U.S. patent application number 09/742553 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-20 for plurality of picture appearance choices from a color photographic recording material intended for scanning.
This patent application is currently assigned to Eastman Kodak Company. Invention is credited to Buhr, John D., Buitano, Lois A., Sowinski, Allan F., Szajewski, Richard P., Topfer, Karin, Woolfe, Geoffrey J..
Application Number | 20010053247 09/742553 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24372181 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010053247 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sowinski, Allan F. ; et
al. |
December 20, 2001 |
Plurality of picture appearance choices from a color photographic
recording material intended for scanning
Abstract
A system and method of offering photofinishing services involves
receiving an exposed photographic film from a customer; developing
and scanning the film to produce a digital image; displaying
examples of a plurality of looks on a color display medium to a
customer; receiving a selection of a preferred look from the
customer; and applying the selected look to the digital image to
produce a processed digital image having the preferred look.
Inventors: |
Sowinski, Allan F.;
(Rochester, NY) ; Buhr, John D.; (Fairport,
NY) ; Woolfe, Geoffrey J.; (Penfield, NY) ;
Topfer, Karin; (Rochester, NY) ; Buitano, Lois
A.; (Potomac, MD) ; Szajewski, Richard P.;
(Rochester, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Milton S. Sales
Patent Legal Staff
Eastman Kodak Company
343 State Street
Rochester
NY
14650-2201
US
|
Assignee: |
Eastman Kodak Company
|
Family ID: |
24372181 |
Appl. No.: |
09/742553 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09742553 |
Dec 20, 2000 |
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09592816 |
Jun 13, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
382/162 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00169 20130101;
H04N 1/0014 20130101; H04N 1/00167 20130101; H04N 1/00132 20130101;
H04N 1/00188 20130101; H04N 1/6011 20130101; H04N 1/00135 20130101;
H04N 1/00145 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
382/162 |
International
Class: |
G06K 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A photofinishing method comprising the steps of: a) offering a
plurality of available image looks to a customer in a manner which
permits the customer to select at least one image look for
association with at least one image captured by the customer on
scan-only photographic material; b) converting the at least one
image to an image-bearing electronic signal representative of the
at least one image; c) applying the selected look to the
image-bearing electronic signal; d) processing the image-bearing
electronic signal to provide a processed image having properties of
the selected image look; and e) transferring the processed image to
at least one of a customer or an intended recipient.
2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of
printing the processed image.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of offering the
image looks to a customer comprises representing the image looks on
a display medium.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the step of representing
the image looks on a display medium comprises displaying the image
looks to a customer on a color monitor, to permit the customer to
select a desired image look from the displayed image looks
subsequent to viewing the processed images.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the scan-only
photographic recording material is a color negative film.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of offering a
plurality of image looks comprises displaying the image looks to a
customer in a color brochure, to permit the customer to select a
desired image look from the displayed image looks prior to viewing
the processed image.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the customer is a
photographer and the step of offering the plurality of image looks
comprises displaying the image looks to the photographer in a color
brochure to permit the photographer to select a desired look
subsequent to viewing the processed images.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the image looks include
one or more looks from a list that includes accurate color
reproduction, portrait color, high color, black-and-white,
old-fashioned sepia tones, selected levels of color intensity,
selected levels of contrast, selected levels of detail, selected
levels of sharpness, and selected levels of grain.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the converting of the at
least one image to an image-bearing electronic signal
representative of the at least one image occurs at a different
location than the processing of the image-bearing electronic signal
to provide a processed image having the properties of the selected
image look.
10. A photofinishing method comprising the steps of: a) offering a
plurality of possible image looks and representing the image looks
on a display medium for viewing and selection by a customer; b)
receiving an exposed color photographic recording material intended
for scanning from the customer; c) scanning an image contained on
said exposed photographic recording material to produce
image-bearing electronic signals corresponding to the image
contained on the exposed photographic recording material; d)
processing the image-bearing electronic signals to apply a selected
look from said plurality of possible image looks; and e) providing
a processed image with an appearance characteristic of the selected
image look to at least one of the customer or an intended
recipient.
11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of
printing the processed image.
12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the photographic
recording material intended for scanning is a color negative
film.
13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of
representing the image looks comprises displaying the image looks
to the customer on a color monitor, to permit the customer to
select a desired look subsequent to viewing the processed
image.
14. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of
representing the image looks comprises displaying the image looks
to the customer in a color brochure, to permit the customer to
select a desired look prior to viewing the processed image.
15. A method according to claim 10, wherein the customer is a
photographer and the step of representing the image looks comprises
displaying the image looks to the photographer in a color brochure,
to permit the photographer to select a desired look subsequent to
viewing the processed image.
16. A method according to claim 10, wherein the looks include one
or more looks from a list of accurate color reproduction, portrait
color, high color, black-and-white, old-fashioned sepia tones,
selected levels of color intensity, selected levels of contrast,
selected levels of detail, selected levels of sharpness, and
selected levels of grain.
17. A method according to claim 10, wherein the exposed
photographic recording material is processed with a development
step to produce an image suitable for scanning.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the processing step for
the exposed photographic recording material includes dry chemistry
thermal photographic development.
19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the processing step for
the exposed photographic recording material includes lamination to
a donor medium.
20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the processing step to
produce an image suitable for scanning occurs at the same location
as the scanning of the image to produce image-bearing electronic
signals.
21. A photofinishing method comprising the steps of: a) offering a
plurality of available image looks to a customer in a manner which
permits the customer to select at least one image look which is to
be applied to an image bearing electronic signal representative of
a captured image; b) receiving the image-bearing electronic signal
and information representative of the selected image look; c)
processing the image-bearing electronic signal to provide a
processed image having properties of the selected image look; and
d) transferring the processed image to at least one of the customer
or an intended recipient.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said offering step
comprises the step of representing the image looks on a display
medium for viewing by the customer.
23. An image processing arrangement comprising: an input section
adapted to receive a digital image; and a processing section
including a display for displaying a plurality of available image
looks, said processing section being adapted to permit a user to
select at least one look from said available looks for association
with the digital image, and to process the digital image to provide
for a processed image having properties of the selected look.
24. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable
storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which when
loaded into the computer, causes the computer to perform the steps
of: a) offering a plurality of available image looks to a customer
in a manner which permits the customer to select at least one image
look which is to be applied to an image bearing electronic signal
representative of a captured image; b) transferring the image
bearing electronic signal and information representative of the
selected image look to a photofinishing service provider; c)
processing the image-bearing electronic signal to provide a
processed image having properties of the selected image look; and
d) transferring the processed image to at least one of the customer
or an intended recipient.
25. A photofinishing method based on an interactive photofinishing
service ordering session between a photofinishing service provider
and a customer, the method comprising: a) checking for a stored
customer profile for the customer based on at least a customer
identification of the customer, said customer profile including
information representative of previously selected preferred image
looks for the customer; wherein: b) if the customer has a stored
customer profile, the method comprises: (i) offering a plurality of
possible image looks to the customer in a manner which permits the
customer to select a preferred image look which is to be applied to
an image bearing electronic signal representative of a captured
image, at least one of said offered possible image looks being a
previously selected preferred image look from said stored customer
profile; and (ii) updating the stored customer profile based on the
selected preferred image look; and c) if the customer does not have
a stored customer profile, the method comprises: (i) offering a
plurality of possible image looks to the customer in a manner which
permits the customer to select at least one image look which is to
be applied to an image bearing electronic signal representative of
a captured image; and (ii) creating a new customer profile based on
the selected image look.
26. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable
storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which when
loaded into the computer, causes the computer to perform the steps
of: (I) offering photofinishing services based on an interactive
photofinishing service ordering session between a photofinishing
service provider and a customer which comprises: a) checking a
server for a stored customer profile for the customer based on at
least a customer identification of the customer, the customer
profile including information representative of previously selected
preferred image looks for the customer; wherein: b) if the customer
has a stored customer profile, the method comprises: (i) offering a
plurality of possible image looks to the customer in a manner which
permits the customer to select a preferred image look which is to
be applied to an image bearing electronic signal representative of
a captured image, at least one of said offered possible image looks
being a previously selected preferred image look from said stored
customer profile; and (ii) updating the stored customer profile
based on the selected preferred image look; and (c) if the customer
does not have a stored customer profile, the method comprises:
(iii) offering a plurality of possible image looks to the customer
in a manner which permits the customer to select at least one image
look which is to be applied to an image bearing electronic signal
representative of a captured image; and (iv) creating a new
customer profile based on the selected image look.
27. A photofinishing method based on an interactive photofinishing
service ordering session between a photofinishing service provider
and a customer, wherein the customer accesses a monitor during the
ordering session, the method comprising: a) determining monitor
settings of the monitor accessed by the customer; b) comparing the
determined monitor settings to optimum monitor settings that
provide preferred calibration results; c) providing color
calibration information to the customer based on said comparing
step; and d) checking for a stored customer profile for the
customer based on at least a customer identification of the
customer, said customer profile including information
representative of preferred monitor settings for the customer.
28. A method according to claim 27, wherein: (e) if the customer
has a stored profile, the method comprises: (i) retrieving the
preferred monitor settings in the stored customer profile; (ii)
offering the preferred monitor settings to the customer for
association with the customer's images; and (iii) updating the
stored profile; and (f) if the customer does not have a stored
profile, the method comprises: (i) offering monitor settings to the
customer for association with the customer's image; and (ii)
building a customer profile based on the customer's preferred
monitor settings.
29. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable
storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which when
loaded into the computer, causes the computer to perform the steps
of: offer photofinishing services based on an interactive
photofinishing service ordering session between a photofinishing
service provider and a customer, wherein the customer accesses a
monitor during the interactive ordering session; determine monitor
settings of the monitor accessed by the customer; compare the
determined monitor settings to optimum monitor settings that
provide preferred calibration results; provide color calibration
information to the customer based on said comparing step; and check
for a stored customer profile for the customer based on at least a
customer identification of the customer, said customer profile
including information representative of preferred monitor settings
for the customer.
30. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein: if
the customer has a stored profile, the computer performs the steps
of: retrieving the preferred monitor settings in the stored
customer profile; offering the preferred monitor settings to the
customer for association with the customer's images; and updating
the stored profile; and if the customer does not have a stored
profile, the computer performs the steps of: offering monitor
settings to the customer for association with the customer's image;
and building a customer profile based on the customer's preferred
monitor settings.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/592,816,
filed Jun. 13, 2000.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of photography;
more particularly, it relates to a photofinishing system as well as
to an electronic image processing and manipulation arrangement,
which includes digital image processing. The method is especially
suitable for providing a selection of scene reproductions with more
than one particular characteristic appearance or "look", where the
image reproduction selection is achieved by the exposure,
development, and scanning and image processing of a color
photographic recording material intended for scanning.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Color photographic systems known in the art capture images
of scenes on light-sensitive silver halide media or electronic
devices, recording the exposing light in analog or digital form,
respectively. Following processing, they provide printed hard copy
or soft copy output as a visual reproduction of the recorded scene.
For example, scene images can be captured on color negative film
and then reproduced after chemical development by optical printing,
or scanning and electronic writing on photographic paper. Scene
images can also be captured on reversal photographic materials,
such as slide transparencies, and then be viewed directly by
projection or back-illumination, or even be printed onto silver
halide photographic paper. In other cases, color images can be
captured by electronic devices, such as video cameras or digital
still cameras, and viewed on monitors or printed using dye
sublimation thermal printers. The systems mentioned above are just
some examples of color image recording systems. In each case, these
systems produce different appearance characteristics in the color
reproduction.
[0004] These differing reproduction appearance characteristics are
a result of a number of different factors. The final appearance
relates to the properties of the scene-recording element (color
recording accuracy and signal-to-noise), the system image
processing (rendering of hue, colorfulness, lightness, noise,
sharpness, and tone scale), and the display form (print, slide or
soft copy) with its individual color reproduction gamut, as well as
the viewing conditions and the state of adaptation of the viewer.
