Method for generating geometric masks with a digital color computer

Claim 1

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor and for collecting selected color samples from the color image; providing a color sample memory for representing a three dimensional color space and for storing the selected color samples; providing a two dimensional mask memory for storing at least one mask; providing a color computer for correcting color values of the stored color image and for generating the mask; providing in addition to said color sample memory a separate image store for storing the color image; collecting color samples from the color image with the coordinate input unit; storing the collected color samples in said color sample memory; displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on a monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering to fill undesired gaps between the color samples if such undesired gaps are present, a color sample space produced by the filtering having an arbitrary shape; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; setting a memory cell in the mask memory when the comparison to the threshold shows that color data belong to one of the color samples; and displaying the geometric mask generated in the above steps in the image on the monitor.

Claim 2

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor and for collecting selected color samples from the color image; providing a color sample memory for representing a three dimensional color space and for storing the selected color samples; providing a two dimensional mask memory for storing at least one mask; providing a color computer for correcting color values of the stored color image and for generating the mask; providing in addition to said color sample memory a separate image store for storing the color image; collecting color samples from the color image with the coordinate input unit; storing the collected color samples in said color sample memory; displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on a monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering to fill undesired gaps between the color samples if such undesired gaps are present, a color sample space produced by the filtering having an arbitrary shape; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; setting a memory cell in the mask memory when the comparison to the threshold shows that color data belong to one of the color samples; and displaying the geometric mask generated in the above steps in the image on the monitor.

Claim 18

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor; providing a color sample memory for storing color samples; providing a mask memory for storing at least one mask; providing a color computer for correcting color values of the stored color image; providing an image store for storing the color image; collecting color samples from the color image with the coordinate input unit; storing the collected color samples in said color sample memory: displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on a monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering, a color sample space produced by the filtering having an arbitrary shape and being employed for selective color correction; inputting color correction values that act on colors defined by the color sample space; with said color computer, using the color sample space that has been generated and the color correction values for the selected color correction of the color image; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; setting a memory cell in the mask memory when the comparison to the threshold shows that color or data belong to one of the color samples; displaying a geometric mask generated in the above steps in the image on the monitor; and said step of subjecting the color samples to a filtering comprises providing the filtering in a L*a*b* color space and establishing the filtering by the function ##EQU3## whereby a(i,j,k) is a weighting matrix, P(L*,a*,b*) is a color sample at location L*, a*, b* in the L*,a*,b* color space, and the sum S(L*,a*,b*) is compared to thresholds.

Claim 19

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor; providing a color sample memory for storing color samples; providing a mask memory for storing at least one mask; providing a color computer for correcting color values of the stored color image; providing an image store for storing the color image; collecting color samples from the color image with the coordinate input unit; storing the collected color samples in said color sample memory: displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on a monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering, a color sample space produced by the filtering having an arbitrary shape and being employed for selective color correction; inputting color correction values that act on colors defined by the color sample space; with said color computer, using the color sample space that has been generated and the color correction values for the selected color correction of the color image; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; setting a memory cell in the mask memory when the comparison to the threshold shows that color or data belong to one of the color samples; displaying a geometric mask generated in the above steps in the image on the monitor; and said step of subjecting the color samples to a filtering comprises providing the filtering in a L*a*b* color space and establishing the filtering by the function ##EQU3## whereby a(i,j,k) is a weighting matrix, P(L*,a*,b*) is a color sample at location L*, a*, b* in the L*,a*,b* color space, and the sum S(L*,a*,b*) is compared to thresholds.

Claim 21

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor and for collecting selected color samples of the color image; providing a color sample memory for representing a color space and for storing the selected color samples; providing a mask memory for storing at least one mask; providing a color computer for correcting color values of the stored color image; providing in addition to said color sample memory a separate image store for storing the color image; collecting color samples from the color image with the coordinate input unit; storing the collected color samples in said color sample memory; displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on a monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering to fill undesired gaps between the color samples if such undesired gaps are present, a color sample space produced by the filtering having an arbitrary shape and being employed for selective color correction; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; setting a memory cell in the mask memory when the comparison to the threshold shows that color data belong to one of the color samples; displaying a geometric mask generated in the above steps in the image on the monitor; inputting color correction values to the color computer that modify colors defined by the color sample space; and with said color computer, using the color sample space that has been generated, using the geometric mask, and the color correction values, making the selective color correction of the color image in portions of the image not excluded by the mask.

Claim 22

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor and for collecting selected color samples of the color image; providing a color sample memory for representing a color space and for storing the selected color samples; providing a mask memory for storing at least one mask; providing a color computer for correcting color values of the stored color image; providing in addition to said color sample memory a separate image store for storing the color image; collecting color samples from the color image with the coordinate input unit; storing the collected color samples in said color sample memory; displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on a monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering to fill undesired gaps between the color samples if such undesired gaps are present, a color sample space produced by the filtering having an arbitrary shape and being employed for selective color correction; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; setting a memory cell in the mask memory when the comparison to the threshold shows that color data belong to one of the color samples; displaying a geometric mask generated in the above steps in the image on the monitor; inputting color correction values to the color computer that modify colors defined by the color sample space; and with said color computer, using the color sample space that has been generated, using the geometric mask, and the color correction values, making the selective color correction of the color image in portions of the image not excluded by the mask.

