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Digital color image processing method with shape correction of histograms used to produce color reproduction functions

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1985-11-01
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Granted: 1987-06-30
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Expires: 2005-11-01
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Abstract

Abstract In a method for processing digital color images derived from photographic film, the method employing color reproduction functions generated by normalizing random samples of color values from different colors, sampling of color values from noisy areas of an image, or scanner noise can distort the randomness of sampling and result in unwanted contrast reductions and color shifts in the processed digital images. The problem is solved by correcting the shapes of the distributions of color value samples toward normal distributions having the same means and standard deviations as the sample distributions prior to forming the color reproduction functions.

Inventors

  • 👤 James S. Alkofer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 11:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/90; G06T5/92; G06T5/40; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4072; H04N1/4074; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10024

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 91 words
In a method of processing a digital color photographic image by applying color reproduction functions formed by normalizing samples of color values from informational portions of the image to color values of the digital image, each of said samples of color values forming a distribution of color values having a characteristic shape, the improvement comprising the step of: correcting the shapes of the distributions of color values toward normal distributions having the same mean and standard deviation as the respective distributions of color values prior to forming the color reproduction functions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 91 words
In a method of processing a digital color photographic image by applying color reproduction functions formed by normalizing samples of color values from informational portions of the image to color values of the digital image, each of said samples of color values forming a distribution of color values having a characteristic shape, the improvement comprising the step of: correcting the shapes of the distributions of color values toward normal distributions having the same mean and standard deviation as the respective distributions of color values prior to forming the color reproduction functions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 86 words
The digital color photographic image processing method claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of correcting comprises forming a first set of cumulative probabilities from each of the distributions of color values, forming a second set of normal cumulative probabilities for each of the distributions of color values having the same mean and standard deviation as the respective distribution of color values, and forming the square roots of the joint probabilities of the two sets of cumulative probabilities for each of the distributions of color values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 46 words
The digital color photographic image processing method claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of forming the posterior probabilities of the square roots of the joint probabilities for each of the distributions of color values; and forming said color reproduction functions from said posterior probabilities.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4090243A Cited
US4410909A Cited
US4472736A Cited
US4467364A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-06-29 1990-12-29 1991-06-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-06-29 1994-12-29 1995-06-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-06-29 1998-12-29 1999-06-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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