Method, Apparatus and System for Providing Reproducible Digital Imagery Products

• US 20100220971A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magnolia Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Kutcka, Chris, Pines, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 9,699,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/253 Picture signal generating by scanning motion picture films or slide opaques, e.g. for telecine scanning details therefor H04N3/36 ; standard conversion therefor H04N7/0112

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, apparatus and system for providing reproducible digital imagery products from captured image content and for the color correction of the reproducible digital imagery products. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a log video signal comprising at least density values for the contrast levels of the original image content for enabling a quantitative assessment of the image content information for providing repeatable and reproducible values from which a cinematographer/director of photography could order the color correction or adjustment of the image content in a reproducible manner understood device by a color correction specialist or “timer”.

Claims

1. A method for providing a reproducible digital imagery product from image content, comprising:

generating a log video signal representation of said image content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said log video signal representation comprises respective density values for the contrast levels of said image content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein respective density offsets are applied to said density values to color correct at least one of said log video signal representation of said image content and said image content.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said density offsets comprise linear offsets.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said density offsets are configured to provide values between 0 and 50 to emulate analog printer light offset values.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of said log video signal representation and said image content are color corrected for a specific display environment.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the density values of said log video signal representation comprise respective grey scale density values.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said log video signal representation provides respective grey scale density values for different colors of said image content on a scene by scene basis.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said log video signal representation is used to create dailies.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said log video signal representation comprises a low resolution and low compression signal, which is acceptable for producing dailies.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said log video signal representation is used as a starting point for a digital intermediate.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said log video signal representation comprises respective density values for different colors of said image content.

13. A color device for providing a reproducible digital imagery product from image content, comprising:

a processor and a memory configured to generate a respective log video signal representation of said image content, said log video signal representation comprising respective density values for the contrast levels of said image content; and

an interface configured to enable an adjustment of the density values of said log video signal representation of said image content.

14. The color correction device of claim 13, wherein said interface comprises at least one of a wireless remote control, a pointing device, such as a mouse or a trackball, a voice recognition system, a touch screen, on screen menus, buttons, and knobs.

15. A system for providing a reproducible digital imagery product from image content and color correction thereof, comprising:

a capture device for capturing said image content;

a color device for generating a log video signal representation of said captured image content, said log video signal representation comprising respective density values for the contrast levels of said image content; and

an interface configured to enable an adjustment of the density values of said log video signal representation of said image content.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a storage means for storing an adjusted log video signal representation of said image content.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a storage means for storing said log video signal representation from said color device before a color correction.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a display device for displaying a converted log video signal representation such that the image on the display device matches a final film print look.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said interface provides adjustments for color correcting at least one of said log video signal representation and said image content.