Claim 23

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor and for collecting selected color samples of the color image; providing a color sample memory for representing a three dimensional color space and for storing color samples; providing a mask memory for storing a mask; providing a color computer for correction of color values of the stored color image and for generating the mask; providing in addition to said color sample memory a separate image store for storing an original color image or a corrected color image; collecting color samples from a color image with the color input unit; storing the color values of the collected color samples in the color sample memory; displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on the monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering to fill in undesired gaps between the samples if such undesired gaps are present, the color sample space produced in a color space having an arbitrary shape; with said color computer, using the color sample space for mask generating; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space, and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; when the comparison to the threshold shows that color data belong to one of the color samples, setting a memory cell in the mask memory; and generating the geometric mask by the above steps and displaying it in the image on the monitor and using it for image processing.

Claim 24

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor and for collecting selected color samples of the color image; providing a color sample memory for representing a three dimensional color space and for storing color samples; providing a mask memory for storing a mask; providing a color computer for correction of color values of the stored color image and for generating the mask; providing in addition to said color sample memory a separate image store for storing an original color image or a corrected color image; collecting color samples from a color image with the color input unit; storing the color values of the collected color samples in the color sample memory; displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on the monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering to fill in undesired gaps between the samples if such undesired gaps are present, the color sample space produced in a color space having an arbitrary shape; with said color computer, using the color sample space for mask generating; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space, and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; when the comparison to the threshold shows that color data belong to one of the color samples, setting a memory cell in the mask memory; and generating the geometric mask by the above steps and displaying it in the image on the monitor and using it for image processing.

Claim 30

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image, a corrected color image or other image data; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor; providing a color sample memory for storing color samples; providing a mask memory for storing a mask; providing a color computer for correction of color values of the stored color image; providing an image store for storing an original color image or corrected color image; collecting color samples from a color image with the color input unit; storing the color values of the collected color samples in the color sample memory; displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on the monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering, the color sample space produced in a color space having an arbitrary shape and being employed for selective color correction; with a color computer, using the color sample space for mask generating; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space, and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; when the comparison to the threshold shows that color data belong to one of the color samples, setting a memory cell in the mask memory; generating a geometric mask by the above steps and displaying it in the image on the monitor and using it for image processing; and said filtering of the color samples occurring in a L*a*b* color space and said filtering of the filtering, being established by a function ##EQU4## whereby a(i,j,k) is a weighting matrix P(L*,a*,b*) is a color sample at location L*,a*, b* in the L*,a*,b* color space, -n>=k>=+n, and the sum S(L*,a*,b*) is compared to thresholds.

Claim 31

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image, a corrected color image or other image data; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor; providing a color sample memory for storing color samples; providing a mask memory for storing a mask; providing a color computer for correction of color values of the stored color image; providing an image store for storing an original color image or corrected color image; collecting color samples from a color image with the color input unit; storing the color values of the collected color samples in the color sample memory; displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on the monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering, the color sample space produced in a color space having an arbitrary shape and being employed for selective color correction; with a color computer, using the color sample space for mask generating; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space, and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; when the comparison to the threshold shows that color data belong to one of the color samples, setting a memory cell in the mask memory; generating a geometric mask by the above steps and displaying it in the image on the monitor and using it for image processing; and said filtering of the color samples occurring in a L*a*b* color space and said filtering of the filtering, being established by a function ##EQU4## whereby a(i,j,k) is a weighting matrix P(L*,a*,b*) is a color sample at location L*,a*, b* in the L*,a*,b* color space, -n>=k>=+n, and the sum S(L*,a*,b*) is compared to thresholds.

Claim 32

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor; providing a color sample memory for representing a color space and for storing color samples; providing a mask memory for storing a mask; providing a color computer for correction of color values of the stored color image; providing in addition to said color sample memory a separate image store for storing an original color image; collecting color samples from a color image with the color input unit; storing the color values of the collected color samples in the color sample memory; displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on the monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering to perform at least one of the functions of removing undesired gaps between the samples and removing selected color samples which are isolated from a main group of the selected color samples, the color sample space produced in a color space having an arbitrary shape and being employed for selective color correction; with the color computer, using the color sample space for mask generating; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space, and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; when the comparison to the threshold shows that color data belong to one of the color samples, setting a memory cell in the mask memory; and generating the geometric mask by the above steps and displaying it in the image on the monitor and using it for image processing.

Claim 33

A method for generating a geometric mask within a stored color image, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying the stored color image; providing a coordinate input unit for indicating image coordinates on the monitor; providing a color sample memory for representing a color space and for storing color samples; providing a mask memory for storing a mask; providing a color computer for correction of color values of the stored color image; providing in addition to said color sample memory a separate image store for storing an original color image; collecting color samples from a color image with the color input unit; storing the color values of the collected color samples in the color sample memory; displaying an arrangement of the color samples in a color space on the monitor with a color coordinate system; subjecting the collected color samples to a filtering to perform at least one of the functions of removing undesired gaps between the samples and removing selected color samples which are isolated from a main group of the selected color samples, the color sample space produced in a color space having an arbitrary shape and being employed for selective color correction; with the color computer, using the color sample space for mask generating; writing an extreme value into the color computer at locations in the color space defined by the color sample space, and applying image data of the color image to the color computer; comparing output data of the color computer to a threshold; when the comparison to the threshold shows that color data belong to one of the color samples, setting a memory cell in the mask memory; and generating the geometric mask by the above steps and displaying it in the image on the monitor and using it for image processing.