Image analysis – Image transformation or preprocessing – Mapping 2-d image onto a 3-d surface
Patent
1997-09-23
2000-01-11
Boudreau, Leo H.
Image analysis
Image transformation or preprocessing
Mapping 2-d image onto a 3-d surface
382154, 345426, 345427, 348578, 348580, G06K 936
Patent
active
060144726
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly, a special effect apparatus for obtaining stereoscopic vision by attaching a shadow to a three-dimensionally image-transformed object video signal.
BACKGROUND ART
First, a conventional special effect apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
So far, in a field of image processing apparatuses, a special effect apparatus for performing 3-D image transformation for a source video signal supplied from an external apparatus has been realized. In this type of the special effect apparatus, a shadow is attached to an object video signal which has been image-transformed to 3-D position to generate stereoscopic effect. The object video signal is a video signal to be 3-D transformed. In the conventional special effect apparatus, in order to attach a shadow to the object video signal, an operator operates a pointing device such as a 3-D joystick to perform a desired first 3-D transformation processing for a first source video signal which is the basis of the object video signal. As shown in FIG. 1A, the 3-D transformed video signal is represented as an object video signal Vobj, and the object video signal Vobj is displayed on a monitor. Next, the operator operates the pointing device to perform a second 3-D transformation processing for a second source video signal, which is the basis of a shadow video signal, for example, of which color is black. Specifically, the operator performs the 3-D transformation processing for a video signal having the color of shadow so that the 3-D transformed shadow video signal Vshadow looks like the shadow of the object video signal Vobj displayed on the monitor.
However, in such conventional special effect apparatus, since the 3-D transformation processing is respectively performed for the object video signal Vobj and the shadow video signal Vshadow, it is very difficult to produce the shadow video signal Vshadow which looks like a natural shadow as the shadow of the object video signal Vobj. In addition, even the skilled operator repeats trial-and-error to produce the shadow video signal Vshadow which looks like the natural shadow, so that there has been a problem that it takes a long time to produce the shadow video signal.
Further, in such conventional special effect apparatus, as aforementioned above, since the 3-D transformation processing is respectively performed for the object video signal Vobj and the shadow video signal Vshadow, even if the object video signal Vobj shown in FIG. 1A is 3-D transformed to a position of an object video signal Vobj' shown in FIG. 1B, the shadow video signal Vshadow does not move. Therefore, a new natural shadow has to be produced for the object video signal Vobj'. Accordingly, since the shadow video signal has to be produced whenever the object video signal is 3-D transformed, there has been a problem that the operation is very complicated.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the aforesaid conventional problems, and is intended to provide a special effect apparatus which can attach a suitable shadow to an object video signal without relaying an experience of an operator. Further, the present invention is intended to provide the special effect apparatus which can automatically produce a shadow video signal coupled to the spatial movement of the object video signal.
Further, specifically, the special effect apparatus of the present invention comprises: an object signal producing section for producing a virtual 3-D object video signal by performing a 3-D image transformation for a source video signal and then performing a 2-D object video signal which represents a 3-D image transformation processing by projecting the virtual 3-D object video signal onto a 2-D plane; and a shadow signal producing section for producing a virtual 3-D shadow signal by projecting the 3-D video signal onto a shadow plane which has been set beforehand and then producing a 2-D shadow signal by projecting the virtual
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Minami Nobuyuki
Takashima Akihiro
Boudreau Leo H.
Frommer William S.
Sherali Ishrat
Sony Corporation
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