In a traditional photographic system which includes a color
negative film and photofinishing involving film development and
tail-end processing--and optical printing onto color paper with its
subsequent development and tail-end processing--the film tends to
dominate the imaging chain properties. Its color recording
accuracy, graininess, sharpness enhancement, contrast or gamma, and
particularly its chemical interlayer interimage effects, which
provide full system color correction and sharpness enhancement,
tend to produce a recognizable, characteristic appearance of the
final reflection print across all subject matter. The sustained
improvement of these individual properties and their aggregate
performance has been the basis for marketplace competition in film
for decades. Furthermore, the overall limitations of a pure
chemical imaging system, particularly around color and tone
reproduction, have forced the specialization of films for different
applications and induced the marketplace to segment the product
category into different lines. Consumers typically select film
giving higher print contrast and colorfulness for general-purpose
photography, whereas advanced amateurs often prefer films producing
more accurate color reproduction with lower contrast. Professional
photographers select films for portraiture producing low print
contrast and excellent flesh hues, with lower sharpness for a
softer, more pleasing look. Should a photographer have mixed
subject matter (e.g., portraits, scenic landscapes, and "candid or
grab-shots" of people), the film properties will compromise the
print reproduction of at least some of the images relative to the
selection of a specialized film. This compromise is so significant
that Advanced Photo System.TM. camera designers have made film
mid-roll interrupt a premium camera feature so the photographers
can remove a partially used film roll and replace it with another
better suited to the photographer's changing artistic preference or
scene content requirements. The astute photographer knows to select
a particular film to achieve a desired characteristic print
appearance, or "look".
[0005] Electronic image processing following film scanning or
digital still camera capture, new silver halide paper writing
devices (e.g., laser writers), and new print methods and media
(e.g., inkjet printers and inks) are revolutionizing color
reproduction by re-defining print color and tone rendering. The
rigid limitations imposed by a pure chemical system of color
correction and image structure management with a silver halide
print of the prior art have been removed, and many system tone
scales, colorfulness levels, hue and lightness renditions, and
sharpness levels can be provided using an electronic signal
processing chain. Thus it is possible to manipulate the appearance
characteristics in an automated photofinishing process by applying
mathematical algorithms to the individual image pixel data to
provide a scene reproduction having a desired balance of contrast,
color saturation and pleasing skin tones as determined by a
manufacturer or photofinisher. See for example U.S. Pat. No.
5,528,339 to Buhr et al.
[0006] Digital minilab photofinishing systems are beginning to
supplement optical printing minilabs in the commercial trade, in
part to provide printing services to digital still camera
photographers as well as network services to current camera films
designed for optical printing. The NORITSU QSS-2711 DLS System uses
KODAK DLS Software in order to provide silver halide prints
enhanced by electronic image processing that have adjusted
contrast, color balance corrected for indoor lighting, and
increased print sharpness. It also provides special effects
printing, including black-&-white or sepia-toned renditions of
color input (e.g., from color recording films or digital cameras)
and exaggerated, high-color printing.
[0007] The success of such digital image processing to provide one
or more pleasing print appearances still depends heavily on the
quality of the image capture medium or device. Current photographic
image capture films were designed for direct viewing (color
reversal) or optical printing (color negative) and are sub-optimal
for digitization compared with films designed for scanning and
electronic signal processing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,961 to Giorgianni
et al. describes a color reversal photographic recording material
providing calorimetrically accurate scene capture that is intended
for scanning and not for direct viewing or optical printing onto
silver halide color paper (i.e., a scan film or scan-only film). A
viewable image can be obtained by scanning a color negative film
that lacks colored masking couplers, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,379
to Bohan et al. or in U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,277 to Sowinski et al.,
for example. Having been so designed without inherent system color
correction properties like optical print films or slide films, a
scan film has no acceptable characteristic image reproduction
appearance associated with it, and one must be provided by the
selection of digital image processing parameters. Providing more
than one desirable print appearance from the image data produced
from the scan film is not mentioned in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,587,961,
5,698,379 and 6,021,277.
[0008] It would be highly desirable to provide photographers with
greater control and selection over the look of their pictures
derived from a single taking medium, and to enable the convenience
of exercising this control after the exposure stage of photography,
contrary to the present situation involving silver halide color
films intended for optical printing or direct viewing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The above need is met by a first aspect of the present
invention, by providing a method of photofinishing including the
steps of offering a plurality of possible image looks and
representing the selections on a display medium; receiving
image-bearing electronic signals derived from a color photographic
recording material intended for scanning from a sender; selecting
one or more of the possible looks to apply to image-bearing
electronic signals derived from a color photographic recording
material intended for scanning; processing said image-bearing
electronic signals to provide a processed image having the
properties of the selected look; and transferring the processed
image to an intended recipient.
[0010] A second aspect of the present invention is to provide a
method of photofinishing including the steps of offering a
plurality of possible image looks and representing the selections
on a display medium; receiving an exposed color photographic
recording material intended for scanning; processing the exposed
color photographic recording material to produce an image suitable
for scanning; scanning the image to produce image-bearing
electronic signals; processing the image-bearing electronic signals
to apply a selected look and; providing a processed image with the
appearance characteristics of the selected look to an intended
recipient.
[0011] The present invention has an advantage of providing a
photographer with the choice of differing image looks or appearance
characteristics that can be selected at any point in the
photographic scene capture and image reproduction process, and
which can be applied to the image at the time of photofinishing.
The method allows for the use of a single photographic recording
material intended for scanning to produce a selection of different
image appearances, which provides convenience and simplicity over
selecting from a plurality of films intended for optical printing
or direct viewing at the time of photographic capture. These
differing looks are produced from an origination image file
resulting from scanning a photographic recording material that is
intended for scanning, providing enormous flexibility in the
processes of image look selection and photofinishing. According to
a preferred embodiment, the photofinishing method can be offered as
an interactive service with an Internet World Wide Web site. The
photofinisher supplies the customer with a scan film and a
processing mailer. The examples of looks are displayed on the Web
site and the customer selects one or more of the looks to be
applied to his images.
[0012] The present invention therefore relates to a photo finishing
method which comprises offering a plurality of available image
looks to a customer in a manner which permits the customer to
select at least one image look for association with at least one
image captured by the customer on scan-only photographic material;
converting the at least one image to an image-bearing electronic
signal representative of the at least one image; applying the
selected look to the image-bearing electronic signal; processing
the image-bearing electronic signal to provide a processed image
having properties of the selected image look; and transferring the
processed image to at least one of a customer or an intended
recipient.
[0013] The present invention further relates to a photofinishing
method which comprises offering a plurality of possible image looks
and representing the image looks on a display medium for viewing
and selection by a customer; receiving an exposed color
photographic recording material intended for scanning from the
customer; processing the exposed color photographic recording
material to produce an image suitable for scanning; scanning the
image to produce imagebearing electronic signals; processing the
image-bearing electronic signals to apply a selected look from the
plurality of possible image looks; and providing a processed image
with an appearance characteristic of the selected image look to at
least one of the customer or an intended recipient.
[0014] The present invention further relates to a photofinishing
method which comprises offering a plurality of available image
looks to a customer in a manner which permits the customer to
select at least one image look which is to be applied to an
image-bearing electronic signal representative of a captured image;
receiving the image-bearing electronic signal and information
representative of the selected image look; processing the
image-bearing electronic signal to provide a processed image having
properties of the selected image look; and transferring the
processed image to at least one of the customer or an intended
recipient.
[0015] The present invention further relates to an image processing
arrangement which comprises an input section adapted to receive a
digital image; and a processing section including a display for
displaying a plurality of available image looks. The processing
section is adapted to permit a user to select at least one look
from the available looks for association with the digital image,
and to process the digital image to provide for a processed image
having properties of the selected look.
[0016] The present invention further relates to a computer program
product, comprising a computer readable storage medium having a
computer program stored thereon, which when loaded into the
computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of: offer a
plurality of available image looks to a customer in a manner which
permits the customer to select at least one image look which is to
be applied to an image-bearing electronic signal representative of
a captured image; transfer the image-bearing electronic signal and
information representative of the selected image look to a
photofinishing service provider; process the image-bearing
electronic signal to provide a processed image having properties of
the selected image look; and transfer the processed image to at
least one of the customer or an intended recipient.
[0017] The present invention further relates to a photofinishing
method based on an interactive photofinishing service ordering
session between a photofinishing service provider and a customer.
The method comprises checking for a stored customer profile for the
customer based on at least a customer identification of the
customer, with the customer profile including information
representative of previously selected preferred image looks for the
customer. If the customer has a stored customer profile, the method
comprises offering a plurality of possible image looks to the
customer in a manner which permits the customer to select a
preferred image look which is to be applied to an image bearing
electronic signal representative of a captured image, with at least
one of the offered possible image looks being a previously selected
preferred image look from the stored customer profile; and updating
the stored customer profile based on the selected preferred image
look. If the customer does not have a stored customer profile, the
method comprises offering a plurality of possible image looks to
the customer in a manner which permits the customer to select at
least one image look which is to be applied to an image bearing
electronic signal representative of a captured image; and creating
a new customer profile based on the selected image look.
[0018] The present invention further relates to a computer program
product which comprises a computer readable storage medium having a
computer program stored thereon, which when loaded into the
computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of offering
photofinishing services based on an interactive photofinishing
service ordering session between a photofinishing service provider
and a customer which comprises checking a server for a stored
customer profile for the customer based on at least a customer
identification of the customer. The customer profile includes
information representative of previously selected preferred image
looks for the customer, wherein if the customer has a stored
customer profile, the method comprises offering a plurality of
possible image looks to the customer in a manner which permits the
customer to select a preferred image look which is to be applied to
an image-bearing electronic signal representative of a captured
image, with at least one of the offered possible image looks being
a previously selected preferred image look from the stored customer
profile; and updating the stored customer profile based on the
selected preferred image look. If the customer does not have a
stored customer profile, the method comprises offering a plurality
of possible image looks to the customer in a manner which permits
the customer to select at least one image look which is to be
applied to an image bearing electronic signal representative of a
captured image; and creating a new customer profile based on the
selected image look.
[0019] The present invention further relates to a photofinishing
method based on an interactive photofinishing service ordering
session between a photofinishing service provider and a customer,
wherein the customer accesses a monitor during the ordering
session. The method comprises determining monitor settings of the
monitor accessed by the customer; comparing the determined monitor
settings to optimum monitor settings that provide preferred
calibration results; providing color calibration information to the
customer based on the comparing step; and checking for a stored
customer profile for the customer based on at least a customer
identification of the customer. The customer profile includes
information representative of preferred monitor settings for the
customer.
[0020] The present invention further relates to a computer program
product which comprises a computer readable storage medium having a
computer program stored thereon, which when loaded into the
computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of: offer
photofinishing services based on an interactive photofinishing
service ordering session between a photofinishing service provider
and a customer, wherein the customer accesses a monitor during the
interactive ordering session; determine monitor settings of the
monitor accessed by the customer; compare the determined monitor
settings to optimum monitor settings that provide preferred
calibration results; provide color calibration information to the
customer based on the comparing step; and check for a stored
customer profile for the customer based on at least a customer
identification of the customer. The customer profile includes
information representative of preferred monitor settings for the
customer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a photofinishing system
according to the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2A is the front side of a film processing envelope for
photofinishing services that provide selectable image looks;
[0023] FIG. 2B is the backside of a film processing envelope for
photofinishing services, which displays a catalog of the variable
image reproductions;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a computer monitor display of an Internet Web page
relating to a method of interactive picture look selection;
[0025] FIG. 4A is a computer monitor display of an Internet Web
page showing the examples of image looks provided according to the
present invention;
[0026] FIG. 4B. Ms a computer monitor display of an Internet Web
page showing examples of additional information that can be
associated with and accompany the image looks provided according to
the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a photofinishing system
capable of accepting and processing images according to the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a networked computer
system capable of accepting and sending image data according to the
present invention;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a preferred method of
electronic signal processing of input image-bearing signals from
scanning to form output image-bearing signals for printing that
have been modified in accord with a selected appearance;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing further features of a
photofinishing system according to the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 9 is a computer monitor display of a customer
identification and log-on page;
[0032] FIG. 10 is a computer monitor display of an Internet Web
page showing the selection of image looks provided according to the
present invention; and
[0033] FIG. 11 is a block diagram which illustrates the building of
a customer profile for personalized image look selection in
accordance with a further feature of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the
present invention. In step 101, a photofinisher provides a catalog
of available image looks and options for the photofinishing
service. An image "look" can be defined by characterizing the
appearance of a reproduction relative to the appearance of the
original scene. Individuals differ in their preference for
appearance characteristics of image reproductions. An original
scene can be reproduced with accurate hues, or with hues shifted in
color space according to an individual or a general population
preference. An original scene can be reproduced with varying levels
of colorfulness, i.e., entirely without color as in
black-and-white, with accurate colorfulness, or with increased
colorfulness; in addition, the colorfulness of particular colors
within the scene may desirably be manipulated relative to one
another. An original scene can be reproduced with varying levels of
lightness, e.g., contrast, and with rendering tone scales that vary
with overall light levels; tone scale selection can be used to
mitigate the visual effect of harsh scene lighting (e.g., lower
contrast) or flat scene lighting (e.g., higher contrast).
