System and method for magnifying and editing images

• US 6,633,305 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Corel Corporation (Corel Holdings LP)
• Inventors: Sarfeld, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US09/596,267
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 345/660, 345/667, 345/671, 345/800, 382/133
• US Class Current: 345/671
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/047 Fisheye or wide-angle transformations

Abstract

An image editing system uses a loupe cursor to magnify a selected area of a basic image displayed on a display device. The system generates basic image data representing the selected area of the basic image, and generates magnified image data by magnifying the selected basic image data. It displays within the loupe cursor a loupe image based on the magnified image data. When a user editing signal is received for editing the loupe image, the system generates modified image data, and dynamically modifies the loupe image displayed within the loupe cursor based on the modified image data.

Claims

1. A loupe cursor controller for assisting a user to edit a basic image displayed on a display device;

the loupe cursor controller comprising;

a user input interface for receiving a user select signal and a user editing signal;

a selector for generating selected basic image data representing an area of the basic image defined by the user select signal;

a magnifier for generating magnified image data by magnifying the selected basic image data;

a modifier for generating modified image data by modifying the magnified image data in response to the user editing signal;

a loupe image data generator for generating loupe image data based on the magnified image data and the modified image data, and

a display interface for sending the loupe image data to the display device to display over the area of the basic image a loupe image based on the loupe image data.

2. The loupe cursor controller as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a storage interface coupled to an image data storage for storing and retrieving the selected basic image data.

3. The loupe cursor controller as claimed in claim 2 further comprising an image data updating function for updating the selected basic image data stored in the image data storage based on the modified image data.

4. The loupe cursor controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user input interface receives a user setting signal, and the loupe cursor controller further comprises a setting function for setting a magnifying factor based on the user setting signal.

5. The loupe cursor controller as claimed in claim 4, wherein the magnifier generates magnified image data by multiplying the selected basic image data by the magnifying factor.

6. An image editing system for assisting a user to edit a basic image;

the image editing system comprising;

a user input device for receiving inputs by a user;

a user input device controller for generating a user select signal and a user editing signal in response to the inputs by the user;

a display device for displaying the basic image;

a display controller for controlling the display device;

a loupe cursor controller having;

a user input interface for receiving the user select signal and the user editing signal from the user input device controller;

a selector for generating selected basic image data representing an area of the basic image defined by the user select signal;

a magnifier for generating magnified image data by magnifying the selected basic image data;

a modifier for generating modified image data by modifying the magnified image data in response to the user editing signal;

a loupe image data generator for generating loupe image data based on the magnified image data and the modified image data, and

a display interface for sending the loupe image data to the display controller to display over the area of the basic image a loupe image based on the loupe image data over the basic image.

7. The image editing system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising an image data storage for storing the selected basic image data.

8. The loupe cursor controller as claimed in claim 7, wherein the loupe cursor controller further comprises an image data updating function for updating the selected basic image data stored in the image data storage based on the modified image data.

9. A user interface for assisting a user to edit a basic image displayed on a display device, the user interface comprising:

a loupe cursor provided on the basic image, the loupe cursor having a predetermined area on the display, and dynamically displaying over the selected area of the basic image within the predetermined area a loupe image of a selected area of the basic image; and

an editing tool for editing the loupe image displayed within the loupe cursor.

10. The user interface as claimed in claim 9 wherein the loupe cursor is movable on the basic image.

11. The user interface as claimed in claim 10, wherein the loupe cursor displays the loupe image of an area of the basic image underlying the loupe cursor.

12. The user interface as claimed in claim 10, wherein the loupe cursor is fixed at a location on the basic image.

13. The user interface as claimed in claim 9, wherein the loupe cursor has a target indicator for indicating a target pixel on the basic image upon which the loupe cursor is applied.

14. The user interface as claimed in claim 13, wherein

the loupe cursor is fixed at a location on the basic image;

the target indicator is movable on the basic image; and

the loupe cursor displays a loupe image of an area of the basic image defined by the target indicator.

15. The user interface as claimed in claim 9, wherein the editing tool includes a pointer cursor movable on the basic image and within the area of the loupe lense cursor.

16. The user interface as claimed in claim 9, wherein the user interface presents options of magnifying factors of the loupe cursor.

17. A method for editing a basic image displayed on a display device, the method comprising:

generating basic image data representing a selected area of the basic image using a loupe cursor having a predetermined area on the display device;

generating magnified image data by magnifying the selected basic image data;

displaying within the loupe cursor a loupe image based on the magnified image data;

receiving a user editing signal for editing the loupe image;

generating modified image data when the user editing signal is received; and

dynamically modifying the loupe image displayed within the loupe cursor based on the modified image data wherein said loupe image is displayed over the selected area of the basic image.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising storing the selected basic image data in an image data storage.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising updating the selected basic image data stored in the image data storage based on the modified image data.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising:

detecting turning off of the loupe cursor on the basic image;

reducing the updated image data stored in the image data storage to magnification of the basic image; and

displaying the reduced image data on the selected area of the basic image.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising:

detecting movement of the loupe cursor on the basic image;

reducing the updated image data stored in the image data storage to magnification of the basic image;

displaying the reduced image data on the selected area of the basic image;

generating basic image data representing a selected area of the basic image at a new location of the loupe cursor.

22. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising receiving a user setting signal, and setting a magnifying factor of the magnified image based on the user setting signal.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the magnifying of the selected basic image data is carried out by multiplying the selected basic image data by the magnifying factor.

24. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the basic image data is generated from an area of the basic image underlying the loupe cursor.

25. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising:

fixing the loupe cursor at a location on the basic image;

moving a target indicator for indicating a target pixel on the basic image upon which the loupe cursor is applied; and

generating the selected basic image data from an area of the basic image as defined by the target indicator.

26. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the magnified image data is modified using an editing tool includes a pointer cursor movable on the basic image and within the area of the loupe lense cursor.

27. A medium for carrying computer executable code for assisting a user to edit a basic image displayed on a display device, the computer executable code comprising instructions of:

generating basic image data representing a selected area of the basic image using a loupe cursor having a predetermined area on the display device;

generating magnified image data by magnifying the selected basic image data;

displaying within the loupe cursor a loupe image based on the magnified image data;

generating modified image data when a user editing signal is received; and

modifying the loupe image displayed within the loupe cursor based on the modified image data wherein the loupe image is positioned over the selected area of the basic image.

28. The medium as claimed in claim 27, wherein the computer executable code further comprising instructions of storing the selected basic image data in an image data storage.

29. The medium as claimed in claim 28, wherein the computer executable code further comprising instructions of updating the selected basic image data stored in the image data storage based on the modified image data.

30. The medium as claimed in claim 29, wherein the computer executable code further comprising instructions of:

detecting turning off of the loupe cursor on the basic image;

reducing the updated image data stored in the image data storage to magnification of the basic image; and

displaying the reduced image data on the selected area of the basic image.

31. The medium as claimed in claim 29, wherein the computer executable code further comprising instructions of:

detecting movement of the loupe cursor on the basic image;

reducing the updated image data stored in the image data storage to magnification of the basic image;

displaying the reduced image data on the selected area of the basic image;

generating basic image data representing a selected area of the basic image at a new location of the loupe cursor.