System for originating film and video images simultaneously, for use in modification of video originated images toward simulating images originated on film

• US 5,687,011 A
• Filed: 03/20/1995
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mediapod LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Craig P. Mowry
• Inventors: Mowry, Craig P.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, KIM Y
• Application Number:
  US08/407,597
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 348/96-104, 348/577, 348/578, 348/650, 348/651, 358/518, 358/527, 358/525
• US Class Current: 358/527
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/253 Picture signal generating by scanning motion picture films or slide opaques, e.g. for telecine scanning details therefor H04N3/36 ; standard conversion therefor H04N7/0112
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/43 Conversion of monochrome picture signals to colour picture signals for colour picture display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/74 for obtaining special effects H04N9/65 - H04N9/73 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording

Abstract

Digital signals are generated and stored for each pixel of a frame of a video originated material. A computer reads the digital signals and converts them to binary image data by employing a program to reassign color and black component values for each pixel. The component value reassignments performed by the computer are a primary component modification step. The primary component modification step, in one embodiment, comprises component modifications by selected image zones of the video originated images, based on color data within actual filmed images originated simultaneously as the video images. The film origination and video origination are preferably provided by the same camera, with image data delivered for both through the same lens by way of a "beam-splitter" device. The primary component modified digital data is assembled and a secondary modification may also be performed. Film stock emulsion grain patterns are introduced to the images in the second modification step. Digital devices may be employed wherein random or pseudorandom digital noise is added to each image. Alternatively, the modified video image may be videoprojected onto a selected translucent film surface from which the image is videographed, thereby embodying the film grain pattern from the film surface. A digital film recorder may also be used to record the component modified video image within the emulsion of unexposed, photographic film stock.

Claims

1. Apparatus for simulating a video image originated on photographic film, from a video originated image, comprising:

a camera for generating an image for first generation video recording on a video medium, and for simultaneously recording said image onto photographic film as a first generation filmed recording;

a computer for digitally reassigning color component data within said video originated image based on digital data representative of color component data within said image recorded on said photographic film.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a single camera and the image is provided through a single lens for recording on the video medium and the photographic film.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein the camera includes a beam splitter for providing a selected ratio of the image provided through the lens to said film and to a selected video unit for recording on said video medium.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer identifies selected zones within said video originated image, based on selected image characteristics, and replaces color data within said zones based on color data within corresponding zones within said image on photographic film.

5. The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera includes:

a device for utilizing film of a selected gauge size smaller than a standard 35 mm film width in recording said image on film.

6. The apparatus claimed in claim 5, wherein said camera further includes:

a device to record said image on film at a selectively slower frame rate speed than the standard speed of 24 frames per second.

7. The apparatus claimed in claim 3, wherein the camera further includes:

a device whereby said video unit can capture an image of at least broadcast quality resolution from a selectively lesser ratio of the image, divided by said beam splitter, than the ratio of the image provided for proper exposure in recording said image on film.

8. The apparatus claimed in claim 4, wherein said computer replaces color data within said zones of video originated material, as said zones shift within a selected number of sequential video images from the same scene, based on color data within a single image from said image on film of said scene.

9. The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer identifies selected zones within one or a selected sequential number of said video originated images of the same scene, based on selected image characteristics, and replaces color data within said zones based on color data within corresponding zones of a single image on film of said scene.

10. The apparatus claimed in claim 4, further comprising a film grain pattern instiller for imparting a film grain pattern to each of said video originated images, following digital reassignment of said color data.

11. The apparatus claimed in claim 10, wherein the film grain instiller comprises a digital film grain instiller.

12. The apparatus claimed in claim 11, further comprising a noise generator for adding random or pseudo random video noise to the video originated image following digital reassignment of color data.

13. The apparatus claimed in claim 10, wherein the film grain pattern instiller comprises a device for physically videographing images projected onto a film surface having a film grain pattern thereon.

14. The apparatus claimed in claim 10, wherein the film grain pattern instiller comprises a digital film recorder for recording of modified data onto film which is then processed and returned to video by telecine transfer.

15. The apparatus claimed in claim 1, further comprising an interfield interpolator for modifying video images, said interpolator repeating and/or dropping images over selected video fields, to simulate the frame rate appearance filmed images have when presented on video following a telecine transfer.

