Method and apparatus for generating an artificial shadow in a two dimensional color image

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting at least one additional object in said two dimensional color image and forming a shadow to each said selected objects in accordance with said selected shadow scene.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 further comprising defining a geometrical feature defining said object.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein said geometrical feature is rectangular.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 wherein said forming comprises: calculating said artificial shadow from said geometrical feature defining said object and said selected object scene; and applying at least one color to said artificial shadow.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein said forming also comprises the step of applying at least one color to said artificial shadow.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein said parameters include selected ones from the group consisting of an indication of the artificial shadow angle with respect to the horizon, the height of the object above a reference level, such as the ground level, a location of the light source and any combination therebetween.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein said shadow scene library is represented by a graphic representation displayable to said user.

Claim 10

Apparatus for generating an artificial shadow in a two dimensional color image comprising: means for providing a shadow scenes library, each shadow scene representing at least one artificial shadow orientation with respect to an object forming said shadow; means for receiving a user input, said user selecting one of said shadow scenes and an object in said two dimensional image to be shadowed; means for forming an artificial shadow to said object to be shadowed in accordance with said selected shadow scene; wherein means for forming said artifical shadow includes; means for calculating said artificial shadow from said object and an object scene; and means for moving said calculated artificial shadow to a selected location with respect to said object; and wherein said means for calculating said artificial shadow includes; means for converting said geometrical feature defining said object from a two dimensional representation to a three dimensional representation; means for providing parameters defining said selected shadow scene; means for determining a three dimensional representation of said artificial shadow defined by a corresponding geometrical feature based on said parameters and said three dimensional representation of said object obtained by said converting; and means for converting the three dimensional representation of said geometrical feature defining said artificial shadow to two dimensional representation thereof, thereby providing said artificial shadow.

Claim 11

Apparatus for generating an artificial shadow in a two dimensional color image comprising: means for providing a shadow scenes library, each shadow scene representing at least one artificial shadow orientation with respect to an object forming said shadow; means for receiving a user input, said user selecting one of said shadow scenes and an object in said two dimensional image to be shadowed; means for forming an artificial shadow to said object to be shadowed in accordance with said selected shadow scene; wherein means for forming said artifical shadow includes; means for calculating said artificial shadow from said object and an object scene; and means for moving said calculated artificial shadow to a selected location with respect to said object; and wherein said means for calculating said artificial shadow includes; means for converting said geometrical feature defining said object from a two dimensional representation to a three dimensional representation; means for providing parameters defining said selected shadow scene; means for determining a three dimensional representation of said artificial shadow defined by a corresponding geometrical feature based on said parameters and said three dimensional representation of said object obtained by said converting; and means for converting the three dimensional representation of said geometrical feature defining said artificial shadow to two dimensional representation thereof, thereby providing said artificial shadow.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for selecting at least one additional object in said two dimensional color image and forming a shadow to each said selected objects in accordance with said selected shadow scene.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for defining a geometrical feature defining said object.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said geometrical feature is rectangular.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for forming comprises: means for calculating said artificial shadow from said geometrical feature defining said object and said selected object scene; and means for applying at least one color to said artificial shadow.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for forming also comprises means for applying at least one color to said artificial shadow.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said parameters include selected ones from the group consisting of an indication of the artificial shadow angle with respect to the horizon, the height of the object above a reference level, such as the ground level, a location of the light source and a combination therebetween.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said shadow scene library is represented by a graphic representation displayable to said user.