EP0536893A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image editing system and method having improved multidimensional editing controls
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1992-09-04
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2012-09-04
Abstract
Abstract An image editor includes a pixel buffer (61) for storing color data for an image to be edited. A monitor screen (35) displays the image and an active area (70) having a graphic (76) that represents two color descriptor variables. A pair of overlays (72,74) controls the respective color descriptor variables singly or together. In one embodiment (Figure 5D), the active area is a circle (78) with a color wheel about which hue varies angularly and along the radius of which saturation varies. A radial overlay line (80) controls hue and a concentric radially movable ring controls saturation. In another embodiment (Figure 5C) among others, the active area is a square with a checkerboard graphic. Black and white squares within the checkerboard indicate increasing brightness in the vertically upward direction and increasing contrast in the rightward horizontal direction. Horizontal and vertical hairline overlays (72,74) control the brightness and contrast, respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis L. Venable
- 👤 James E. Bollman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/10; G06T11/60; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/974
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An image editor for an image processing system, said editor comprising: means (47,61) for storing color pixel data for an image to be edited; means for displaying the stored image on a monitor screen (35); means for generating an active area (70) on said monitor screen; said active area including a graphic (76) having represented therein at least two color descriptor variables; means (72, 74) for variably designating positions on said graphic to generate corresponding modified values of said color descriptor variables; and means (66) for modifying the image in accordance with a preselected edit operation and in accordance with the modified at values of any one of said color descriptor variables or of said at least two color descriptor variables simultaneously.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
An image editor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said designating means includes: a first overlay (72) for controlling one of said two color descriptor variables; a second overlay (74) for controlling the other one of said two color descriptor variables; and means (52) for selectably moving said first and second overlays singly to vary either of said color descriptor variables or together to vary said two color descriptor variables simultaneously.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An image editor as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said designating means includes a first hairline overlay movable in one direction to designate values for one of said two variables and a second hairline overlay movable in another direction to designate values for the other of said two variables.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
An image editor as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: said graphic is a substantially square checkerboard of black and white squares; said designating means includes a first hairline overlay extending horizontally across said checkerboard graphic for minimum-to-maximum control of a selected one of said two color descriptor variables; and said designating means includes a second hairline overlay extending vertically on said checkerboard graphic for maximum-to-minimum control of the other of said two color descriptor variables (Fig. 5C).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
An image editor as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said active area includes a generally circular area (78) and said designating means include a concentric ring overlay (82) movable radially in said circular area to designate values for one of said two variables and a radial line overlay (80) rotatable about said circular area to designate values for the other of said two variables.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
An image editor as claimed in claim 5, wherein said graphic is a color wheel in said circular area, said concentric ring varies saturation from zero to full value as it is moved from its innermost to its outermost radial positions, and said radial line varies hue as it is rotated about said color wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image editor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said modifying means modifies said image in real time with color variable changes made by said designating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
An image editor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a screen window in which said active area is located includes an indicator area where color variable changes made by said designating means are indicated until the desired change is observed, and said modifying means modifies said image when the change in said indicator area is accepted.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for operating an image editor, the steps of said method comprising: storing color pixel data for an image to be edited; displaying the stored image on a monitor screen; generating an active area on said monitor screen with at least two color descriptor variables represented therein; variably designating positions on said graphic to generate modified values of said color descriptor variables; and modifying the image in accordance with a preselected edit operation and in accordance with modified values of any one of said color descriptor variables or of said at least two color descriptor variables simultaneously.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said designating step includes the steps of: operating a first overlay to control one of said two color descriptor variables; operating a second overlay to control the other of said two color descriptor variables; and moving said overlays singly or together to vary either of said color descriptor variables singly or both of said color descriptor variables together.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.