Aesthetic imaging system

Claim 1

In an aesthetic imaging system for use in imaging patients for cosmetic surgery, a method of manipulating a digital image of a patient comprised of a plurality of pixels, the aesthetic imaging system including a processor, a memory, a monitor, and cursor control means for moving a cursor displayed on the monitor, the method comprising: (a) allowing a user to select a manipulation area in a digital image by encircling the manipulation area using the cursor control means; (b) defining a warping area that encompasses the manipulation area selected by the user; (c) storing a copy of the warping area in memory as an original area; (d) allowing the user to identify a stretch point that is contained within the manipulation area using the cursor control means; (e) allowing the user to move the stretch point from an initial position through a plurality of intermediate positions to a final position within the warping area using the cursor control means, the movement of the stretch point defining a stretch direction from the initial position to the final position; (f) repeatedly mapping the original area that is stored in memory to the warping area to reflect the movement of the stretch point within the warping area from the initial position to the final position, the mapping generally compressing an area of the image in the stretch direction and generally expanding an area of the image away from the stretch direction; and (g) displaying the portion of the warping area that is within the manipulation area selected by the user to reflect the stretching of the image caused by movement of the stretch point.