Furthermore, spatial image manipulations relating to image noise
alteration (e.g., noise reduction or graininess smoothing) and
detail or sharpness alteration (e.g., unsharp masking to increases
low frequency information) can also affect the appearance of and
desirability of a scene reproduction.
[0035] Within the context of the present invention, the term
"looks" relates to specific combinations of color hue reproduction,
colorfulness level and tonal rendering, and spatial manipulations,
which provide pleasing scene reproductions to one or more
individuals. It will be appreciated that a pleasing scene
reproduction to a particular individual or group of individuals
does not necessarily provide for superior scene reproduction from a
technical basis. For example, a grotesque or dark, Gothic
reproduction of a scene which may be pleasing to a particular
individual, but not necessarily an accurate or broadly preferred
rendering of the captured scene, falls within the scope of the
present invention.
[0036] The catalog described in FIG. 1 can be a brochure, a sign,
an advertisement or a poster. The catalog can be a film processing
envelope, an order form, a bill, or a receipt. The catalog can be
represented in a printed form on a reflection material or by an
electronic display technology, such as a computer monitor, a liquid
crystal display (LCD), a television, or a personal digital
assistant. It can be represented by a verbal description suitable
for receipt by a voice technology, such as cellular telephone. It
is a common practice for a photofinisher, when receiving film for
processing, to supply the customer with a processing envelope; when
the photofinisher is a wholesale, mail order institution, the
processing envelope can be sent through the mail (i.e., a mailer).
The customer's exposed film is placed in the processing envelope
and sealed, with customer order information such as name, order
options, billing method, and a means of contact such as a daytime
telephone number commonly supplied. FIG. 2A shows the front side
3000a of a film-processing envelope for photofinishing services
that offer the selection of different image looks (section 3001a)
from a single film capture medium. The backside 3000b of a
film-processing envelope is shown in FIG. 2B, which provides a
catalog (section 3001b) of some available image looks.
[0037] On the processing envelope are commonly found check-off
boxes, which provide a menu of options for the photofinishing
order. For example, the processing envelope can offer various print
sizes, single or duplicate prints, and enlargements; it is
preferred for the envelope to disclose photofinishing options
around variable image appearances. For the purposes of the
invention, the catalog can constitute a description on the film
container itself or any associated packaging that indicates the
possible use of the film to provide multiple looks. It is common
trade practice with consumer photographic films to describe the
applications of the product on the container box both on the inside
and on the outside. It is also contemplated that the camera used to
expose the film can interrogate a microchip, a magnetic coating, or
other information storage means associated with the film, or its
cartridge or cassette, in order to determine the possible use of
the film to provide a selection of image appearances. In an
especially preferred form of the invention, the catalog is
represented by a World Wide Web (WWW) page on the Internet. It is
contemplated that the customer may purchase both unexposed film and
its processing through the same channel at the same time, or
through different channels at different times and, after taking
pictures, return the exposed film to the photofinisher for
development and image processing. There is no requirement that the
film bear an indication of its suitability for photofinishing to
provide multiple appearances (e.g., an advertised, conforming use).
Only the photofinisher, his intermediaries, or his agents need to
provide a description of the photofinishing service that provides a
selection of image appearances according to the invention. For the
purposes of the invention, the customer can be a single individual,
such as the photographer who exposed the photographic recording
material, or a retail client of the photofinishing service, or he
may represent a group of individuals buying services as a
consortium (e.g., a club, a cooperative, a business, a firm, an
institution, a government organization). The photofinisher can be
an actual operation that conducts all of the technical work of film
scanning, image processing, image transmission, processed image
printing, etc., or the photofinisher can be a service providing
party that offers one of more services to customers and that in
turn receives one or more of the needed technical steps or services
from a different service provider. In one example of the invention,
the photofinisher is a service provider, which only deals in
reprinting previously developed film.
[0038] The characteristic appearance that is produced by the
invention can be represented by a verbal description, a written
description, by icons, by graphical means, or by pictorial
description, or by a combination of the various means. It is
preferred to represent the different image looks produced by the
invention with a pictorial representation, in particular a sample
image. It is recognized, however, that the limitations of the
printing methodology may compromise the quality of the
representation. It is also appreciated that the visual ability or
acuity of the viewer or purchaser will vary among the population.
The lighting under which the customer views the brochure, the
viewer's state of adaptation, or even the production features of
the catalog may affect his perception of the nature of the look.
Therefore it is highly preferred to supplement pictorial
representations of the image looks with text descriptions of the
properties of the looks. It is preferred to describe the image
looks in terms of the presence or absence of color (that is, a
color image, a black-and-white image, or a sepia image, for
example), image contrast, image colorfulness, image hue rendition,
and image sharpness and graininess. It is also possible to compare
the offered looks to existing film products known for
characteristic or trademark looks. It is also possible to
characterize the looks by a ranking system, such as: good, better,
best. It is furthermore possible to characterize the image looks by
customer segmentation; for example, color rendition preferred by
teenagers, by artists, by professional photographers, or by
geographical, regional or cultural preference. It is preferred to
represent the image looks by application such as landscape,
portraiture, baby picture, candid or grab shot, party scene, dreary
day, snow or beach scene, and so forth. The image looks can also be
characterized by their suitability for a particular viewing
condition or lighting condition during exposure such as bright
lighting levels, low lighting levels, tungsten lighting, natural
daylight illumination, artificial fluorescent illumination, and so
forth. The image looks can furthermore be characterized by their
suitability for viewing by a particular segment of the population,
such as young persons with excellent visual acuity, middle-aged
people with farsightedness, and the elderly with declining visual
abilities.
[0039] In a highly preferred embodiment, the photofinishing catalog
or brochure is displayed on the Internet as a WWW page. The
Internet comprises a large number of computers and computer
networks that are interconnected through communication links. The
interconnected computers exchange information using various
services, such as electronic mail, Gopher, and the Web. The Web
service allows a server computer system (a Web server or Web site)
to send pages of graphical information to a remote client computer
system. The remote client computer system can then display the Web
pages. Each source of content that is a computer Web page of the
WWW is uniquely identifiable by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
In order to view a specific Web page, the client computer system
specifies the URL for that Web page in a request. The request is
forwarded to the Web server that supports that Web page. When the
Web server receives the request, it sends that Web page to the
client computer system. When the client computer system receives
that Web page, it typically displays the Web page using a browser
program. A browser is a special-purpose application program that
conducts the requesting of Web pages and the displaying of Web
pages.
[0040] The WWW of the Internet is a particularly suitable means to
both display the image looks and to interact with the customer to
accept an order and generate a billing transaction. An
Internet-based catalog can have an introductory page identifying
the service and provider, a tutorial page, a sample image page, an
ordering page for the photographic recording material or the image
processing services, and the address or location of available
retail laboratories or sites offering the film, photo finishing
service, or the bundled combination if available. Due to concerns
about home monitor calibration, it would be preferred to represent
the sample images in an exaggerated form that emphasizes the
differences between the image the looks, and to supplement the
images with text descriptions of the properties of the look. It is
contemplated to make sample image looks available for downloading
as image files (e.g., a tagged-image-file-format (TIFF) file) over
the Internet for home printing so that a customer can see sample
images prepared on his home printing equipment, such as an inkjet
printer. An example of printing over a network is KODAK PHOTONET
ONLINE service offered by Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,
N.Y.
[0041] In step 102 (FIG. 1), a photofinishing service receives the
customer's exposed scan film. While any camera speed photographic
recording material, or image file derived from a recording material
(e.g., a film scan), a recorded image (e.g., a print scan image
file) or an electronic recording device (e.g., a digital still
camera), can be employed in the practice of this invention, the
ability to provide superior image capture and storage properties
and electronic image processing capability is greatly facilitated
by employing a film designed for scanning. A film intended for
scanning can be characterized by having low suitability for both
direct viewing (e.g., projection) and optical printing. The film
intended for scanning may be suitable for wet, aqueous processing
including lamination and chemical transfer methods, or it may be
suitable for dry, thermal processing by being comprised of
incorporated development chemicals.
[0042] In one embodiment, a dry-process film intended for scanning
can be characterized as a light sensitive silver halide
photographic recording material having an incorporated developer in
a binder on a support and capable of forming a differentiable
machine-readable image which includes a non-diffusible dye by the
application of heat.
[0043] In a second embodiment, a dry-process film intended for
scanning can be characterized as a light sensitive silver halide
photographic recording material capable of forming a differentiable
machine-readable image which includes a non-diffusible dye by the
application of little to no processing solvent and a laminate
layer, wherein the dry-process film or the laminate layer has an
incorporated developer.
[0044] Suitable dry-process films and suitable components are
described by Irving et al. in U.S. Ser. No. 09/475,510 filed Dec.
30, 1999, and by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,048,110 to Szajewski et al.;
5,756,269 to Ishikawa et al.; 5,858,629 to Ishikawa et al.;
6,022,673 to Ishikawa; 5,888,704 to Kikuchi; 5,965,332 to Kikuchi;
5,851,749 to Okawa et al.; 5,851,745 to Takeuchi; 5,871,880 to
Makuta et al.; 5,874,203 to Morita, et al.; 5,945,264 to Asami et
al.; 5,976,771 to Kosugi et al. and 6,051,359 to Ohkawa et al.
[0045] The film intended for scanning can have long exposure
latitude, at least 2.5 log E, preferably at least about 3.0 log E,
more preferably at least about 3.5 log E and even more preferably
at least about 4.0 log E. The long latitude facilitates proper
capture of the total range of scene light levels under a variety of
lighting conditions and illuminant types. The film can have a high
sensitivity, preferably having an equivalent threshold sensitivity
of at least about ISO 100, more preferably having an equivalent
threshold sensitivity of at least about ISO 200 and most preferably
having an equivalent threshold sensitivity of at least about ISO
400. Equivalent threshold sensitivities of about ISO 800 are useful
in one-time-use cameras (OTUCs) based on 35-mm format film, and
equivalent threshold sensitivities of up to about ISO 6400 are
specifically contemplated. The high sensitivity further facilitates
capture of scene light levels under poor lighting conditions of low
illumination and when the scene subject is in motion, since the
high sensitivity permits the use of a fast shutter time on a
camera.
[0046] A film intended for scanning can be additionally
characterized as having very distinguishable properties from films
intended for optical printing or direct viewing. The film can form
a low gamma image after development. The low gamma, especially when
combined with the long latitude, ensures that the formed densities
are easily scanned without the introduction of scanner electronic
noise produced by scanning through high net density (density above
the minimum density). Image gammas of up to about 0.7 are
preferred, gammas of up to about 0.55 are more preferred and image
gammas of up to about 0.45 are even more preferred. The film can
exhibit a minimal gamma after development processing. Image gammas
of about 0.2 are specifically contemplated. Certain methods of
scanning allow an almost imperceptible image to be rendered into
electronic image-bearing signals. Although a black-and-white film
can be employed to facilitate some of the features of the
invention, a color film can best exploit the full features of the
present invention. When the film is a color film, it can have
individual layer units each sensitive to red, green or blue light,
such as the film intended for scanning described in EP-A-0 905 561
(published Mar. 31, 1999). Alternatively, the film can have layer
units sensitive to white light and to specific subsets of white
light as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,962,205 to Arakawa et al.
and 5,053,324 to Sasaki. While the layer units of a color film
intended for scanning can be sensitized using any known color
sensitization scheme, they are preferably sensitized in a manner
that approximates the sensitivity of the human eye, which allows
the accurate recording of scene light types as well as levels and
which provides scene colorimetry. Since calorimetric capture
requires linear space signal processing, it is incompatible with
traditional chemical image processing practiced by color negative
films intended for optical printing and color reversal films
intended for direct viewing. Colorimetric recording is a desirable
trait of films intended for scanning and electronic image
processing, because image data with known color accuracy can be
more manipulated to a much higher extent before color errors become
objectionable, which in turn provides a larger range of possible
image looks. A useful sensitization method, element and
image-processing scheme for colorimetric capture is described in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,961 to Giorgianni et al. More preferred
spectral sensitizing dyes and methods for colorimetric recording
emulsion sensitization are disclosed by EP-A-0 978 762 (published
Feb. 9, 2000), which claims priority from U.S. Ser. No. 09/126,658,
filed Aug. 5, 1998, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,093,526 and 6,143,482 to
Buitano et al. Colorimetric-recording negative films especially
useful in the practice of the invention are further described in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,983 to Buitano et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,818
to Gonzalez et al., and U.S. Ser. No. 09/259,694 filed Mar. 1,
1999.
