System and method of cropping an image

• US 6,973,222 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
• Original Assignee: Shutterfly Incorporated (Shutterfly, LLC)
• Inventors: Haeberli, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Phuoc
• Application Number:
  US10/444,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20030194148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 382/282, 382/283, 345/625, 345/626, 345/628, 715/526
• US Class Current: 382/283
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20132 Image cropping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3871 the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3873 defined only by a limited number of coordinate points or parameters, e.g. corners, centre; for trimming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3875 combined with enlarging or reducing enlarging or reducing per se H04N1/393

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for cropping an image to be included in an image-based product by displaying the image; generating a crop mask based on cropping product attributes, the crop mask having a selected portion corresponding to a selected portion of the image and a cropped portion corresponding to a cropped portion of the image, the crop mask having a user selectable size; and displaying the crop mask over the image to visually indicate the selected portion of the image.

Claims

1. A method of cropping an image to be included in an image-based product, the method comprising:

displaying the image;

generating a crop mask based on cropping product attributes, the crop mask having a selected portion corresponding to a selected portion of the image and a cropped portion corresponding to a cropped portion of the image, the crop mask having a user selectable size; and

displaying the crop mask over the image to visually indicate the selected portion of the image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the crop mask comprises a predetermined aspect ratio.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the aspect ratio equals to one.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the rectangular ratio comprises one of 4 to 6, 5 to 7 and 8 to 10.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the crop mask comprises a user-selectable aspect ratio.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying the crop mask as a border.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising superimposing the crop mask over the image to form a composite image.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the crop mask over the image.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting an image property.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically selecting a product attribute to change.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically selecting a new value for the selected product attribute.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a product attribute to change at random.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising randomly selecting new values for the selected product attribute.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one or more of the product attributes to change based on information relating to one of the user'"'"'s images, past transactions, and account information.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a new preview image.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying the preview image that allows the user to see what changes were made to the product attributes of the image-based product.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising reverse engineering changes made to learn how to achieve the effect shown in the preview image.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving text from a source.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising displaying multiple versions of the image with the text positioned on the image in different locations.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the text is positioned proximally about one of the top edge, the bottom edge, the left edge or the right edge of the image.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a text position location.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising positioning the text on the image in the selected location.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a crop command; and

changing the cropping product attributes based on the crop command.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

generating a new crop mask based on the changed cropping product attributes;

displaying the new crop mask over the image to visually indicate the selected portion of the image.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the image includes:

downloading the image to a client computer; and

displaying the image on the client computer.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the crop mask over the image includes:

downloading the crop mask to the client computer; and

displaying the crop mask on the client computer.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising making the selected portion of the crop mask is transparent so that the selected portion of the image is visible through the crop mask.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the crop mask includes a plurality of pixels, the pixels corresponding to the selected portion of the crop mask being transparent and the pixels corresponding to the cropped portion of the crop mask creating a checkerboard pattern of transparent pixels and opaque pixels.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving the crop command includes receiving the crop command from the client computer, wherein die client computer transmits the crop command when a user actuates a control displayed on the client computer.

30. The method of claim 29, where the control is a button allows the user to change the shape of the selected portion of the image.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the control is a button that allows the user to zoom the selected portion of the image.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the control is a button that allows the user to move the selected portion of the image.