Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Identifying – composing – or selecting
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-13
2002-05-14
Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Identifying, composing, or selecting
C355S077000, C396S639000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06388732
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention and Background
This invention relates to the field of photography, and in particulars to methods and apparatus for producing finished photographic prints of images captured by photographers.
With the advent of affordable powerful computing capabilities and the trend toward electronic commerce (also known as “e-commerce”) made possible by the rapid growth and development of the Internet, new opportunities exist for providing digital solutions to the needs of photographers, both professional and amateur.
Various apparatus and methods for processing photographic prints are known in the prior art. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,396 to Hicks; U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,286 to Patton; U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,758 to Nealon; U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,359 to Hawkins; U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,354 to Tanaka et al.
While such known prior art methods and systems provide some limited electronic processing of photographs, there exists a need in the art for a comprehensive digital and interactive system whereby photographic print processing is carried out faster, and more efficiently and accurately.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing photographic prints digitally and interactively, whereby professional photographers will be able to sell their services more effectively, to reduce internal studio labor, and increasing cash flow by realizing shorter production times. Photographic laboratories will be able to speed up production and provide a higher quality product to their customers according to the method for processing orders and improved production workflow contemplated by the present invention.
The process of the present invention is based on data collection at various stages during the process, which data is then used to drive the operation of equipment for producing a final image product.
In particular, the present invention provides a method for producing photographic prints, comprising the steps of optically capturing a plurality of images on an image storage medium, creating digital image files from said captured images, viewing on a display images produced by said digital image files, selecting desired ones of said plurality of images for printing as photographic prints, providing retouching information and making corrections to said desired images with respect to at least one of cropping, skewing and rotation parameters, storing said corrections and said desired image information in electronic form as an order file and transmitting said order file to a photographic lab, and using the transmitted order file at the photographic lab to drive image scanning and printing equipment to automatically produce from said digital image files said photographic prints.
According to another aspect of the invention, apparatus is provided to carry out the above method.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4694354 (1987-09-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 4841359 (1989-06-01), Hawkins et al.
patent: 5043758 (1991-08-01), Nealon
patent: 5101286 (1992-03-01), Patton
patent: 5512396 (1996-04-01), Hicks
patent: 5784461 (1998-07-01), Shaffer et al.
patent: 5978016 (1999-11-01), Lourette et al.
patent: 6017157 (2000-01-01), Garfinkle et al.
patent: 6154295 (2000-11-01), Fredlund et al.
patent: 6154755 (2000-11-01), Dellert et al.
Raber Kevin W.
Williams Michael J.
Adams Russell
Burrell Professional Labs, Inc.
Kim Peter B.
Rothwell Figg Ernst & Manbeck
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for producing digital photographic prints does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for producing digital photographic prints, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for producing digital photographic prints will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2844151