Printing method and system for making print from photo picture frame and graphic image written by user

• US 7,265,851 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kinjo, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MADELEINE ANH VINH
• Application Number:
  US10/293,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20030063296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 358/540, 358/450, 358/452, 358/453, 358/537, 358/538, 358/1.9, 358/1.15, 358/1.17, 358/1.18, 382/179, 382/186, 382/187, 348/239, 715/540, 396/313
• US Class Current: 358/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/001 Counting; Classifying; Marking
• 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 1/00135 Scanning of a photographic original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00267 with a viewing or projecting apparatus, e.g. for reading image information from a film H04N1/00262 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0027 Reading or writing of non-image information from or to a photographic material, e.g. processing data stored in a magnetic track
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3871 the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3872 Repositioning or masking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3245 of image modifying data, e.g. handwritten addenda, highlights or augmented reality information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

An image of a picture frame photographed on a photo film is displayed on a screen of an image input device, or is printed out as a hard copy. A graphic image is written by a user in the image of the picture frame, and graphic data of the graphic image is detected from the image of the picture frame having the graphic image written therein. The graphic data is associated with the picture frame, and is transferred from the user to a photofinisher through electronic transmission, or is recorded on a data recording medium which is forwarded to the photofinisher along with the photo film. A synthetic print containing the picture frame and the graphic image is made from the picture frame and the graphic data.

Claims

1. A method of forming handwriting message data for combining an image and a handwriting message, comprising:

generating a print containing image sample from image sample data, said handwriting message being written on said image sample on said print;

digitizing said print containing said image sample with said handwriting message being written thereon, as a digital data; and

extracting said digitized handwriting message, as handwriting message data, from said digital data by referring to said image sample data,

wherein said extracting said digitized handwriting message reduces errors of extracting said handwriting data by using of a density reference chart, limiting a density range, or performing an edge imaging method.

2. The method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 1, wherein said generating said print comprises transmitting said image sample data from a laboratory to a user and generating said print based on said transmitted image sample data.

3. The method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transmitting said image sample data is performed by facsimile.

4. The method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transmitting said image sample data is performed by data communication between computers.

5. The method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 4, wherein said forming said print further comprises generating said print after said transmitting said image sample data.

6. The method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 1, wherein said digitizing said print comprises transmitting said digital data from a user to a laboratory.

7. The method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transmitting said digital data is performed by facsimile.

8. The method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transmitting said digital data is performed by data communication between computers.

9. The method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 8, wherein said digital data is a scan data obtained by scanning said print.

10. The method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hand writing message data is extracted based on difference between said digital data and said image sample data.

11. A method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extracting said digitized handwriting message comprises transmitting said handwriting message data from a user to a laboratory.

12. A method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 11, wherein said transmitting said handwriting message data is performed by data communication between computers.

13. The method of forming handwriting message data as claimed in claim 12, wherein said transmitting said handwriting message data is performed after said extracting said handwriting message data.