Image retouching program

• US 7,256,911 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Hatta, Atsushi, Takabayashi, Nobuhisa, Hoshino, Masaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRINICH, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US10/229,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20030103234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/2.1, 358 115- 116, 358/531
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1807 relating to the print image preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1872 Image enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00143 Ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/60 Colour correction or control H04N1/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6011 with simulation on a subsidiary picture reproducer H04N1/622 takes precedence; matching two or more picture reproducers H04N1/6052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6013 by simulating several colour corrected versions of the same image simultaneously on the same picture reproducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/622 with simulation on a subsidiary picture reproducer

Abstract

Provided is photo retouching software which is easy for photo studio personnel to use. Upon opening photo image(s), special photo retoucher 11 converts photo image data thereof to working color space image data. At such time(s), if working ICC profile(s) is/are set which is/are different from ICC profile(s) previously embedded in such photo image file(s), color perceptual matching is carried out on the photo image data thereof based on such embedded ICC profile(s) and working ICC profile(s) when such photo image file(s) is/are opened. Furthermore, when such photo image(s) is/are displayed at monitor(s), such image data is converted to monitor color space image data through color matching using working ICC profile(s) and monitor ICC profile(s).

Claims

1. A method for image retouching comprising:

step or steps wherein another image retouching program or other image retouching programs is or are launched in response to a request or requests from a user or users while a retouching operation or operations is or are underway;

step or steps wherein image data which is a subject of the retouching operation or operations is passed to the other image retouching program or programs and the retouching operation or operations is or are temporarily halted; and

step or steps wherein, upon termination of the other image retouching program or programs, image data which is a subject of the retouching operation or operations is received from the other image retouching program or programs and the retouching operation or operations is or are resumed.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

step or steps wherein a working color profiles or profiles indicating a working color space or spaces for the retouching operation or operations is or are automatically set for the image data subject to retouching operation or operations; and

step or steps wherein, at a time or times when the retouching operation or operations is or are completed, a retouched image or images subject to retouching operation or operations is or are output in linked fashion with the working color profiles or profiles.

3. A method for image retouching comprising:

step or steps of selecting one of storage methods (1) and (2) for storing an image or images subject to retouching,

(1) being a method wherein an image or images resulting from application to a pre-retouching original image or images of retouching processing executed at or before a time or times of a storage request or requests is or are stored, and

(2) being a method wherein data associated with retouching processing executed at or before a time or times of a storage request or requests is stored together with the pre-retouching original image or images, without any change having been made to the original image or images, and

step or steps of storing the image or images by the selected storage method.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising:

step or steps wherein a desired retouching operation or operations is or are performed on the image or images subject to retouching;

step or steps wherein a working color profiles or profiles indicating a working color space or spaces for the retouching operation or operations is or are automatically set for the image or images subject to retouching; and

step or steps wherein, at a time or times when the retouching operation or operations is or are completed, a retouched image or images subject to the retouching is or are output in linked fashion with the working color profiles or profiles.

5. A computer program for image retouching, stored in a computer-readable medium or media, the computer program being capable of causing a computer or computers to carry out:

step or steps of displaying an image or images subject to retouching processing; and

step or steps wherein a cursor or cursors, which has or have the same size, shape, and angle as a region or regions on which an enhancement or enhancements of a brush or brushes for retouching processing is or are applied, is or are displayed on the image or images subject to retouching processing.

6. A computer program according to claim 5 further capable of causing the computer or computers to carry out:

step or steps wherein a working color profiles or profiles indicating a working color space or spaces for the retouching processing is or are automatically set for the image or images subject to the retouching processing; and

step or steps wherein, at a time or times when the retouching processing is or are completed, a retouched image or images subject to the retouching processing is or are output in linked fashion with the working color profiles or profiles.

7. A computer program for image retouching, stored in a computer-readable medium or media, the image retouching program being capable of causing a computer or computers to carry out:

step or steps wherein another image retouching program or other image retouching programs is or are launched in response to a request or requests from a user or users while a retouching operation or operations is or are underway;

step or steps wherein image data which is a subject of the retouching operation or operations is passed to the other image retouching program or programs and the retouching operation or operations is or are temporarily halted; and

step or steps wherein, upon termination of the other image retouching program or programs, image data which is a subject of the retouching operation or operations is received from the other image retouching program or programs and the retouching operation or operations is or are resumed.