16. A method for simulating video images originated on photographic film, from video originated images, comprising:

simultaneously recording images onto a video medium as a first generation video recording and onto photographic film as a first generation filmed recording; and

digitally reassigning color component data within said video recording based on digital data representative of color component data within said images recorded on said photographic film.

17. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein said step of simultenously recording comprises using a single camera and providing the images through a single lens for recording on the video medium and the photographic medium.

18. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of simultanenously recording comprises splitting said images with a beam-splitter and providing a selected ratio of the images provided through the lens to said film and to a selected video imaging unit for recording on the video medium.

19. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of digitally reassigning comprises identifying selected zones within said video originated image, based on selected image characteristics, and replacing color data within said zones based on color data within corresponding zones within said images on film.

20. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein said step of simultaneously recording comprises:

utilizing film of selected gauge size smaller than a 35 mm film width in recording said images on film.

21. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein said step of simultaneously recording comprises:

recording said images on film at a slower frame rate speed than the standard speed of 24 frames per second.

22. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein the step of simultaneously recording comprises:

capturing images of at least broadcast quality resolution from a selected ratio of the image provided by said beam splitter while providing an ample ratio of said image provided by said beam splitter for proper exposure in recording said images on film.

23. The method claimed in claim 19, wherein said step of digitally reassigning comprises:

replacing color data within said zones of video originated material, as said zones shift within a selected number of sequential video images from the same scene, based on color data within a single image from said images on film of said scene.

24. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of digitally reassigning comprises:

identifying selected zones within one or a selected sequential number of said video originated images of the same scene, based on selected image characteristics, and replacing color data within said zones based on color data within corresponding zones of a single image on film of said scene.

25. The method claimed in claim 19, further comprising imparting a film grain pattern to each of said video originated images, following digital reassignment of said color data.

26. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of imparting a film grain pattern comprises digitally imparting said pattern.

27. The method claimed in claim 26, further comprising adding random or pseudo random video noise to the video originated image following digital reassignment of color data.

28. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of imparting a film grain pattern comprises physically videographing images projected onto a film surface having a film grain pattern thereon.

29. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of imparting a film grain pattern comprises digitally recording modified data onto photographic film.

30. The method claimed in claim 29, wherein said modified data recorded onto said photographic film is returned to video following chemical processing of said film and a telecine transfer of said film to video.

31. The method claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of interfield interpolating for modifying video images, said step of interpolating comprising repeating and/or dropping images over selected video fields, to simulate the frame rate appearance that filmed images have when presented on video following a telecine transfer.

32. A method for processing information of an image originated on a video medium into data representative of a modified image simulating an image originated on a photographic medium, comprising:

producing digital data representative of the color component response of a selected photographic medium under a selected group of variables affecting the response of the selected photographic medium to subject colors;

storing said digital data in a memory for use in modifying digital data representative of color component values within said image originated on the video medium to simulate each corresponding component response with an image originated on the photographic medium;

correlating data derived from said image originated on said video medium with said digital data representative of the color component response of the photographic medium;

selectively modifying respective information in the image originate on the video medium based on corresponding data of the digital data representative of the color component response of the photographic medium, thereby to simulate in said image originating on the video medium characteristics of the photographic medium; and

further comprising;

performing interfield interpolation on said images on the video medium so as to repeat and/or drop images over selected video medium fields to simulate the frame rate that the images in said photographic medium have when presented on a video medium.

33. Apparatus for processing information in an image on a video image storing medium into data representative of a modified image simulating an image originated on a photographic image storing medium, comprising:

a digitizing device for producing digital data representative of the color component response of a photographic medium under a selected group of variables affecting the response of the photographic medium to subject colors;

a memory for storing said digital data for use in modifying each digital data color component in the image originated from the video medium to simulate each corresponding component of an image originated from the photographic image storing medium;

a correlator for correlating data derived from the image from the video medium with said digital data representative of the color component response of the photographic image storing medium;

a computer for selectively modifying respective information in the image originating on the video medium based on corresponding data of the digital data representative of the color component response of the photographic medium, thereby to simulate in said image originating on the video medium characteristics of said photographic image storing medium; and

further comprising

an interfield interpolator for modifying said video medium images by repeating and/or dropping of images over selected video medium fields, thereby to simulate the frame rate appearance that images filmed at 24 frames-per-second have when presented on a video medium.