[0047] When the film intended for scanning is a color negative
film, it is preferably comprised of little or no colored masking
coupler as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,379 and 5,840,470 to
Bohan et al., and 6,021,277 to Sowinski et al., the disclosure of
which is herein incorporated by reference. Masking coupler is
incorporated in a color negative intended for optical printing and
performs a color correction step during chemical development.
Elimination of the masking coupler provides for improved
signal-to-noise characteristics during chemical development and
obviates the need to electronically counteract its effect. In like
manner, the film preferably exhibits low levels of interlayer
interimage effects overall, since electronic signal processing will
be relied upon for color correction and image structure
enhancement. In a preferred embodiment, each layer unit of a color
film will comprise less than about 0.02 mmole/m.sup.2 of colored
masking coupler. Since colored masking couplers are not required in
color negative films intended for scanning, the processed film may
be better adapted for visual appearance and inspection, in addition
for scanning, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,585 to Sowinski
et al.
[0048] It is conventional practice with color photographic
recording materials used for printing or for direct viewing to have
blue, green, and red light recording layer units contain yellow,
magenta, and cyan image dye-forming couplers, respectively. In
color photographic recording materials intended for scanning to
produce three separate electronic color records, the actual hue of
the image dye produced is of no importance. What is essential is
merely that the dye image produced in each of the layer units be
differentiable from that produced by each of the remaining layer
units. To provide this capability of differentiation, it is
contemplated that each of the layer units contains one or more dye
image-forming couplers chosen to produce image dye having an
absorption half-peak bandwidth lying in a different spectral
region. It is immaterial whether the blue, green, or red recording
layer unit forms a yellow, magenta, or cyan dye having an
absorption half peak bandwidth in the blue, green, or red region of
the spectrum, as is conventional in a color negative element
intended for use in printing, or an absorption half peak bandwidth
in any other convenient region of the spectrum, ranging from the
near ultraviolet (300-400 nm) through the visible and through the
near infrared (700-1200 nm), so long as the absorption half peak
bandwidths of the image dye in the layer units extend in
non-coextensive wavelength ranges. Preferably each image dye
exhibits an absorption half-peak bandwidth that extends over at
least a 25 (most preferably 50) nm spectral region that is not
occupied by an absorption half-peak bandwidth of another image
dye.
[0049] Light sensitive elements or films useful in the practice of
this invention can be supplied in standard film cartridges or in
thrust cartridges or cassettes, all as known in the art. Thrust
cartridges are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,226,613 to Kataoka et
al.; 5,200,777 to Zander; 5,031,852 to Dowling et al.; 5,003,334 to
Pagano et al.; and 4,834,306 to Robertson et al. These thrust
cartridges can be employed in reloadable cameras designed
specifically to accept them, in cameras fitted with an adapter
designed to accept such film cassettes or in one-time-use cameras
designed to accept them. Narrow-bodied one-time-use cameras
suitable for employing thrust cartridges are described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,692,221 to Tobioka et al. While the film can be mounted in a
one-time-use camera in any manner known in the art, it is
especially preferred to mount the film in the one-time-use camera
such that it is taken up on exposure by a thrust cartridge. Film
supplied in a thrust cartridge can be supplied in any convenient
width. Widths of about 24 mm as employed in the Advanced Photo
System.TM. (APS) are contemplated as well as wider formats, such as
35 mm or even wider.
[0050] Photographic recording materials intended for scanning that
are particularly useful in the practice of the invention can be
prepared by coating light sensitive silver halide emulsion units on
a support with magnetic recording capability. Magnetic recording
layers on film permit the encoding of information with specific
images or with a the entire film roll, and they are described in
Research Disclosure Item 38957, pages 626-627 (September 1996)
Section XIV Scan facilitating features paragraph (2). Research
Disclosure is a publication of Kenneth Mason Publications Ltd.,
Dudley House, 12 North Street, Emsworth, Hampshire PO10 7DQ England
(also available from Emsworth Design Inc., 121 West 19th Street,
New York, N.Y. 10011). Information useful in the practice of the
invention can be exchanged between the film and the camera, the
film manufacturer and the photofinisher, the customer and the film
manufacturer, and so forth, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,229,810 to Cloutier et al.; 4,987,439 to Cloutier; 5,027,140 to
Cloutier; 5,130,745 to Cloutier et al.; 5,021,820 to Robison et
al.; 4,965,626 to Robison et al.; 4,974,096 to Wash; 5,204,708 to
Whitfield et al.; 5,029,313 to Robison et al.; 5,006,873 to Wash;
5,194,892 to Robison; 5,025,283 to Robison; 5,726,737 to Fredlund
et al.; 5,609,403 to Bell et al. and 5,276,472 to Bell et al.
[0051] The exposed scan film can be received at a retail site such
as a photo specialty store, a drug store, a department store, or a
grocery store. The film can be deposited at a drop-off point, a
kiosk, or mailed via the U.S. Postal Service using a mailer
envelope. The customer can be presented with the option of choosing
the photographic look that he desires for the planned images. In
another embodiment, he customer can instead order a single default
look from which to judge his images. The customer can order
multiple image renditions derived from the same scene image, or he
can order a single image per film frame wherein the look or
characteristic appearance of the image is selected by the
photofinisher, perhaps for optimum image quality based on scene
content or photographic exposure, or perhaps based on a pricing
structure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the customer
can view imagettes (i.e., thumbnail images as used in a film order
index print) displayed by a monitor screen through the Internet; in
another embodiment, the imagettes are sent to the customer by
e-mail for his examination before the full image data is processed.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the imagettes are
displayed in real-time by a photographic processing kiosk. In still
other embodiments, it is contemplated that the customer will have
an option to select the images that he wishes to print or render
for a fee, which can be referred to as a photo-select process. An
example of such a selection methodology is described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,666,215 to Fredlund, et al. Especially suitable methods of
digital photofinishing and image distribution involving a networked
computer means are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,017,157 and
6,133,985 to Garfinkle et al.
[0052] In step 102 (FIG. 1), it is preferred to assign a unique
code to the customer photofinishing order. It is common practice in
the photofinishing trade to supply an order number with a
processing envelope in order to return the correct processed film
and prints to a particular customer. An analogous strategy can be
used with a processing kiosk. Other kinds of identifying codes can
be present in the order. For example, the film cartridge or
cassette can be encoded with an identifier for film type,
processing conditions, film speed, or image processing
requirements. In a similar fashion, the film can have a
magnetically recorded encodement or a pre-exposed encodement, such
as a bar-code on the edge of the film outside the frame area, to
identify image processing requirements, manufacturer's correction
factors, and so forth. The order identifier associated with the
transaction can be used to facilitate the purchase of reprints or
enlargements of particular frames, if the customer later desires.
The order number can be associated with an index print, if
provided, or with the customer's returned images in either hard
copy or soft copy form. It is preferred to associate the order
number with the digital file from the customer's order through the
course of image processing and the completion of the transaction. A
more permanent kind of identifying number can be assigned to a
customer in order to process future orders. For example, a customer
account can be established using a telephone number, an e-mail
address, or a credit card number as a customer identifier, as
illustrated in a representative Web page account generation process
700 shown in FIG. 3. During the course of the transaction, if the
customer chooses a particular look, that choice can be stored along
with the code number in the customer database. In this manner, a
customer profile can be established, at the discretion of the
customer. The customer code can be stored in the customer database
and the identity of the customer's chosen look or preferences can
be retrieved and associated with future purchases, if desired. In
particular, if the customer has specific, permanent choices in
mind, the processing envelope (or kiosk transaction) can be
pre-endorsed with the chosen look(s) for future orders.
[0053] Referring now to step 106 of FIG. 1, it is determined which
image look (or looks) are to be applied to the customer's input
image data file prior to the completion of image processing in
order to fulfill his order. In one embodiment of the invention, the
customer chooses the particular look or looks for his image order.
The customer can choose the particular look at the time of order
placement for photofinishing following photography, and the
processing envelope or mailer can be marked with the chosen look
properties. Alternatively, the processing envelope can be
pre-endorsed by the photofinisher based on customer preference data
from prior usage of the service. In these circumstances, the looks
selections are transmitted to the image processing equipment by
codes or tags that have the customer order number associated with
them. After photography, the customer has the option of changing
the requested look by marking the processing envelope or mailer
before returning it and the exposed film to the photofinisher. In
another variation, the customer can record a preselected look on
the film from a camera, before, during, or after image capture by
using magnetic information storage such as found in Advanced
Photographic System cameras, or by encoding a selection in an
integrated circuit resident in a film cartridge or cassette. If the
customer has a film camera with an associated auxiliary digital
still capture device and display as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,777,677 to Miyake et al., such as a mounted LCD display or
organic light emitting diode (OLED) display for instant image
verification, then the customer can utilize an image looks menu for
preview and display and make a selection at the time of image
capture (or picture taking) for future order processing.
[0054] In another embodiment of the invention, the Internet can be
used for order placement and image look selection. FIG. 4A shows an
Internet WWW page 800, which displays the results (section 801) of
applying various available looks to a customer's image, and which
allows the customer to select the image look on a per-frame or
whole-order basis (sections 802, 803). In the example of FIG. 4A,
the customer has chosen to view up to 4 looks on one frame and to
select their picture look themselves. These selections are then
transmitted to the image processing equipment with the customer's
order number. The customer may care to have additional information
associated with his image, such as text, as disclosed in EP-A-0 851
661 (published Jul. 1, 1998) or U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,005,972 to
Fredlund et al. and 5,986,671 to Fredlund et al., voice or musical
annotations as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,774,752 to Patton et
al. and 5,878,292 to Bell et al., or picture sequencing to form an
electronic photo album as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,519 to
Manico et al., which is illustrated by the example WWW page 900 of
FIG. 4B; such operations are conveniently recorded in the
photofinishing order at this time.
[0055] In another embodiment of the invention and as a further
example, the photofinisher or an algorithm selects the looks to be
applied to the individual image frames based upon scene content,
pictorial quality optimization, and so forth, as also suggested in
section 804 of FIG. 4A. In this circumstance, the look
determination can be performed by an algorithm that determines the
properties of an individual image frame based on its image content.
For example, a scene balance algorithm will provide color balance
and density balance information for printing an image; it, or an
image analysis algorithm, could also provide indications of scene
content (i.e., the presence of sky, the presence of grass, the
presence of a principal human subject, the presence of a face, the
frame orientation, high lighting contrast (sunny day or electronic
flash), low lighting contrast (overcast day), and so forth) upon
which to base a selection of the optimum look in an automated
fashion.
[0056] Referring to step 103 of FIG. 1, the customer's exposed scan
film is chemically processed to produce a scanable image. In one
embodiment of the invention, a fall, conventional color process is
carried out to provide a normal appearing, processed color negative
film. In another embodiment of the invention, the chemical
processing can be accelerated; the omission of tail-end processing
steps such as washing is specifically contemplated. In yet another
embodiment of the invention, the chemical processing can be limited
to only a development step, which can involve aqueous processing
chemicals or can alternatively involve thermal processing. A color
photographic silver halide material comprised of a blocked but
releasable photochemical (such as a blocked but releasable color
developing agent) can be processed and used with the present
invention. Such a material is disclosed for example in U.S. Ser.
No. 09/475,510 filed Dec. 30, 1999 by Irving et al. The apparatus
can be employed to process film in a free standing customer
accessible kiosk as described in EP-A-0 234 833 (published on Sep.
2, 1987), U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,113,351 to Bostic, 5,627,016 to Manico
and 5,664,253 to Meyers. For the purposes of this invention,
photothermographic materials providing color images are considered
to be within the definition of "color photographic recording
materials intended for scanning". Color processing satisfying the
requirements of the invention can also be accomplished by
lamination methods, such as illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,756,269
to Ishikawa et al.; 6,022,673 to Ishikawa and 6,030,755 to
Matsumoto et al. Aerial deposition development methods associated
with co-called electronic film development as described in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,988,896 to Edgar and 6,017,688 to Edgar are also
specifically contemplated, since such methods can be expected to
perform especially well with films intended for scanning.
