Eastman-kodak Company

Robert M Goodwin

John D Buhr

Jose E Rivera

Frederick R Koeng

Joseph Anthony Manico

Andrew Charles Gallagher

Martin C Kaplan

Hsien-Che Lee

Heemin Kwon

Anthony Scalise

Richard T Klingbiel

Christopher M Dobbs

Patrick Andre Cosgrove

Hermann K Bucher

A method of digital photofinishing comprising the steps of: producing a digital color image in optical printing densities of a color image captured on photographic media; processing the digital color image with an underexposure gamma correction algorithm, a scene balance algorithm, and a contrast normalization algorithm to produce a processed digital color image; mapping the processed digital color image through a hard copy media characteristic curve to produce a mapped digital color image mapped to print densities of the hard copy media; sharpening the mapped digital color image with a sharpening algorithm optimized to avoid unacceptable artifacts; and digitally printing the sharpened digital color image onto hard copy media.

Digital photofinishing system including film under exposure gamma, scene balance, contrast normalization, and image sharpening digital image processing

A method of digital photofinishing comprising the steps of: producing a digital color image in optical printing densities of a color image captured on photographic media; increasing the under-exposure gamma of the digital color image using a media under-exposure gamma adjustment algorithm; processing the under-exposure gamma adjusted digital color image with a scene balance algorithm to produce a balanced digital color image; mapping the balanced digital color image through a hard copy media characteristic curve to produce a balanced digital image mapped to print densities of the hard copy media; sharpening the mapped balanced digital color image with a sharpening algorithm optimized to avoid unacceptable artifacts; and digitally printing the sharpened digital color image onto hard copy media.

Digital photofinishing system including film under-exposure gamma, scene

A method of digital photofinishing comprising the steps of: producing a digital color image in optical printing densities of a color image captured on photographic media; processing the digital image with a scene balance algorithm to produce a balanced digital color image; using a contrast normalization algorithm, remapping the balanced digital color image to a preferred tone reproduction position; mapping the contrast normalized digital color image through a hard copy media characteristic curve to produce a digital image mapped to print densities of the hard copy media; sharpening the mapped digital color image with a sharpening algorithm optimized to avoid unacceptable artifacts; and digitally printing the sharpened digital color image onto hard copy media.

Digital photofinishing system including scene balance, contrast

A method of digital photofinishing comprising the steps of: producing a digital color image in optical printing densities of a color image captured on photographic media; processing the digital color image with a scene balance algorithm to produce a balanced digital color image; mapping the balanced digital color image through a hard copy media characteristic curve to produce a balanced digital color image mapped to print densities of the hard copy media; sharpening the mapped balanced digital color image with a sharpening algorithm optimized to avoid unacceptable artifacts; and digitally printing the sharpened digital color image in hard copy media.

Digital photofinishing system including scene balance and image

A digital image having a dynamic range representing a brightness in an original scene greater than the dynamic range of an output medium, is processed to fit the dynamic range of the output medium by dividing the image into first and second portions, the first portion of the image representing a brightness range extending from a minimum brightness up to a distance equal to the dynamic range of the output medium, the second portion of the image representing a brightness range extending from a maximum brightness down to a distance equal to the dynamic range of the output medium. First and second transformations are determined for the first and second portions of the image respectively that map the first and second portions onto the dynamic range of the output medium using a exposure determination algorithm of the type used in photographic printers. The digital image is then thresholded at a brightness level that divides the image into a first region having the lowest levels of brightness and a second region having the highest levels of brightness. Finally, the first transformation is applied to the first region of the image and the second transformation is applied to the second region of the image to produce a digital image having a dynamic range that matches the dynamic range of the output medium while maintaining natural contrast within objects in the image.

Method and apparatus for area selective exposure adjustment

A photofinishing image processing operator detects failures in the performance of a scene balance mechanism on a digitized image and enables a photofinisher to interactively correct for such failures before the failed image has been processed and an unacceptable output image printed. Whenever a failed image is identified, one or more reasonably low resolution versions of the image as processed by the scene balance mechanism are displayed to the photofinishing operator, together with a request for image adjustment information that is used to modify or correct the color balance of the image. In response to this user input information, the image processor adjusts color balance parameters of the scene balance mechanism, so that the digitized image processed by the modified scene balance mechanism will yield a print of acceptable color balance quality. This interaction of the photofinishing operator with the image processing system may be accomplished by way of several modes, including displaying differently processed versions of the image, or a single version of the image processed by the scene balance mechanism, together with a question regarding the type of image. The failure detection mechanism preferably employs a non-linear discriminator, such as a neural network.

