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Method and apparatus for extracting and treating digital images for seamless compositing

  • US 5,630,037 A
  • Filed: 05/18/1994
  • Issued: 05/13/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for extracting a digitized foreground image for compositing with an arbitrary background image, said method comprising the steps of:

  • acquiring an image comprising a foreground subject and a background,obtaining data representing coloration of said background, said data comprising a plurality of values corresponding to color intensities,generating from said data a statistical range of color intensities for each of a selected group of colors,deriving an indication of average background color from said statistical range of color intensities,differentiating said foreground subject from said background by comparing color intensity values of said foreground subject with said indication of average background color,generating a control image comprised of values representing a distance in color of each color intensity value in said foreground subject from said average background color, andgenerating a second control image by dividing said first control image into a background region, a fringe region of variable width, and a foreground region, and mixing color into foreground pixels at locations corresponding to said fringe region of said second control image from nearby background pixels at locations corresponding to said background region of said second control image,wherein said second control image comprises a plurality of values corresponding to pixels at specific locations, and wherein said step of mixing color into foreground pixels at locations corresponding to said fringe region of said second control image from nearby background pixels at locations corresponding to said background region of said second control image comprises the steps of (a) identifying a pixel in said fringe region bordered by pixels from said background region, (b) changing a color of the corresponding pixel in said foreground image to reflect an average color of a plurality of background pixels in locations corresponding to said background region near said pixel, (c) associating said pixel no longer with said fringe region but instead with said background region, and (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) for a plurality of pixels in said fringe region.

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