[0057] Satisfactory conventional color processing methods using
conventional processing components, providing both color negative
and color reversal images, are well known, as described for
example, in Research Disclosure publication 308119, December 1989,
publication 17643, December 1978, and publication 38957, September,
1996. Color developing compositions and processing conditions
usefull in rapid color development are disclosed for example in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,118,591 to Koboshi et al.; 5,753,424 to Ishikawa
et al. and 5,922,519 to Ishikawa et al. It is preferred to use a
full color process with bleaching and fixing steps to provide color
negatives intended for scanning that are free of retained silver
metal and silver halide in order to improve scanning quality, but
the invention can be practiced with any scanable, processed
photographic recording material bearing an image. It is preferred,
where appropriate to the requirements of the particular scan film,
to use the KODAK FLEXICOLOR.TM. Process or C-41 Process, as
described by The British Journal of Photography Annual of 1988, pp.
196-198. Another description of the use of the FLEXICOLOR.TM.
Process is provided by Using Kodak Flexicolor Chemicals, Kodak
Publication No. Z-131, Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y.
[0058] In step 104 of FIG. 1, the imagewise exposed and processed
photographic recording material intended for scanning according to
the invention is scanned. FIG. 5 shows, in block diagram form, a
manner in which the recorded image information provided by the
processed material can be used. A film scanner 502 is used to read
processed scan film 501 by transmission; similarly, a reflection
print scanner 504 or a digital still camera 503 can also provide
data input into the image processing system. The scanning beam is
most conveniently a beam of white light that is split after passage
through the film layer units and passed through appropriate filters
to create separate image records--red recording layer unit image
record (R), green recording layer unit image record (G), and blue
recording layer unit image record (B). Instead of splitting the
beam, blue, green, and red filters can be sequentially caused to
intersect the beam at each pixel location. In still another
scanning variation, separate blue, green and red light beams, as
produced by a collection of light emitting diodes, can be directed
at each pixel location. As the element is scanned pixel-by-pixel
using an array detector, such as an array charge-coupled device
(CCD), or line-by-line using a linear array detector, such as a
linear array CCD, a sequence of R, G, and B picture element signals
are generated that can be correlated with spatial location
information provided from the scanner. Signal intensity and
location information is fed to a computer digital image processor
505 preferably associated with a general control processor computer
workstation 510 and the information is transformed into
intermediary image-bearing electronic signals R', G', and B', which
can be stored in any convenient storage device associated with the
general control processor workstation 510 or in off-line storage
511. Digital image processor 505 by means of general control
processor workstation 510 can transmit information to and receive
information from a computer network 512. It is preferred that the
computer network be linked to the Internet, and more preferably to
the World Wide Web.
[0059] A video monitor 509 which receives the digital image
information modified for its requirements, indicated by R" G" and
B", allows viewing of the image data information received and used
by the workstation. Instead of using the cathode ray tube (CRT) of
a video monitor, a LCD or OLED panel or any other convenient
electronic display device can be substituted. General control
processor apparatus 510 which can include a keyboard and pointing
device such as a mouse or trackball 513 enables the workstation
operator to provide image manipulation instructions for modifying
the video image displayed and any image reproduction to be created
from the image-bearing electronic signals.
[0060] Modifications of the image data can be viewed on video
display 509 as they are being performed and then saved in storage
device 511. The modified image data in suitable form R'", G'", and
B'" can be sent to an output device to produce a hard copy scene
reproduction for viewing. The output device can be any convenient
conventional writing device, such as a CRT or laser silver halide
color paper writer 506, a thermal dye transfer printer, an inkjet
printer 507, an electrostatic, electrophotographic, or another type
of printer. The modified image information can also be stored on a
transportable recording medium such as a compact disc (CD) produced
by a CD writer 508.
[0061] It is contemplated to connect the photofinishing image
processing workstation of FIG. 5 to an extensive computer
communications network as shown in FIG. 6. A workstation 607 with
attendant operator input and output capabilities fulfilled by a
keyboard and monitor display 608 can serve as a retail operation.
In order to provide WWW interactive customer services, and to
communicate with other photofinishing service operations,
workstation 607 is linked through a connection computer, such as a
server 602a, to a network 601. Through network 601 and another
connection computer 602b, workstation 607 can communicate with
wholesale photofinishing computer operations 604, to provide
distributed image processing, storage, Web display, or printing
services. The retail computer workstation can communicate with
customers directly if desired through a personal computer 606, a
kiosk 605, or through a mobile computer or computing device 603,
such as a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, or a
cellular phone. Therefore, the present invention can take the form
of a computer program product which includes a computer readable
storage medium having a computer program stored thereon. The
computer program product when loaded into a computer would cause
the computer to perform the operation as described in the present
application.
[0062] Further, the photofinishing can be accomplished by a kiosk
system, a microlab system, a minilab system, or a high productivity
wholesale photofinishing system, either in one location or in
multiple locations with separate operations. Image data and other
pertinent information may be input and output by reading and
writing operations, respectively, from magnetic storage media or
optical storage. Data, communications, billing, and so forth may be
transferred by optical transmission means (e.g., direct infrared
transmission or fiber optical network), or electromagnetic
transmission means (e.g., wireless broadcast, Ethernet, cable or
telephone line transmission).
[0063] Referring to step 104 in FIG. 1. again, once distinguishable
images of one or more color records have been formed in the
processed photographic materials, conventional techniques can be
employed for retrieving the image information for each color record
and manipulating the record for subsequent creation of a
color-balanced, viewable image. As the element is scanned
pixel-by-pixel using an array detector, such as an array CCD, or
line-by-line using a linear array detector, such as a linear array
CCD, a sequence of R, G, and B picture element signals are
generated that can be correlated with spatial location information
provided from the scanner. Scanning can also be carried out by a
microdensitometer. Signal intensity and location information can be
fed to an image data processor and the information is transformed
into an electronic form, which can be stored in any convenient
storage device. For example, it is possible to scan a color
photographic material successively within the blue, green, and red
regions of the spectrum or to incorporate blue, green, and red
light within a single scanning beam that is divided and passed
through blue, green, and red filters to form separate scanning
beams for each color record. If other colors are imagewise present
in the material, then appropriately colored light beams are
employed. A simple technique is to scan the photographic material
point-by-point along a series of laterally offset parallel scan
paths. A sensor that converts radiation received into an electrical
signal quantifies the intensity of light passing through the
material at a scanning point. Most generally this electronic signal
is further manipulated to form a useful electronic record of the
image. For example, the electrical signal can be passed through an
analog-to-digital converter and sent to a digital computer together
with location information required for pixel (point) location
within the image. In another variation, this electronic signal is
encoded with calorimetric or tonal information to form an
electronic record that is suitable to allow reconstruction of the
image data into viewable forms such as computer monitor displayed
images, television images, printed images, and so forth.
[0064] In motion imaging technologies, a common approach is to
transfer the color negative film information into a video signal
using a telecine transfer device. Two types of telecine transfer
devices are most common: (1) a flying spot scanner using
photomultiplier tube detectors; and (2) a CCD as a sensor. These
devices transform the scanning beam that has passed through the
color negative film at each pixel location into a voltage. The
signal processing then inverts the electrical signal in order to
render a positive image. The signal is then amplified and modulated
and fed into a CRT monitor to display the image, and it is recorded
onto magnetic tape for storage. Although both analog and digital
image signal manipulations are contemplated, it is preferred to
place the signal in a digital form for manipulation, since the
overwhelming majority of computers are now digital and this
facilitates use with common computer peripherals, such as magnetic
tape, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a writing or printing
device.
[0065] In another embodiment of the invention illustrated by step
105 of FIG. 1, the image data information acquired in preceding
fashion from a film intended for scanning can be transmitted to the
photofinisher's image processing workstation by a sending party,
using any convenient method, such as a networked computer system.
There is no requirement that the photofinisher scan the film in
order to provide a selection of processed image reproduction
appearances according to the invention. The sender can be a
customer or a photographer possessing a home scanner and a modem
who transmits an image file; the sender can also be a kiosk, a
retail photo specialty shop, and so forth. While there is no
requirement that the sender and the receiving photofinisher be at
different locations, it is envisioned that the largest benefit is
obtained when file transfers occur over appreciable distances
associated with different locations due to the computer
infrastructure requirements in establishing a network system. It
will be appreciated that the best image processing results will be
obtained if the transmitted image file has a data encodement or
color encodement scheme consistent with that of the image
processing scheme to ensure full compatibility. It is preferred
that transmitted data be compressed in order to improve throughput
in network communications where available bandwidth is limited or
where there is congestion due to data traffic, as is common. When
file compression means are used, it is preferred that they be
lossless rather than lossy. It is highly preferred that transmitted
data be accompanied by metadata encoding.
[0066] Within the context of the present invention, image metadata
refers to any additional data or information associated with the
image; it may be derivative of the image itself, or it may relate
to added material that pertains to the event of photography,
customer identification or preferences, or photofinisher routing
information. Diverse examples of metadata and its encoding that are
applicable to the invention can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,717
to Mehrota et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,101 to Balogh et al.; EP-A-1
004 967 (published on May 31, 2000); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,315 to
Galvin. Photographic capture information that is desirably encoded
as metadata includes any single input or any combination of inputs
regarding scene illumination type, flash parameters such as flash
output and/or whether the flash was directed at the subject or
bounced onto the subject and/or whether sufficient flash power was
available to properly illuminate the subject, camera lens f-stop,
camera exposure time, and scene orientation, all of which is
helpful in color and density balancing.
[0067] It is specifically contemplated to scan a developed image to
red, green and blue light to retrieve imagewise recorded
information and to scan the same image to infrared light for the
purpose of recording the location of non-image imperfections. When
such an imperfection or "noise" scan is employed, the signals
corresponding to the imperfection can be employed to provide a
software correction so as to render the imperfections less
noticeable or totally imperceptible in soft or hard copy form. The
hardware, software and technique for achieving this type of
imperfection reduction is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,805 to
Edgar and WO 98/31142 (Edgar et al.), WO 98/34397 (Edgar et al.),
WO 99/40729 (Edgar et al.) and WO 99/42954 (Edgar et al.). An
example of a preferred scanner employing such corrections is the
KODAK DLS Film Scanner 1640 with an associated image data manager,
such as one or more dual-processor computers.
[0068] In another embodiment, the developed image can be scanned
multiple times by a combination of transmission and reflection
scans, optionally in the infrared and the resultant files combined
to produce a single file representative of the initial image. Such
a procedure is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,465,155 to Edgar;
5,519,510 to Edgar; 5,790,277 to Edgar; and 5,988,896 to Edgar, as
well as EP-A-0 944 998; WO 99/43148; WO 99/43149 and WO 99/42954.
Improvements in the scanning of films that retain silver halide
following a rapid development method, such as aerial chemical
deposition, are obtained by methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,069,714 to Edgar.
[0069] Elements having reference images or calibration patches
derived from one or more uniform areas exposed onto a portion of
unexposed photographic material as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,649,260 to Wheeler et al., 5,563,717 to Koeng et al. and
5,644,647 to Cosgrove et al. can be usefully employed to overcome
the effects of excessive sensitometric variation. The exposure of
reference images for the purpose of better calibrating the image
processing system can be performed by the photographic recording
material manufacturer or by the photofinisher. Periodic system
calibration events (e.g., a daily calibration) employing reference
exposure patches even on a single representative material, such as
those contained on a chemical process control strip, can lead to
improved image processing results. It is preferred to employ a
calibration reference image on every roll of film that is processed
by the photofinisher. An especially suitable method for calibration
and correction due to processing solution activity changes or film
responsivity changes is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,944 to Reem
et al., the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by
reference. Other useful features of element construction for
scanning and image-bearing signal manipulation can be found in
Research Disclosure, publication 38957, pages 626-627 (September
1996) Section XIV Scan facilitating features.
[0070] Once acquired, the image data in electronic signal form
derived from the input capture material or device color records can
be adjusted for scene exposure conditions to produce a more
pleasingly color-balanced and lightness-balanced image for viewing.
An example of a suitable scene balance algorithm is described by.
E. Goll, D. Hill, W. Severin, "Modern Exposure Determination for
Customizing Photofinishing Printer Response", Journal of Applied
Photographic Engineering, 2, 93 (1979). Techniques for transforming
image-bearing signals after scanning are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,835,627 to Higgins et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,484 Cottrell et
al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,205 to Arakawa et al. Techniques for
color balance adjustments during scanning are disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,049,984 to Moore et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,645 to
Davis. Further illustrations of general procedures and system
considerations involved in electronic image processing are
described by Giorgianni and Madden, Digital Color Management:
Encoding Solutions, Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass., 1998.
