second region disposed between the first and third regions, selected portions of the regions having a continuous luminance transition therebetween, a method for generating a soft-edge boundary between the second and third regions for an image-processing operation, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) specifying an inner outline to define an inner region having a plurality of pixels, the inner region corresponding to the first region; (b) specifying a soft-edge outline to define a soft-edge region having a plurality of pixels, the soft-edge region including an area between the inner outline and the soft-edge outline, the soft-edge region corresponding to the second region; (c) establishing representative values for the pixels of the inner region using the image processing operation; and (d) establishing representative values for the pixels of the soft-edge region using the image processing operation.
-
-
19. In an image comprising a plurality of regions, including a first region including a visual element, a second region adjacent to the first region, and a third region adjacent to the second region, the second region disposed between the first and third regions, selected portions of the regions having a continuous luminance transition therebetween, an apparatus for generating a soft-edge matte for the visual element in the first region, comprising:
-
an input device, for accepting input specifying an inner outline to define an inner region of the image having a plurality of pixels, the inner region corresponding to the first region, and for accepting input specifying a soft-edge outline to define a soft-edge region of the image having a plurality of pixels, the soft-edge region including an area of the image between the inner outline and the soft-edge outline, and corresponding to the second region; means coupled to the input device for establishing representative values for the pixels of the inner region; means coupled to the input device for establishing representative values for the pixels of the soft-edge region; and a display device coupled to the input device for displaying the inner outline, the soft-edge outline, and the soft-edge region. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
-
21. An apparatus for generating a soft-edge matte for a visual element of a moving image, comprising:
-
keyframe definition means for defining at least two keyframes separated by a plurality of in-between frames; an input device, coupled to the keyframe-definition means, for specifying for each keyframe a keyframe inner outline to define a keyframe inner region having a plurality of pixels, and for specifying a keyframe soft-edge outline to define a keyframe soft-edge region having a plurality of pixels, the keyframe soft-edge region including an area between the keyframe inner outline and the keyframe soft-edge outline; means coupled to the input device for establishing representative values for the pixels of the inner region for each keyframe; means coupled to the input device for establishing representative values for the pixels of the soft-edge region for each keyframe; inner outline interpolating means, coupled to the input device, for interpolating for each in-between frame an inner outline for the in-between frame from the keyframe inner outlines to define an inner region for the in-between frame, the inner region for the in-between frame having a plurality of pixels; soft-edge outline interpolating means, coupled to the input device, for interpolating for each in-between frame a soft-edge outline for the in-between frame from the keyframe soft-edge outlines to define a soft-edge region for the in-between frame, the soft-edge region for the in-between frame having a plurality of pixels and including an area between the inner outline for the in-between frame and the soft-edge outline for the in-between frame; means coupled to the input device for establishing representative values for the pixels of the inner region for each in-between frame; and means coupled to the input device, for establishing representative values for the pixels of the soft-edge region for each in-between frame. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
Specification