Lifetouch Inc.

Lifetouch Portrait Studios, Inc.

Other

Shutterfly, Inc.

Earl John Adolphi

Michael J Surma

Richard Lee Swanson

Eric Runquist

Michael T Breckenridge

John Robert Reinert Nash

Gerald A Jensen

Brent Peterson

Larry G Peterson

Michael John Surma

An assembled group image is generated from subject images. Each of the subject images is associated with height data for the subject in the image. The height data is used to position the subject images in the assembled group image to provide a natural appearance. Shadows can also be added to the assembled group image.

Generating an assembled group image from subject images

A photography station operates to capture digital images of a subject with at least one digital camera. The photography station includes foreground lighting and background lighting. The foreground lighting is configured to illuminate the subject, while the background lighting is configured to illuminate a background. The photography station includes a computing device having a setup module operable to perform tests to check a configuration of the photography station, and a photography module operable to capture digital images of the subject with the digital camera. In some embodiments, the tests performed by the setup module include a plurality of initial checking operations and a plurality of background processing operations.

Photography station

A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.

Method and apparatus for background replacement in still photographs

An automated studio and control system for taking photographs is disclosed that alleviates many exposure problems and simplifies variables with which the photographer must deal in order to achieve consistent high quality photographs. The studio includes a multi-light portrait lighting system, a subject location verification system and a system for varying backgrounds, all of which are tied to an integrated control system and synchronized to a camera.

Automated portrait studio

To facilitate creating professional poses for a person to be photographed, a posing mask generating system is provided including a microprocessor having a video graphics board therein. The microprocessor also has a memory and a data input and output device. A video camera is interfaced with the video graphics board so that a video image of a model to be photographed can be viewed on a display terminal. Using the data input device, a professional photographer, experienced in posing subjects, enters graphics information into the system which is then overlaid with the video image and appropriately positioned to define a mask or template defining the location for prominent features of the subject within the frame of reference. This is repeated for a number of possible poses, with the graphics information being stored in the memory of the microprocessor. Once all of the masks have been professionally created, they are transferred to one or more studios in different locations and manned by camera operators rather than professional photographers. The remote systems also include a microprocessor with a video graphics board installed therein, a video camera and a display terminal. The mask information previously generated by a professional is overlaid on a video image of the object to the photographed and then the camera or the object is positioned until its video image fits the master template. The camera shutter is then tripped to record the posed subject on film.

Method and apparatus for creating posing masks on video screen

A method and apparatus for creating a video image of a subsequent photographic print having a posed subject and a selected special effects modification added to it. Included are a computer having a data input device, a data storage device preferably housing a plurality of special effects, a data recall device, a video image capture device, and a video display device. The video image capture device provides a video image of a posed subject on the video display device, while the data recall device provides a special effect from the data storage device. Both the posed subject and the special effect are simultaneously displayed on the video display device to thereby create a combination display of the special effect and the posed subject. Examples of special effects which can be stored for recall include vignetting, burnt corners, a blend for double exposure, soft focus, captions and graphics. In this manner, a subject to be photographed can view a selection of special effects modifications to the video image and thereafter choose a desired combination of the two.

Growing community of inventors

Los Lunas, NM, United States of America

Earl John Adolphi