8. A computer program according to claim 7 further capable of causing the computer or computers to carry out:

step or steps wherein a working color profiles or profiles indicating a working color space or spaces for the retouching operation or operations is or are automatically set for the image data subject to the retouching operation or operations; and

step or steps wherein, at a time or times when the retouching operation or operations is or are completed, a retouched image or images related to the retouching operation or operations is or are output in linked fashion with the working color profiles or profiles.

9. A computer program for image retouching, stored in a computer-readable medium or media, an image retouching program capable of causing a computer or computers to carry out:

step or steps of selecting one of storage methods (1) and (2) for storing an image or images subject to retouching,

(1) being a method wherein an image or images resulting from application to a pre-retouching original image or images of retouching processing executed at or before a time or times of a storage request or requests is or are stored, and

(2) being a method wherein data associated with retouching processing executed at or before a time or times of a storage request or requests is stored together with the pre-retouching original image or images, without any change having been made to the original image or images, and

step or steps of storing the image or images by the selected storage method.

10. A computer program according to claim 9 further capable of causing a computer or computers to carry out:

step or steps wherein a working color profiles or profiles indicating a working color space or spaces for the retouching is or are automatically set for an image or images subject to the retouching; and

step or steps wherein, at a time or times when the retouching is or are completed, a retouched image or images subject to the retouching is or are output in linked fashion with the working color profiles or profiles.

11. An apparatus for image retouching comprising:

a component or components of displaying an image or images subject to retouching processing; and

a component or components wherein a cursor or cursors, which has or have the same size, shape, and angle as a region or regions On Which an enhancement or enhancements of a brush or brushes for retouching processing is or are applied, is or are displayed on the image or images subject to retouching processing.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising:

a component or components wherein a working color profiles or profiles indicating a working color space or spaces for the retouching processing is or are automatically set for the image or images subject to the retouching processing; and

a component or components wherein, at a time or times when the retouching processing is or are completed, a retouched image or images subject to the retouching processing is or are output in linked fashion with the working color profiles or profiles.

13. An apparatus for image retouching comprising:

a component or components wherein another image retouching program or other image retouching programs is or are launched in response to a request or requests from a user or users while a retouching operation or operations is or are underway;

a component or components wherein image data which is a subject of the retouching operation or operations is passed to the other image retouching program or programs and the retouching operation or operations is or are temporarily halted; and

a component or components wherein, upon termination of the other image retouching program or programs, image data which is a subject of the retouching operation or operations is received from the other image retouching program or programs and the retouching operation or operations is or are resumed.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising;

a component or components wherein a working color profiles or profiles indicating a working color space or spaces for the retouching operation or operations is or are automatically set for the image data subject to the retouching operation or operations; and

a component or components wherein, at a time or times when the retouching operation or operations is or are completed, a retouched image or images subject to the retouching operation or operations is or are output in linked fashion with the working color profiles or profiles.

15. An apparatus for image retouching comprising:

a component or components that selects or select one of storage methods (1) and (2) for storing an image or images subject to retouching,

(1) being a method wherein an image or images resulting from application to a pre-retouching original image or images of retouching processing executed at or before a time or times of a storage request or requests is or are stored, and

(2) being a method wherein data associated with retouching processing executed at or before a time or times of a storage request or requests is stored together with the pre-retouching original image or images, without any change having been made to the original image or images, and

a memory or memories for storing the image or images by the selected storage method.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising;

a component or components wherein a working color profiles or profiles indicating a working color space or spaces for the retouching is or are automatically set for the image or images subject to retouching; and

a component or components wherein, at a time or times when the retouching is or are completed, a retouched image or images subject to retouching is or are output in linked fashion with the working color profiles or profiles.

17. A method for image retouching comprising:

step or steps of displaying an image or images subject to retouching processing; and

step or steps wherein a cursor or cursors, which has or have the same size, shape, and angle as a region or regions on which an enhancement or enhancements of a brush or brushes for retouching processing is or are applied, is or are displayed on the image or images subject to retouching processing;

step or steps wherein a desired retouching operation or operations is or are performed on the image or images subject to the retouching processing;

step or steps wherein a working color profiles or profiles indicating a working color space or spaces for the retouching operation or operations is or are automatically set for the image or images subject to the retouching processing; and

step or steps wherein, at a time or times when the retouching processing is or are completed, a retouched image or images subject to the retouching processing is or are output in linked fashion with the working color profiles or profiles.