Natural framing system

• US 7,973,796 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Art.com Incorporated (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Marston, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sajous; Wesner
• Application Number:
  US11/807,238
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 715/200, 715/204, 715/210, 715240-243, 715246-247, 715/252, 715/273, 715961-962, 345/581, 345/657, 345/660, 345/668, 382/173, 382/274, 382/293, 382/295, 382/298, 382/305
• US Class Current: 345/581
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/962 Operator interface for marketing or sales

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method of displaying a representation of a frame includes identifying a molding type capable of being used in a frame. A set of digital images is obtained, wherein each one of the set of digital images represents molding of the molding type in a different one of a plurality of orientations. A representation of the frame is then displayed using the set of digital images.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a representation of a frame, comprising:

identifying a molding type capable of being used in a frame;

obtaining a set of digital images from a plurality of stored sets of digital images by a processor, wherein each one of the set of digital images represents molding of the molding type in a different one of a plurality of orientations, wherein the plurality of stored sets of digital images correspond to a plurality of molding types; and

displaying a representation of the frame using the set of digital images;

wherein identifying a molding type comprises;

identifying a molding type that has been selected from among a plurality of availabe molding types.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the molding type is identified by at least one of a color, a material, a width, a depth, a pattern, finish, or a texture of the molding.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the material is metal or wood.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of digital images comprises four digital images and wherein the plurality of orientations comprises four different orientations of a stick of molding of the molding type arranged to depict four sides of a frame, wherein displaying the representation of the frame using the set of digital images comprises:

obtaining at least a segment of the representation of the molding in each of the four digital images.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein displaying the representation of the frame using the set of digital images further comprises:

cropping the segment of the representation of the molding in at least two of the four digital images.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein cropping the segment of the representation of the molding in at least two of the four digital images comprises:

cropping both ends of the segment of the representation of the molding in at least two of the four digital images such that both ends are cut off at a 45 degree angle.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein cropping the segment of the representation of the molding in at least two of the four digital images comprises:

cropping at least one end of the segment of the representation of the molding in at least two of the four digital images such that the cropped end is cut off at a 45 degree angle.

8. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein displaying the representation of the frame using the set of digital images further comprises:

resizing the obtained segment associated with each of the four digital images.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

ascertaining a size of the frame to be displayed;

wherein displaying the frame using the set of digital images is performed corresponding to the ascertained size of the frame.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining a set of digital images comprises:

obtaining a set of digital images that have been taken under the same lighting conditions.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the set of digital images have been modified after the set of images were taken.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a digital image representing a piece of artwork; and

applying at least one of shadowing or highlighting to the digital image representing the piece of artwork such that a representation of the piece of artwork is displayed within an area defined by the frame.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one of shadowing or highlighting represents at least one of shadowing or highlighting due at least in part to the frame.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

displaying one or more mats within the area defined by the frame such that the representation of the piece of artwork is displayed within an area defined by the one or more mats;

wherein the at least one of shadowing or highlighting represents at least one of shadowing or highlighting due at least in part to at least one of the mats.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of shadowing or highlighting represents at least one of shadowing or highlighting due at least in part to the frame.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

displaying one or more mats within the area defined by the frame such that the representation of the piece of artwork is displayed within an area defined by the one or more mats;

applying at least one of shadowing or highlighting to one or more of the displayed mats, wherein the at least one of shadowing or highlighting represents shadowing or highlighting due at least in part to the frame.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one of the shadowing or highlighting applied to one or more of the displayed mats represents at least one of shadowing or highlighting due at least in part to another one of the displayed mats.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

displaying one or more mats within the area defined by the frame such that the representation of the piece of artwork is displayed within an area defined by the one or more mats;

applying at least one of shadowing or highlighting to one or more of the displayed mats, wherein the at least one of shadowing or highlighting represents shadowing or highlighting due at least in part to another one of the displayed mats.

19. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

applying at least one of shadowing or highlighting to the displayed frame.

20. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying one or more mats within the area defined by the frame; and

applying shadowing to an interior side of an inner one of the mats.

21. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

applying at least one of shadowing or highlighting to a background surrounding the displayed frame.

22. The method as recited in claim 1, the set of digital images each comprise a photograph of a piece of molding taken over substantially the entire length of the piece of molding.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the set of digital images comprise photographs of molding having an aspect ratio of at least about 3.

24. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a digital representation of a piece of artwork;

applying by a processor at least one of shadowing or highlighting to the digital representation of the piece of artwork to generate a modified digital representation of the piece of artwork; and

displaying the modified digital representation of the piece of artwork;

wherein at least one of the shadowing or highlighting represents at least one of shadowing or highlighting due at least in part to the frame.

25. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a digital representation of a piece of artwork;

applying by a processor at least one of shadowing or highlighting to the digital representation of the piece of artwork to generate a modified digital representation of the piece of artwork; and

displaying the modified digital representation of the piece of artwork;

wherein at least one of the shadowing or highlighting applied to the piece of artwork represents at least one of shadowing or highlighting due at least in part to one or more mats, the method further comprising;

displaying the one or more mats within an area defined by the frame such that the piece of artwork is displayed within an area defined by the one or more mats.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

applying at least one of shadowing or highlighting to at least one of the displayed mats such that at least one of the one or more mats that are displayed include at least one of shadowing or highlighting.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein at least one of the shadowing or highlighting applied to at least one of the displayed mats represents at least one of shadowing or highlighting due at least in part to the frame.

28. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein at least one of the shadowing or highlighting applied to at least one of the displayed mats represents at least one of shadowing or highlighting due at least in part to another one of the mats.

29. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a digital representation of a piece of artwork;

applying by a processor at least one of shadowing or highlighting to the digital representation of the piece of artwork to generate a modified digital representation of the piece of artwork;

displaying the modified digital representation of the piece of artwork; and

applying at least one of shadowing or highlighting to the represention of the frame.

32. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of digital images comprises photographs of molding of the molding type.

33. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein each digital image of the set of digital images includes a photograph of the molding in a different one of the plurality of orientations.

34. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of digital images comprises four digital images and wherein each of the plurality of orientations comprises a corresponding one of four different orientations of a stick of molding of the molding type, wherein the plurality of orientations are arranged such that a combination of the plurality of orientations depicts four sides of a frame.

30. An apparatus for displaying a representation of a frame, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for;

identifying a molding type capable of being used in a frame;

obtaining a set of digital images from a plurality of stored sets of digital images,

wherein each one of the set of digital images represents molding of the molding type in a different one of a plurality of orientations, wherein the plurality of stored sets of digital images correspond to a plurality of molding types; and

displaying a representation of the frame using the set of digital images;

wherein identifying a molding type comprises;

identifying a molding type that has been selected from among a plurality of available molding types.

31. An apparatus for displaying a representation of a frame, comprising:

means for identifying a molding type capable of being used in a frame;

means for obtaining a set of digital images from a plurality of stored sets of digital images, wherein each one of the set of digital images represents molding of the molding type in a different one of a plurality of orientations, wherein the plurality of stored sets of digital images correspond to a plurality of molding types; and

means for displaying a representation of the frame using the set of digital images;

wherein identifying a molding type comprises;

identifying a molding type that has been selected from among a plurality of available molding types.

35. A method of displaying a representation of a frame, comprising:

identifying a molding type capable of being used in a frame;

obtaining a set of digital images by a processor, wherein each one of the set of digital images represents molding of the molding type in a different one of a plurality of orientations; and

displaying a representation of the frame using the set of digital images;

wherein identifying a molding type comprises;

identifying a molding type that has been selected from among a plurality of available molding types;

wherein the set of digital images comprises photographs, wherein the photographs have been taken under a set of lighting conditions such that the photographs include lighting effects resulting from the set of lighting conditions.

36. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the representation of the frame that is displayed includes lighting effects resulting, at least in part, from the set of lighting conditions.

37. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the lighting effects include at least one of shadowing effects or highlighting effects.