Method for processing an extended color gamut digital image using an image information parameter

• US 6,754,384 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Spaulding, Kevin E., Woolfe, Geoffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hung, Yubin
• Application Number:
  US09/651,510
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 382/162-169, 382/240, 382/275, 382/284, 382/117, 345/581, 345/589-591, 347/129, 399/39, 358/1.9, 358/2.1, 358/3.01, 358/3.24, 358/3.26, 358/3.27, 358/504, 358/515-523, 348/222.1, 348/223.1, 348/225.1, 386/31, 386/32, 386/37, 386/38
• US Class Current: 382/167
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6058 Reduction of colour to a range of reproducible colours, e.g. to ink- reproducible colour gamut

Abstract

A method for determining information parameter(s) useful in processing a digital image having color values with an extended color gamut, includes the steps of: adjusting the color values of the extended color gamut digital image to fit within a limited color gamut to form a limited color gamut digital image; determining a residual image representing a difference between the extended color gamut digital image and the limited color gamut digital image; and analyzing the residual image to determine one or more image information parameter(s) related to the information contained in the residual image such parameter(s) being useful in processing the digital image.

Claims

1. A method for determining information parameter(s) useful in processing a digital image having color values with an extended color gamut, comprising the steps of:

a) adjusting the color values of the extended color gamut digital image to fit within a limited color gamut to form a limited color gamut digital image;

b) determining a residual image representing a difference between the extended color gamut digital image and the limited color gamut digital image such that the limited color gamut digital image and the residual image are adapted to be used to form a reconstructed extended color gamut digital image; and

c) analyzing the residual image to determine one or more image information parameter(s) related to the information contained in the residual image such parameter(s) being adapted to be used in processing the reconstructed extended color gamut digital image.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:

d) using the image information parameter(s) in the process of applying one or more image processing operations to the reconstructed extended color gamut digital image or a derived digital image formed from the reconstructed extended color gamut digital image to form a modified digital image.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the image information parameter(s) includes the step of computing statistical metrics from the residual image.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the image information parameter(s) includes comparing pixel values for the residual image to a threshold value to determine the number of pixels exceeding the threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the image information parameter(s) includes computing the statistical information content of the residual image.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the image information parameter(s) includes determining a measure of the amount, extent or distribution of extended dynamic range information included in the residual image.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one image information parameter(s) relates to the amount, extent or distribution of extended color gamut information included in the residual image.

8. The method of claim 2 where step d) includes using the image information parameter(s) to identify a suggested image processing operation.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of interactively presenting the suggested image processing operation to a user.

10. The method of claim 2 where step d) includes using the image information parameter(s) to automatically determine whether an image processing operation is applied to the digital image.

11. The method of claim 2 where step d) includes using the image information parameter(s) to adjust one or more control parameters of an image processing operation.

12. The method of claim 2 where the image information parameter(s) are used in the process of applying an adaptive tonescale operation.

13. The method of claim 2 where the image information parameter(s) are used in the process of applying a color enhancement operation.

14. The method of claim 2 further including the step of printing the modified digital image.

15. The method of claim 2 where the modified digital image is stored on a network server for subsequent access.

16. The method of claim 1 where the limited color gamut digital image is included in a digital image file which is stored using a digital storage medium.

17. The method of claim 16 where the residual image is included as additional data in the digital image file.

18. The method of claim 16 where the image information parameter is included as additional data in the digital image file.

19. The method of claim 1 where the extended color gamut digital image originates from scanning a photographic image.

20. The method of claim 19 where the photographic image is a photographic print, a photographic negative or a photographic transparency.

21. The method of claim 1 where the extended color gamut digital image is provided from a digital camera.

22. The method of claim 1 where the extended color gamut digital image is a computer-generated image.

23. The method of claim 1 further including the step of obtaining payment from a user.

24. The method of claim 23 further including the step of obtaining a payment identifier from the user.

25. The method of claim 24 where the payment identifier includes information about an account from which payment is to be electronically transferred.

26. The method of claim 24 where the payment identifier includes a credit card account where the payment is to be debited.

27. The method of claim 26 further including the step of providing a reader for reading a credit card from the user.

28. The method of claim 24 where the payment identifier is obtained from the user via the communications network.

29. A computer storage product having at least one computer storage medium having instructions stored therein causing one or more computers to perform the method of claim 1.

30. A method for determining information parameter(s) useful in processing an input digital image comprising the steps of:

a) manipulating an input digital image using at least one image processing operation to form at least one modified digital image in a different image processing state;

b) designating either the input digital image or one of the modified digital image(s) to be a reference digital image in a reference image processing state; and

c) determining at least one residual image representing the difference(s) between the reference digital image and another of either the input digital image or the modified digital image(s) such that the reference digital image and the residual image are adapted to be used to form a reconstructed digital image; and

d) analyzing the residual image to determine one or more image information parameter(s) related to the information contained in the residual image such parameter(s) being adapted to be used in processing the reconstructed digital image.

31. The method of claim 30 further including the step of:

e) using the image information parameter(s) in the process of applying one or more image processing operations to the reconstructed digital image or a derived digital image formed from the reconstructed digital image to form a modified digital image.

32. A computer storage product having at least one computer storage medium having instructions stored therein causing one or more computers to perform the method of claim 30.