[0071] In order to deliver an image reproduction that incorporates
one or more appearances selected by a customer or photofinisher,
electronic signal processing (i.e., image processing) is carried
out as indicated in step 107 of FIG. 1. Preferred techniques for
transforming image-bearing signals after scanning are taught in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,267,030 to Giorgianni et al.; 5,452,111 to
Giorgianni et al.; 5,956,044 to Giorgianni et al., and 5,609,978 to
Giorgianni et al., the disclosures of which are herein incorporated
by reference. Another preferred method for transforming the
image-bearing electronic signals, or carrying out image processing
of a film intended for scanning, is taught by U.S. Pat. No.
5,995,654 to Buhr et al., and in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/104,548 filed on Jun. 25, 1998 by Buhr et al., "Digital
Photofinishing System Including Digital Image Processing of
Alternative Color Capture Media".
[0072] Using an arrangement of the type shown in FIG. 5, the images
contained in the color photographic recording material intended for
scanning in accordance with the invention are converted to digital
form, manipulated, and recreated in a viewable form following any
of the suitable methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,030 to
Giorgianni et al. In one preferred embodiment, Giorgianni et al. in
'030 provide a method and means to convert the R, G, and B
image-bearing signals from a transmission scanner to an image
manipulation and/or storage metric which corresponds to the
trichromatic signals of a reference image-producing device such as
a film or paper writer, thermal printer, video display, etc. The
metric values correspond to those, which would be required to
appropriately reproduce the color image on that device. For
example, if the reference image producing device was chosen to be a
specific video display, and the intermediary image data metric was
chosen to be the R', G', and B' intensity modulating signals (code
values) for that reference video display, then for an input film,
the R, G, and B image-bearing signals from a scanner would be
transformed to the R', G', and B' code values corresponding to
those which would be required to appropriately reproduce the input
image on the reference video display. A data set is generated from
which the mathematical transformations to convert R, G, and B
image-bearing signals to the aforementioned code values are
derived. Exposure patterns such as neutral and colored patches,
chosen to adequately sample and cover the useful exposure range of
the film being calibrated, are created by exposing a pattern
generator and are fed to an exposing apparatus. The exposing
apparatus produces trichromatic exposures on film to create test
images, which include approximately 150 color patches.
[0073] Test images may be created using a variety of methods
appropriate for the application. These methods include: using an
exposing apparatus such as a sensitometer, using the output device
of a color imaging apparatus, recording images of test objects of
known reflectances illuminated by known light sources, or
calculating trichromatic exposure values using methods known in the
photographic art. If input films of different speeds are used, the
overall red, green, and blue exposures must be properly adjusted
for each film in order to compensate for the relative speed
differences among the films. Each film thus receives equivalent
exposures, appropriate for its red, green, and blue speeds. The
imagewise exposed film is chemically processed to produce a dye
image. Film color patches are read by a transmission scanner, which
produces R, G, and B image-bearing signals corresponding to each
color patch. Signal value patterns of the code value pattern
generator produce R, G, and B intensity-modulating signals, which
are fed to the reference video display. The R', G', and B' code
values for each test color are adjusted such that a color matching
apparatus, which may correspond to an instrument or a human
observer, indicates that the video display test colors match the
positive film test colors or the colors of a printed negative. A
transform apparatus creates a transform relating the R, G, and B
image-bearing signal values for the film's test colors to the R',
G', and B' code values of the corresponding test colors.
[0074] The mathematical operations required to transform R, G, and
B image-bearing signals to the intermediary data may include a
sequence of matrix operations and look-up tables (LUTs).
[0075] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, input
imagebearing signals R, G, and B are transformed to intermediary
data values corresponding to the R', G', and B' output
image-bearing signals required to appropriately reproduce the color
image on the reference output device as follows:
[0076] (1) The R, G, and B image-bearing signals, which correspond
to the measured transmittances of the film, are converted to
corresponding densities in the computer workstation used to receive
and store the signals from a film scanner by means of 1-dimensional
look-up table LUT 1.
[0077] (2) The densities from step (1) are then transformed using
matrix 1 derived from a transform apparatus to create intermediary
image-bearing signals.
[0078] (3) The densities of step (2) are optionally modified with a
1-dimensional look-up table LUT 2 derived such that the neutral
scale densities of the input film are transformed to the neutral
scale densities of the reference.
[0079] (4) The densities of step (3) are transformed through a
1-dimensional look-up table LUT 3 to create corresponding R', G',
and B' output image-bearing signals for the reference output
device.
[0080] It will be understood that individual look-up tables are
typically provided for each input color. In one embodiment, three
1-dimensional look-up tables can be employed, one for each of a
red, green, and blue color record. In another embodiment, a
multi-dimensional look-up table can be employed as described in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,039 to D'Errico. It will be appreciated that
the output image-bearing signals for the reference output device of
step 4 above may be in the form of device-dependent code values or
the output image-bearing signals may require further adjustment to
become device specific code values. Such adjustment may be
accomplished by further matrix transformation or 1-dimensional
look-up table transformation, or a combination of such
transformations to properly prepare the output image-bearing
signals for any of the steps of transmitting, storing, printing, or
displaying them using the specified device.
[0081] In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the R, G,
and B image-bearing signals from a transmission scanner are
converted to an image manipulation and/or storage metric which
corresponds to a measurement or description of a single reference
image-recording or image-capture device and/or medium and in which
the metric values for all input media correspond to the
trichromatic values which would have been formed by the reference
device or medium had it captured the original scene under the same
conditions under which the input media captured that scene. For
example, if the reference image recording medium was chosen to be a
specific color negative film, and the intermediary image data
metric was chosen to be the measured R, G, and B densities of that
reference film, then for an input color negative film according to
the invention, the R, G, and B image-bearing signals from a scanner
would be transformed to the R', G', and B' density values
corresponding to those of an image which would have been formed by
the reference color negative film had it been exposed under the
same conditions under which the color negative recording material
according to the invention was exposed.
[0082] Exposure patterns, chosen to adequately sample and cover the
useful exposure range of the film being calibrated, are created by
exposing a pattern generator and are fed to an exposing apparatus.
The exposing apparatus produces trichromatic exposures on film to
create test images which include approximately 150 color patches.
Test images may be created using a variety of methods appropriate
for the application. These methods include: using an exposing
apparatus such as a sensitometer, using the output device of a
color imaging apparatus, recording images of test objects of known
reflectances illuminated by known light sources, or calculating
trichromatic exposure values using methods known in the
photographic art. If input films of different speeds are used, the
overall red, green, and blue exposures must be properly adjusted
for each film in order to compensate for the relative speed
differences among the films. Each film thus receives equivalent
exposures, appropriate for its red, green, and blue speeds. The
imagewise exposed film is chemically processed to produce a dye
image. Film color patches are read by a transmission scanner which
produces R, G, and B image-bearing signals corresponding to each
color patch and by a transmission densitometer which produces R',
G', and B' density values corresponding to each patch. A transform
apparatus creates a transform relating the R, G, and B
image-bearing signal values for the film's test colors to the
measured R', G', and B' densities of the corresponding test colors
of the reference color negative film. In another preferred
variation, if the reference image recording medium was chosen to be
a specific color negative film, and the intermediary image data
metric was chosen to be the predetermined R', G', and B'
intermediary densities of step 2 of that reference film, then for
an input color negative film intended for scanning according to the
invention, the R, G, and B image-bearing signals from a scanner
would be transformed to the R', G', and B' intermediary density
values corresponding to those of an image which would have been
formed by the reference color negative film had it been exposed
under the same conditions under which the color negative recording
material according to the invention was exposed.
[0083] Thus each input film calibrated according to the present
method would yield, insofar as possible, identical intermediary
data values corresponding to the R', G', and B' code values
required to appropriately reproduce the color image which would
have been formed by the reference color negative film on the
reference output device. Uncalibrated films may also be used with
transformations derived for similar types of films, and the results
would be similar to those described.
[0084] The mathematical operations required to transform R, G, and
B image-bearing signals to the intermediary data metric of this
preferred embodiment may include a sequence of matrix operations
and 1-dimensional LUTs. Three tables are typically provided for the
three input colors. It is appreciated that such transformations can
also be accomplished in other embodiments by employing a single
mathematical operation or a combination of mathematical operations
in the computational steps produced by the host computer including,
but not limited to, matrix algebra, algebraic expressions dependent
on one or more of the image-bearing signals, and n-dimensional
LUTs. In one embodiment, matrix 1 of step 2 is a 3.times.3 matrix.
In a more preferred embodiment, matrix 1 of step 2 is a 3.times.10
matrix. In a preferred embodiment, the 1-dimensional LUT 3 in step
4 transforms the intermediary image-bearing signals according to a
color photographic paper characteristic curve, thereby reproducing
normal color print image tone scale as one form of image look. In
another preferred embodiment, LUT 3 of step 4 transforms the
intermediary image-bearing signals according to a modified viewing
tone scale that is more pleasing, such as possessing lower image
contrast, as a second form of image look.
[0085] Buhr et al. in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/104,548
provide a related and even more preferred method of digital
photofinishing comprising the steps of producing a digital color
image in printing or other densities of a color image captured on
alternative capture photographic media (e.g., a color negative film
intended for scanning); first mapping the printing or other
densities of the alternative capture media to the printing
densities that would have been obtained for reference color
photographic media; processing the mapped digital color image with
a scene balance algorithm to produce a processed digital color
image; second mapping the processed digital color image through a
hard copy media characteristic curve to produce the 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.
Information accompanying the captured original scene parameters
that describes the camera parameters responsible for capturing the
scene can provide useful input for the signal processing
algorithms. Useful information includes any single input or any
combination of inputs which includes scene illumination type, flash
parameters such as flash output and/or whether the flash was
directed at the subject or bounced onto the subject and/or whether
sufficient flash power was available to properly illuminate the
subject, camera lens f-stop, camera exposure time, and scene
orientation. Further features in scene balance algorithms useful in
the practice of the invention can include mixed illuminant
detection and subject detection.
[0086] Thus, the scanner densities, the printing densities, or
other film density-representative, image-bearing signals of the
input scan film are transformed to image printing instructions or
image display instructions based on the properties of a reference
film. The reference film can be an existing film intended for the
required output operation, or it can be another kind of film
intended for a different imaging application if appropriate
modifications are added to the image processing chain to account
for the current application. It is preferred, in one embodiment of
the invention, to transform the image-bearing signals of the scan
film to known output printing or display instructions for existing
color negative films. In this manner, the output derived from a
scan film is simply predicted and conveniently image-processed. For
example, the scanner densities or the printing densities from the
imagewise-exposed and processed scan film can be transformed to the
printing densities of a plurality of existing color negative films
and then written to an output medium such as silver halide color
paper. The scan film printing densities can be transformed to the
printing densities of one or more of the following representative
example films to satisfy the requirements of the invention,
including, but not limited to: KODAK ROYAL GOLD.TM. films, KODAK
GOLD MAX.TM. films, KODAK GOLD.TM. films, KODAK MAX.TM. films,
KODAK SUPRA.TM. films, KODAK VERICOLOR.TM. films, KODAK PORTRA.TM.
films, KODAK PRO GOLD.TM. films, KODAK FUNTIME.TM., KODAK VR.TM.
films, KODAK EKTAPRESS PLUS.TM. films, EASTMAN EXR.TM. films, and
KODAK ADVANTiX.TM. films. Alternatively, the scan film printing
densities can be transformed to those of any other selected
reference image capture device or medium, as described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,267,030 to Giorgianni et al. In a preferred embodiment, the
reference image capture device is a digital still camera, more
preferably one with spectral sensitivities that approximate the
color matching functions or the human visual system.
[0087] In the general cases previously described, image recording
media and devices, and scanning devices, will not directly record
the scene parameters in the way human observers perceive them.
However, all of these media and devices can be characterized by a
spectral response function, by a function that maps scene intensity
ratios to device code values and by a multi-dimensional function or
matrix that characterizes the interdependence or cross talk between
the at least three color channels. Therefore, obtaining the
original scene parameters directly relating to the light levels of
the scene (i.e., scene space exposures) involves applying
transformations that are the inverses of these functions. It is
desirable to make the captured scene parameters independent of the
particular input device and/or medium and to make the resulting
pixel values represent accurate estimates of the scene colorimetry.
