Method of and apparatus for re-creating images

Claim 1

A method of re-creating an image carried on original photographic film but with selective controlled alterations; said method comprising forming an image by projecting light modified by original photographic film; subjecting the image to a scanning process with a punctiform light collector, the scanning process involving relative movement between the image and the collector to define a reference frame formed by a series of indexed lines of movement in two different directions and subjecting the image to the action of occluder means to inhibit the collection of light at certain times during the scanning process, transferring light collected by the collector or information representing such light to a punctiform light emitter, subjecting unexposed photographic film to another scanning process to create another image, the other scanning process involving relative movement between the film and the light emitter to expose the film over a frame formed by a series of indexed lines of movement in two different directions and generally corresponding to the reference frame and utilizing programmable control means to control the scanning processes independently of one another and to control the action of the occluder means in a manner that may be varied in accordance with unique characteristics of the image carried on the original photographic film and means for selecting regions of image to cause correlation of the processes over at least one region of the respective frames where the corresponding part of the other image is to be the same as the corresponding part of the original image and to cause non-correlation of the processes over at least one further region of the respective frame where a corresponding part of the other image is to be different to the corresponding other part of the original image.

Claim 2

A method of re-creating an image carried on original photographic film but with selective controlled alterations; said method comprising forming an image by projecting light modified by original photographic film; subjecting the image to a scanning process with a punctiform light collector, the scanning process involving relative movement between the image and the collector to define a reference frame formed by a series of indexed lines of movement in two different directions and subjecting the image to the action of occluder means to inhibit the collection of light at certain times during the scanning process, transferring light collected by the collector or information representing such light to a punctiform light emitter, subjecting unexposed photographic film to another scanning process to create another image, the other scanning process involving relative movement between the film and the light emitter to expose the film over a frame formed by a series of indexed lines of movement in two different directions and generally corresponding to the reference frame and utilizing programmable control means to control the scanning processes independently of one another and to control the action of the occluder means in a manner that may be varied in accordance with unique characteristics of the image carried on the original photographic film and means for selecting regions of image to cause correlation of the processes over at least one region of the respective frames where the corresponding part of the other image is to be the same as the corresponding part of the original image and to cause non-correlation of the processes over at least one further region of the respective frame where a corresponding part of the other image is to be different to the corresponding other part of the original image.

Claim 5

A method of re-creating a photographic image with selective alterations; said method comprising creating a first image with light passed through occluder means which operates to transmit or block the light; scanning said first image with light collecting means by effecting relative movement between such image and said collecting means in first and second directions, the light-collecting means being small and punctiform in relation to the extent of the first image in both the first and second directions, transmitting light derived from the collecting means to light emitting means, scanning the light emitting means over photographic film to expose the film and create a second image thereon by effecting relative movement between the film and the emitting means in third and fourth directions, the emitting means being small and punctiform in relation to the second image in both the third and fourth directions and utilizing programmable control means to control the respective scanning operations independently in relation to the associated scanning directions and to control the operation of the occluder means in a manner that may be varied in accordance with unique characteristics of the image carried on the original photographic film and means for selecting regions of the image whereby to alter the second image in some respect from the first.

Claim 6

A method of re-creating a photographic image with selective alterations; said method comprising creating a first image with light passed through occluder means which operates to transmit or block the light; scanning said first image with light collecting means by effecting relative movement between such image and said collecting means in first and second directions, the light-collecting means being small and punctiform in relation to the extent of the first image in both the first and second directions, transmitting light derived from the collecting means to light emitting means, scanning the light emitting means over photographic film to expose the film and create a second image thereon by effecting relative movement between the film and the emitting means in third and fourth directions, the emitting means being small and punctiform in relation to the second image in both the third and fourth directions and utilizing programmable control means to control the respective scanning operations independently in relation to the associated scanning directions and to control the operation of the occluder means in a manner that may be varied in accordance with unique characteristics of the image carried on the original photographic film and means for selecting regions of the image whereby to alter the second image in some respect from the first.