Apparatus and method for portrait photography

• US 6,047,130 A
• Filed: 02/20/1997
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pixel Magic Imaging, Incorporated (Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Environmental Protection Department (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Oles, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAHONEY, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US08/802,504
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 348/64, 348/61, 348/722, 348/561, 348/581, 348/240, 354/290, 354/76, 395/133, 395/135, 396/3, 396/1, 396/429
• US Class Current: 396/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and method that includes a photographic camera synchronized to a video camera with a computer and viewing monitors in a unique combination that allows professional photography customers to visually determine the appropriate size of a portrait photograph and matching picture frame by displaying upon a viewer a perspective view of a video image of the photographic image and the matching picture frame within a simulated room image.

Claims

1. An apparatus for portrait photography for aiding in determining the appropriate size perspective of a portrait photograph that combines a video image of a photographic image with a simulated room setting image to form a simulated perspective room image, comprising:

a photographic camera for acquiring a photographic image;

a video charge coupled device for acquiring a video image;

a computer connected to said photographic camera to control photographic functions and connected to said video charge coupled device to control video functions, said computer synchronizes the acquisition of said photographic image from said photographic camera to the acquisition of said video image from said video charge coupled device, said computer receives and stores said acquired video image from said video charge coupled device;

a video portrait viewer for displaying one or more said video images stored on said computer;

a simulated room setting image; and

a simulated perspective room image that combines one or more images of said video image with said simulated room setting image, said computer transposes the size perspective of said video image wherein said video image appears as a selected size perspective within said simulated room setting image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a picture frame image from a plurality of picture frame images; and

a combined image from combining said picture frame image with said video image, said picture frame image becomes the border for said video image.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for changing the location for said video image within said simulated perspective room image.

4. A system for portrait photography for aiding in determining the appropriate size perspective of a portrait photograph that combines a video image of a photographic image with a simulated room setting image to form a simulated perspective room image, comprising:

photographic means for acquiring a photographic image;

video means for acquiring a video image;

computer means for controlling photographic functions of said photographic means and controlling video functions of said video means, said computer means synchronizes the acquisition of said photographic image from said photographic means to the acquisition of said video image from said video means, said computer means receives and stores said video image from said video means;

video portrait viewing means for displaying one or more said video images stored on said computer means;

a simulated room setting image; and

means for combining one or more said video images with said simulated room setting image to form a simulated perspective room image, said computer transposes the size perspective of said video image wherein said video image appears as a selected size perspective within said simulated room setting image.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

means for displaying a picture frame image from a plurality of picture frame images; and

means for combining said picture frame image with said video image, said picture frame image becomes the border for said video image.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

means for changing the location of said video image within said simulated perspective room image.

7. A method for portrait photography for aiding in determining the appropriate size perspective of a portrait photograph that combines a video image of a photographic image with a simulated room setting image to form a simulated perspective room image, comprising the steps of:

acquiring a photographic image;

acquiring and storing a video image;

synchronizing the acquisition of said photographic image to the acquisition of said video image;

displaying one or more said video images;

combining one or more said video images with a simulated room setting image to form a simulated perspective room image; and

transposing the size perspective of said video image wherein said video image appears as a selected size perspective within said simulated room setting image.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

selecting a picture frame image from a plurality of picture frame images; and

combining said picture frame image with said video image forming a combined image, said picture frame image borders said video image.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

positioning the location of said video image within said simulated perspective room image.

10. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for a method of portrait photography for aiding in determining the appropriate size perspective of a portrait photograph that combines a video image of a photographic image with a simulated room setting image to form a simulated perspective room image, comprising the steps of:

acquiring a photographic image;

acquiring and storing a video image;

synchronizing the acquisition of said photographic image to the acquisition of said video image;

displaying one or more said video images;

combining one or more said video images with a simulated room setting image to form a simulated perspective room image; and

transposing the size perspective of said video image wherein said video image appears as a selected size perspective within said simulated room setting image.

11. The program storage device of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

selecting a picture frame image from a plurality of picture frame images; and

combining said picture frame image with said video image forming a combined image, said picture frame image borders said video image.

12. The program storage device of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

positioning the location of said video image within said simulated perspective room image.