Scene colorimetry is a preferred intermediary data encoding metric,
since a very wide variety of desirable image appearances can be
derived by the proper manipulation of the image-bearing electronic
signals. A most preferred method of providing scene exposures is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,030 to Giorgianni et al., wherein
a digital image that was created by scanning a film is transformed
into a device-independent color space by a mathematical
transformation. A data set from which the mathematical
transformation can be derived is produced by exposing a sample of
the film with a pattern of approximately 400 test color stimuli,
chosen to adequately sample and cover the useful exposure range of
the film. Red, green and blue (R, G, B) trichromatic exposures for
a reference calorimetric image-capturing device or medium are then
computed for the test stimuli, using standard colorimetric
computational methods. The imagewise exposed film is chemically
processed producing a dye image, and the color patches are read by
a transmission scanner, which produces R, G, and B image-bearing
signals corresponding to each color patch. A transformation is then
created relating the R, G, and B image-bearing signal values for
the film's test colors to the known R, G, and B trichromatic
exposure of the corresponding test colors. This transformation is
then used to convert digital image values that were produced by
scanning a film of the type that was used to generate the transform
using the following procedures:
[0088] 1) converting the R, G, B image-bearing signals, which
correspond to the measured transmittances of the input film, to R,
G, and B densities by using appropriate 1-dimensional
look-up-tables (LUTs);
[0089] 2) adjusting the R, G, and B density-representative signals
of step 1 by using a 3.times.3 matrix, to correct for differences
among scanners in systems where multiple input scanners are
used;
[0090] 3) adjusting the R, G, and B density-representative signals
of step 2 by using another matrix operation or 3-dimensional LUT,
to remove the chromatic interdependence (i.e., cross talk) of the
image-bearing signals produced by any unwanted absorptions of the
imaging dyes and chemical interlayer interimage interactions in the
input photographic recording medium, to produce channel
independent, density-representative signals;
[0091] 4) individually transforming the R, G, and B
density-representative signals of step 3 through appropriate
1-dimensional LUTS, derived such that the neutral scale densities
of the input film are transformed to the neutral scale linear
exposure-representative signals of that film; and
[0092] 5) further transforming the R, G, and B
exposure-representative signals of step 4 by another matrix
operation to arrive at the R, G, B scene exposure-representative
signals corresponding to those which a reference image-capturing
device or medium would have received if it had recorded the same
original scene (i.e., scene space colorimetry).
[0093] Test color patch sets having fewer than 400 colors can be
employed to enable more efficient generation of the transformation
matrices and LUTs and improved use of computational resources. In
some embodiments, the mathematical operations represented by
sequential application of individual matrices and LUTs can be
numerically concatenated to afford improved computational speed and
to reduce the necessary computational power. Analogous procedures
can be employed to generate transformation matrices and LUTs
appropriate for use with the other photographic or electronic image
capture, image acquisition, and image processing paths described
herein.
[0094] It will be appreciated that the scene space exposures
determined in the aforementioned manner are limited in accuracy by
the accuracy of the spectral sensitivities of the photographic
recording medium or device whose input recorded image data was
transformed. Hence, the earlier noted preference for colorimetric
capture to the practice of the invention, in order to provide the
broadest range of useful image reproduction appearances.
[0095] Instead of direct capture of the original scene parameters,
it is also possible to access a representation of the original
scene parameters, captured and stored at some prior time. These
representations may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional and may
be of still or moving scenes. The only requirement for this means
of generating a preferred viewed reproduction of the original scene
is that the relationship between the original scene parameters and
those in the accessed original scene representation be known or
that it be possible to make an accurate assumption about this
relationship. The accessed scene representation was at some point
captured preferably using the methods described above for direct
original scene parameter capture.
[0096] It is preferred to encode the scene exposures derived in the
above manner, or by another method, in a device-independent color
space for further manipulation and for eventual transmission to a
device-dependent color space for display, printing, transmission,
storage and so forth. Device-independent color spaces are often
based on a system of colorimetry developed by the Commission
International de l'Eclairage (CIE), and representative examples are
CIE XYZ and CIELAB color spaces. A comprehensive discussion of
colorimetry and color standards can be found in R. W. G. Hunt, "The
Reproduction of Color in Photography, Printing and Television,
Fifth Edition", Fountain Press, Kingston, upon-Thames, England, pp.
136-176 (1995). A specification for its well-known color spaces can
be found in CIE Publication 15.2-1986, "Colorimetry, Second
Edition". Output device-dependent color spaces can also be used for
storage, interchange, and manipulation of digital images, but they
frequently produce a compromise in color storage due to a limited
functional range or color gamut that necessitates truncation of the
colors or luminance ranges that can be reproduced by the system. An
example of a suitable, contemporary device-dependent color space is
sRGB. If a limited gamut color-encoding medium is used, the
possible loss of recorded scene data may be ameliorated by the use
of the method involving image metadata described in EP-A-0 991 019
(published Apr. 5, 2000) and the use of the apparatus described in
EP-A-0 991 020 published Apr. 5, 2000). A preferred interchange
space comprised of a device-independent color encoding
specification for the practice of the invention is Profile
Connection Space (PCS) as defined by the International Color
Consortium.RTM. (ICC), a group of participating corporations that
has set open specifications for electronic device color management.
The PCS interface represents color appearances by specifying the
CIE colorimetry of colors viewed on a reference medium in a
reference viewing environment. A device profile (often called an
ICC profile) is used to relate the device-dependent code values of
an input or output image data set to the corresponding color
encodement scheme values in PCS. ICC has published a description of
both PCS and device profiles in "File Format for Color Profiles,"
Specification ICC.1:1998-09, and in "Addendum 2 to Spec.
ICC.1:1998-09," Document ICC.1A:1999-04, which are quite readily
obtained by downloading from the ICC website, www.color.org.
However it is preferred to store the intermediary image-bearing
electronic signals representing scene exposures or manipulated
scene colorimetry in a large-gamut color-encoding scheme suitable
for image manipulation operations. Preferred input and output color
encoding schemes and interchange methods are described by K.
Spaulding, G. Woolfe, and E. Giorgianni in IS&T PICS Conference
Proceedings, pp. 155-163 (2000). An especially preferred
device-independent color encoding space described therein is termed
Extended Reference Input Medium Metric (EIMM).
[0097] Additional illustrative systems for manipulation of digital
signals including techniques for maximizing the quality of image
records are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,553,156 to Bayer;
4,591,923 to Urabe et al.; 4,631,578 to Sasaki et al.; 4,654,722 to
Alkofer; 4,670,793 to Yamada et al.; 4,694,342 to Klees; 4,962,542
to Klees; 4,805,031 to Powell; 4,829,370 to Mayne et al.; 4,839,721
to Abdulwahab; 4,841,361 to Matsunawa et al.; 4,937,662 to
Matsunawa et al.; 4,891,713 to Mizukoshi et al.; 4,912,569 to
Petilli; 4,920,501 to Sullivan et al.; 5,070,413 to Sullivan et
al.; 4,929,979 to Kimoto et al.; 4,972,256 to Hirosawa et al.;
4,977,521 to Kaplan et al.; 4,979,027 to Sakai et al.; 5,003,494 to
Ng; 5,008,950 to Katayama et al.; 5,065,255 to Kimura et al.;
5,051,842 to Osamu et al.; 5,012,333 to Lee et al; 5,107,346 to
Bowers et al.; 5,105,266 to Telle; 5,105,469 to MacDonald et al.;
5,081,692 to Kwon et al.; and 5,579,132 to Takahashi et al.
[0098] It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that scene
colorimetry does not produce a pleasing image when directly
rendered as a reproduction, such as a color print. Furthermore, in
order to achieve the objectives of the invention, it is necessary
to manipulate the encoded scene exposures or scene colorimetry, or
other form of image data, in a plurality of ways in order to allow
a selection and provision of at least two or more looks.
Individuals differ in their preference for appearance
characteristics of image reproductions. An image "look" can be
defined by characterizing the appearance of the reproduction
relative to the appearance of the original scene. For example, the
reproduction tone scale quantifies the mapping of the tones in the
original scene to the tones in the reproduction. A
three-dimensional color space mapping can be used to quantify the
modification of the hues, saturations, and lightnesses of the
colors in the original scene necessary to produce the image
reproduction of the scene. Additional global characteristics of the
reproduction that define the look include sharpness and graininess,
pertaining to image spatial frequency reproduction and noise
content, respectively. In addition to global image characteristics,
object- or region-specific image adjustments may be made to produce
the desired "look". An example of an object-specific adjustment is
to transform all non-skintones into B&W tones. An example of a
region-specific image adjustment is to darken the edges of an image
to produce a vignetting effect.
[0099] It is well understood by those skilled in the art that image
colorimetry can be purposefully manipulated in a variety of ways to
achieve changes in image luminance, chroma, and hue, which then can
be rendered in the image reproduction by means of subsequent
well-known transformations. In this manner, the scene can be
reproduced with higher or lower contrast and brightness (which
equates to higher or lower scene luminance reproduction (i.e.,
lightness)), with higher or lower colorfulness (i.e., chroma), and
with more accurate or less accurate color shades (i.e., hue). It is
the aggregate of the specific hue reproduction, chroma
reproduction, lightness reproduction or rendering contrast (tonal
reproduction) in a particular pictorial reproduction that defines a
distinguishable image look. A highly preferred method for
transforming the intermediary image-bearing electronic signals
representing scene exposures is by colorimetric manipulations that
can take the form of consistently and smoothly shifting colors
within a region of color space, so as to deliver an image that
incorporates the look selected by a customer or a photofinisher,
which is disclosed in U. S. patent application Ser. No. 09/506,712,
to Buhr et al. filed on Feb. 18, 2000, entitled `Color Reproduction
of Scenes with Preferential Color Mapping`, and in U. S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/540,807 filed Mar. 31, 2000, to Woolfe et
al. entitled `A Color Transform Method for the Mapping of Colors in
the Images`.
[0100] By using the above methods of image processing taught by
Buhr et al. and Woolfe et al. in the aforementioned references, the
image-bearing electronic signals representing the captured scene
can be purposefully manipulated by a photofinisher to achieve a
very wide variety of visual reproductions. Thus it is possible to
make the pictorial reproduction more or less colorful, or to remove
color entirely and reproduce color image data as a black-and-white
reproduction. The method of Buhr et al. allows specific colors to
be manipulated with minimal or no effect at all on other colors in
the reproduction. The chroma of green relating to grass and blue
relating to sky can be increased, while the chroma, hue and
lightness of skin colors can remain unaffected. Such discretion in
color reproduction manipulation is beyond the capability of the
conventional optical print system, which relies on film chemical
interlayer interimage effects to produce system wide color
correction and color management. A variety of tonal mappings can be
applied, to manipulate visual reproduction contrast in ways also
not feasible in the optical print system. Specific colors hues can
be shifted, for example by adding blue to the green of foliage to
produce a more pleasing color reproduction. It is preferred to
render mid-tone neutrals with lower contrast than normally used in
the color negative optical print system, especially with high-key
scenes. It is preferred to increase the chroma of highly saturated
scene colors in the reproduction without affecting skin colors, and
without resorting to overall high contrast. It is preferred to
smoothly and consistently shift the hue of foliage colors by a
desirable hue angle rotation.
[0101] In addition to the hue and chroma manipulations listed
above, a tone scale has to be applied to map the relative luminance
values of scene colors to relative luminance values of the
reproduced colors. It is well known to those skilled in the art
that this is rarely a one-to-one mapping. The selection of a tone
scale that produces the most preferred images depends on a variety
of factors, including the discrepancy between viewing conditions of
the scene and the reproduction, anticipated subject matter (e.g.,
portrait photography, nature photography, landscape photography,
candid shots, etc.), the dynamic range of the scene in relation to
the dynamic range that can be reproduced, and viewer
preferences.
[0102] A family of tone scales that produce preferred reproductions
in combination with hue and chroma manipulations, are disclosed in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,300,381 to Buhr et al; 5,447,811 to Buhr et al.;
and in the previously cited 5,528,339 to Buhr et al. However, the
invention is not limited to these tone scales which are
characterized by a linear relationship between scene lightness and
lightness as perceived by the viewer. Traditional S-shaped tone
scales, which are mostly used in conventional silver halide
photography, produce preferred images within the framework of this
invention compared with optical printing systems, because of the
large improvements in hue reproduction possible following
purposeful manipulation of scene exposure data derived in the
manner of U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,030 in an appropriate color space
prior to outputting. It is more preferred to adopt a rendering
contrast with reduced gradient in the important midscale densities
corresponding to flesh colors compared with the usual tonal mapping
of optical print-through systems to color paper. When adjusting the
contrast of an image in the form of electronic signals, it is
preferred to preserve image detail by the application of spatial
filtering as described in EP-A-0 971 314 (published Jan. 12,
2000).
