Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Graph generating
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-31
2001-02-06
Powell, Mark R. (Department: 2772)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Graph generating
Reexamination Certificate
active
06184895
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to computer software, and in particular to a method and system for using color information in a file to perform special effects on an image.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the current world of advertising, movies and television, special effects can make or break a product. Computers are being used more and more all the time to create special effects, and users, as well as viewers, are becoming more discriminatory in what they will accept when it comes to what they see and create.
Computer authoring tools are one way users can add special effects to images. Special effects may include a fade in or fade out and a wipe right, etc. The currently available authoring tools have a rather inflexible approach to the creation of special effects due inherently to the methods used to draw an image.
For example, authoring tools like Director by Macromedia, Premiere by Adobe and Freelance Graphics by Lotus Development Corp. only support a limited number of pre-programmed transitions/dissolves. These tools typically use either an algorithm or a table to make transitions/effects. These limited number of effects are coded into the product's tools, and the user is unable to create any others.
The tools that use an algorithm are hard pressed to do anything beyond a simple transition. For example, if the user wants an image to transition into view by way of several spirals and a star, the math for computing such a display is both time consuming and complex. The level of complexity increases as any other characteristic, such as opacity, is added to when the image pixel is to become visible.
The tools that use a table method require a fixed table specifying when each image pixel is to become visible. Additional tables must be added for each and every other characteristic the user wants the image to display. These tables must be prepared and stored in the program for use when a transition is desired.
Thus, there is a need for a simple to use method and system for adding user defined transition patterns to create special effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention disclosed herein comprises a method and system for using color to create special effects on an image which eliminates problems associated with prior special effect methods. The present invention allows the use of a color scale to produce any desired effect on an image.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for creating on a computer system special effects on an image using color information. A color is associated with an effects property defined by a pattern file. An image is then mapped to the pattern file. The image is displayed on the computer system in accordance with the effects property, as applied by the pattern file.
It is a technical advantage of the present invention that special effects may be created by a user in any desired fashion. By assigning any known characteristic or effect to a color, the user can produce a special effect on an image in whatever fashion their imagination can devise.
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Boezeman John Junior
Eckhoff Randall Peter
King Dennis Donald
Cao Hue Dung X.
Clay A. Bruce
International Business Machines Corp.
Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec P.A.
Powell Mark R.
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