Method and apparatus for modifying electronic image data

• US 5,974,189 A
• Filed: 05/24/1993
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc (KPP (no. 2) Trustees Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Nicponski, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, JON CARLTON
• Application Number:
  US08/066,273
• Time in Patent Office: 2,346 Days
• Field of Search: 382/54, 382/1, 382/41, 382/254, 382/309, 395/126, 358/452, 358/453, 358/22, 345/418, 345/426
• US Class Current: 382/254
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

An electronic reproduction apparatus is provided with a modeling routine that includes the steps of identifying a portion of an electronic image to be modified; defining an optical axis, a projection point, a density contour shape and a density gradient profile within the portion of the electronic image to be modified; and calculating modified image data values based on the optical axis, projection point, density contour shape and density gradient profile; applying the modified image data values the portion of the electronic image to be modified. The modified image data is calculated using a cubic spline interpolation. The modeling routine enables the production of smooth and natural contours and gradients required to create common enhancement effects such as shadows, glows, highlights and vignettes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for modifying electronic image data comprising:

scanning means for generating original image data representative of an original image;

display means for receiving the original image data and displaying the original image;

data entry means for identifying a portion of the original image displayed on the display means to be modified for defining an optical axis, a projection point, a density contour shape and a density gradient profile within the identified portion of the original image, and for operator entry of a noise factor;

processing means for calculating modified image data for the identified portion based on the defined optical axis, projection point, density contour shape and density gradient for replacing a portion of the original image data representative of the identified portion of the original image with the modified image data to generate enhanced image data representative of an enhanced image, and for generating noise data based on said noise factor and for correcting the modified image data based on said noise data; and

recording means for receiving the enhanced image data from the processing means and producing a hard copy of the enhanced image.