User-interactive reduction of scene balance failures

To determine the orientation of a set of recorded images, the recorded images are scanned. The scanning operation obtains information regarding at least one scene characteristic distributed asymmetrically in the separate recorded images. Probability estimates of orientation of each of the recorded images for which at least one scene characteristic is obtained are determined as a function of asymmetry in distribution of the scene characteristic. Probability of orientation for the set of recorded images is determined from the probability estimates of orientation of each of the recorded images in the set.

Whole order orientation method and apparatus

This invention relates to a method for increasing the range of values representing a color image which exhibit a linear response. To increase the linear range, look-up tables are formed which straighten the toe and shoulder regions of film's three density vs log exposure curves up to a prescribed limit. The values of the minimum densities for the piece of film containing the image are determined. The representative values of the image are then aligned with the input values of the look-up tables by a relative shift of the image values and the table values so that the minimum density values of the image equal the minimum density values in the look-up tables. The color density image is then processed through the look-up tables to increase its linear range.

Method to extend the linear range of images captured on film

A mechanism for recoloring a color image defines a spatial region within the image (such as the pupil of the eye) a color characteristic of which (e.g. the `red-eye` phenomenon) is to be selectively modified. To determine whether the color of an image sample within a spatial region is to be modified, the value of the chrominance component of each sample within the region is compared with a regularly shaped (e.g. elliptical) chrominance variation discriminator that surrounds a target color of interest (e.g. red, in the case of a `red-eye` correction). The major axis of the ellipse coincides with the saturation direction of the chrominance plane and its minor axis coincides with the hue direction. For each sampling location within the spatial region, the value of the chrominance component is examined to determine whether it falls within the elliptical chrominance discriminator. If the value of the chrominance component falls within the ellipse, it is modified to a destination chrominance value, based upon where the chrominance value of the sampled of interest falls, so as to soften the color at its edges. The luminance component is modified by an offset based upon the difference in the value of the luminance component of the target color and that of the new color. This luminance value difference is weighted in accordance with the product of the previously determined chrominance weighting coefficient and a prescribed relationship between the geometrical location of the luminance component for the sample of interest and the extent of a prescribed range of luminance variation projected from the elliptical discriminator along the luminance axis of the Y,I,Q coordinate system.

Localized image recoloring using ellipsoid boundary function

An interactive dynamic range adjustment method for printing digital images, and an implementation system, are disclosed. The method is based on experimental findings about visual photoreceptor adaption and human visual contrast sensitivity. The system adjusts the contrast of the low-frequency component only of the image, preserving (or if one wishes, enhancing) the high-frequency image component in its contrast. The adjustment is controlled by a mapping curve which the user manipulates interactively. The simulated optical print image and the dynamic range adjusted image are displayed side by side on a monitor screen so that the user can make proper selection of parameters to achieve the desired effect. For many images, the system automatically computes good parameters and no further adjustment is needed.

Interactive dynamic range adjustment system for printing digital images

This invention relates to a printing system which makes use of a color exposure determination algorithm. If the printing system permits operator controlled reprinting, then the algorithm's coefficients may be optimized by reprinting negatives using exposures that have been precisely corrected by the operator. This invention teaches that a most efficient way to select the negatives for reprinting is to chose those which lie in two ranges of the 'hat' statistic for any or all of the color exposure determination algorithm equations used to make the print. It also teaches how to automatically re-optimize the algorithm coefficients on a periodic basis using data collected automatically during the reprinting operation.

Adjusting photographic printer color exposure determination algorithms

A method is taught for automatically adjusting the balance coefficients of printer exposure determination algorithms based on an examination of the corrections made by the operator when reprinting negatives from unsatisfactory prints. The adjustment is based on the average correction and the standard deviation of the corrections made to each balance coefficient of the exposure determination equation.

An electro-optic display is provided which uses a liquid crystalline composition (a) having a positive, zero frequency dielectric anisotropy and (b) exhibiting a dielectric anisotropy inversion with increasing frequency of an applied field. Such a composition is subjected to an electric field of a first audio frequency and then subjected to a field of a second audio frequency of a magnitude sufficient to produce a dielectric anisotropy inversion in said composition. The resultant anisotropy changes allow the molecular orientation of the composition to be altered by the applied field thereby changing the optical properties of the composition.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Robert M Goodwin