[0103] The best results are obtained if a particular tone scale, or
a family of tone scales, is combined with a classification
algorithm that selects the most appropriate tone scale according to
the dynamic range of the scene or if a dynamic range adjustment is
applied prior to tone scaling. Successful classification algorithms
will take many forms, including but not limited to histograms,
ranges, parameters based on the distribution, or transformations of
the distribution of all or a subset of the recorded or transformed
image pixel values. In digital imaging printing systems,
classification algorithms can be implemented to select slightly
different tone mappings to create the most preferred images. The
input for the classification can be scene parameters or capture
conditions. Information accompanying the captured original scene
parameters that describes the camera parameters responsible for
capturing the scene can provide useful input for the signal
processing algorithms. Useful information includes any single
instance of or any combination of scene illumination type, flash
parameters such as flash output and/or whether the flash was
directed at the subject or bounced onto the subject and/or whether
the sufficient flash power was available to properly illuminate the
subject, camera lens f-stop, camera exposure time, scene
orientation and zoom lens status. Such classification algorithms
are also useful in automating the selection of optimal image looks
by a photofinisher to provide to a customer in an automated method
of photofinishing, in another aspect of the invention. In
combination with the hue and chroma manipulations, lightness
manipulations can take any of the following forms: applying a
scene-dependent tone scale transformation, applying a global
scene-independent tone scale transformation, or applying a global
scene-dependent or scene-independent tone scale transformation. In
one aspect, the invention is directed at providing a selection of
image looks suitable for viewing a scene reproduction in a variety
of viewing illumination environments. A method for producing
color-appearance matching for an image viewed in different surround
conditions by the application of appropriate image luminance
contrast factors is described by U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,723 to Daniels
et al.
[0104] A preferred method of implementing the image processing
method of Giorgianni et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,030 and Buhr et
al. in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/506,712, to provide
multiple image reproduction appearances is shown in FIG. 7. In step
701, a film intended for scanning is scanned producing
image-bearing electronic signals R, G, and B, preferably in the
form of scanner densities. An ICC profile is used to convert the
density-representative signals into scene space
exposure-representative signals encoded in a suitable colorimetric
space R', G', and B', in step 702. As described previously, ICC has
published a description of both PCS and ICC device profiles in
"File Format for Color Profiles," Specification ICC.1:1998-09, and
in "Addendum 2 to Spec. ICC.1:1998-09," Document ICC.1A:1999-04.
The exposure-representative signals are adjusted for color bias and
intensity using a scene balance algorithm in step 703. An ICC
profile transforms the balanced exposure-representative signals R',
G', and B' into the device-independent calorimetric encoding
specification of (PCS) R", G", and B" in step 704. It is convenient
to provide a plurality of different image looks by applying a
plurality of different ICC profiles in PCS space. In step 705,
modified PCS space image-representative signals with the intended
properties of the selected image look are produced by the
application of the appropriate ICC profile from an available group
of look-application profiles. It is preferred that the PCS space
image-bearing signals R", G", and B" produced in step 704 are an
accurate color or calorimetric representation of the photographed
scene rather than a calorimetrically inaccurate, more
viewer-preferred representation. Increased simplicity in managing
an inventory of appearance profiles is afforded by basing
individual appearance profiles on changes to output scene
colorimetry, which is unchanging; thus image look profiles can be
added and removed from the digital photofinishing system with
minimum inconvenience. In step 706, an ICC profile transforms the
image-bearing electronic signals of PCS color interchange space
into device-dependent code values with the applied image look R'",
G'", and B'" appropriate for printing or other end uses as
determined by the output profile selection.
[0105] Thus, for the provision of a plurality of looks to a
customer by a photofinisher, either of the two previously described
methods is suitable to produce differentiable image appearances in
the output image files: (1) the method of Buhr in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/104,548 involving the use of printing
density transformations wherein scanning and image processing
spectral responsivities match those of a particular optical
photographic printer and photographic output medium (e.g.,
densitometric encoding); or (2) the method of Giorgianni in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,267,030, wherein density-representative signals are
rendered channel independent and converted to scene
exposure-representative signals prior to calorimetric manipulation
of hue, chroma, and lightness (e.g., calorimetric encoding). One of
the two image processing methods and means can be used separately
to provide all of the image looks, or the methods may be used
jointly, each method providing one or more of the output looks,
preferably from a single acquisition of data by scanning the input
medium, to provide the multiplicity of image looks. It is preferred
to use the method of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,030 patent to produce
scene space exposure-representative electronic signals to provide
at least one of the looks. It will be appreciated that the methods
of providing image looks are not limited to the procedures
described in '030 of Giorgianni et al. or in '548 of Buhr et al.,
but any suitable method of image processing that provides
differentiable visual reproductions can be used in the
invention.
[0106] It is within the scope of the invention to provide two
differentiable looks for a film intended for scanning. It is
preferred to provide at least three image looks. It is most
preferred to provide up to five image looks, but there is no limit
on the number of looks that can be offered. An especially preferred
combination of looks is a black-and-white rendition, a portraiture
rendition (e.g., lower chroma, lower contrast, and lower
sharpness), a general or basic default rendition (e.g., high
chroma, intermediate contrast, high sharpness), and a high
colorfulness rendition (e.g., very high chroma, high contrast, and
high sharpness). It is preferred for the photofinisher to impart
color and tone rendition properties that are unavailable through
the usual optical print system in at least one of looks in order to
provide visually superior digital output. It is more preferred for
the photofinisher to provide at least two preferred color and tone
looks, neither of which are produced by direct printing density
transformations or by the optical print system. Altering the image
spatial signal processing, for example to increase sharpness (e.g.,
for a landscape), or to decrease sharpness (e.g., for a portrait),
constitutes a differentiable image look according to the invention
even if the color and tone reproduction properties are otherwise
unaltered. Color image reproductions can be supplemented with
black-and-white reproductions as differentiable looks, with
monochrome reproductions, with simulations of historical prints
hues such as sepia or brown-toned, or other unnatural reproductions
of the captured scene. In another aspect of the invention,
cartoonization can constitute one or more of the provided looks.
Cartoonization can be made to render the input image to appear like
a child's coloring book images, like impressionistic oil paint
images, like rasterized color images, like quantized digital color
images showing contouring effects, like sidewalk chalk pastel
images and so forth. In addition to color manipulation, texture
(e.g., patterns) can be applied to the image as well. Of course,
captions, labels, dates, text boxes, and other kinds of information
can be attached to the image data or the output reproduction in
printed or other form.
[0107] The last step in FIG. 1 is to produce a visual reproduction
of the image in step 108 or to transmit a modified image file to a
recipient in step 109 that was processed according to the
specifications in steps 106-107. The image can be reproduced on any
transparent or reflective material (hard copy) or on a
self-luminous display (soft copy) that produces images by
additively mixing at least three suitably chosen primary colors or
by subtractively mixing at least three suitably chosen dyes.
[0108] A digital, electronic representation of the manipulated
image is transformed into an analog signal of the correct intensity
and spectral distribution in order to generate the desired visual
reproduction of the manipulated image. Reproduced images may be
displayed in two- or three-dimensional form. Examples of this
procedure include the display of an image on a color monitor or an
electronic printing process whereby a color photographic paper
receives an image-wise exposure by a CRT or laser printing device
and the material is subsequently chemically processed, for example
by KODAK EKTACOLOR.TM. RA-4 Process, to produce a reflection
print.
[0109] The electronic signals representing the selected image
reproduction resulting from applying steps 104-107 of FIG. 1 must
be transformed into a corresponding set of device code values to
account for the scene parameter manipulation characteristics of the
output device and media in step 108. The transformation between
device code values and the colorimetry of the colors reproduced by
a particular device/media combination can be obtained by a device
characterization. An example of a device characterization is a
procedure that involves generating and printing or displaying a
suitable array of device code values in the form of color patches
of a size large enough for subsequent measurement. These patches
can be measured using a colorimeter, a spectrophotometer or a
telespectroradiometer, depending on the nature of the output, such
as for example, a silver halide color paper reflection print, or an
inkjet reflection print. If monitor display output spectra are
measured, CIE XYZ tristimulus values and other related quantities
such as CIELAB or CIELUV color space coordinates can be calculated
for the display illuminant using standard colorimetric procedures.
This data set can be used to construct the appropriate sequence of
one-dimensional look-up tables, multidimensional look-up tables,
matrices, polynomials and scalars that accomplish that
transformation of the image-bearing electronic signals derived from
step 107 of FIG. 1 into a set of device code values that produces
the desired visual reproduction of the scene. A preferred example
of the implementation of this transformation is an ICC-type profile
that maps the specifications of the desired visual reproduction,
encoded in a color interchange space such as PCS, to device code
values, the actual machine printing or monitor display
instructions.
[0110] This operation may also include gamut mapping. The color
gamut of the scene representation at the end of step 107 of FIG. 1
is determined by the set of primaries that was used for encoding
the data. Examples include the primaries corresponding to the
color-matching functions of the CIE 1931 Standard Colorimetric
Observer or any linear combinations thereof. Gamut mapping is
performed between the gamut defined by this encoding and the gamut
of the combination of the output device and the output media, in
the case of a reflection print. It is preferred to use
gamut-mapping algorithms that maintain color hue, in practice of
the invention.
[0111] The image data transformation of step 108 can be combined
with any of the transformations in step 107 to form a single set of
one-dimensional look-up tables, multidimensional look-up tables,
matrices, polynomials and scalars in any sequence. Reproductions
according to the specifications of the invention can be produced by
a variety of technologies. Reproductions can be obtained on silver
halide or other light-sensitive materials. The light-sensitive
material can be transparent film, reflection print paper, or
semi-transparent film. These materials are exposed by visible or
infrared light derived from many different sources. The materials
may be designed for typical photofinishing applications or they may
be specially designed for digital printing applications. The
photosensitive materials respond primarily to three different
spectral regions of incident light. Typically, these are red
(600-720 nm), green (500-600 nm), and blue (400-500 mn) light.
However, any combination of three different spectral sensitivities
can be used. These could include green, red, and infrared light or
red, infrared 1, and infrared 2 light, or 3 infrared lights of
different wavelengths. Or a material sensitive to the three primary
wavelengths of visible light may be false sensitized so that the
color of the exposing light does not produce image dye of the
complementary hue, such as red, green, and blue sensitivity
producing magenta, yellow, and cyan dye, respectively. Printing can
be carried out by exposing all pixels sequentially, by exposing a
small array of pixels at the same time, or by exposing all the
pixels in the image at the same time.
[0112] Devices, which can be used to print on light-sensitive
materials, include CRT, light emitting diode (LED), light valve
technology (LVT), LCD, laser, as well as any other controlled
optical light generating device. All these devices have the ability
to expose 3 or more light-sensitive layers in a light-sensitive
material to produce a colored image. They differ mainly in the
technology on which the devices are based. A suitable embodiment of
a CRT printer is the KODAK PROFESSIONAL Digital Multiprinter, which
can be used in combination with KODAK PROFESSIONAL Digital III
Color Paper.
[0113] Non-light-sensitive imaging materials are conveniently used
by electronic printing processes to produce high-quality
reproductions. The method of image formation can be half-tone,
continuous tone, or complete material transfer. The image
reproduction material can be transparent film, reflective paper, or
semi-transparent film. The media can be written on to produce
pictorial images by thermal dye transfer, inkjet, wax,
electrophotographic, or other pixelwise writing techniques. These
processes use three or more colorants to create colored pictorial
representations of pictorial scenes. The colorants may be dyes,
toner, inks, or any other permanent or semi-permanent colored
material. A suitable example of a dye transfer thermal printer is
the KODAK PROFESSIONAL XLS 8650R Thermal Printer. Both non-impact
and impact printing methods, such as traditional press methods, are
specifically contemplated.
[0114] In addition to hard copy viewed images, it is also possible
to create projected images, which have the differentiable image
looks in accordance with the invention. Many technologies are
appropriate for this kind of image generation. All these techniques
rely on producing color images with two or more colored lights.
These are typically red, green, and blue in nature although they
can be any set of primaries. Devices, which can be used to create
the preferred viewed reproduction, include CRT, LCD,
electro-luminescence (EL), LED, OLED, light bulbs, lasers, plasma
display panels, or any other three or more colored lighting
apparatus capable of pixel wise illumination. The images can be
created by display within the device, projection, or backlighting.
Many devices create an image on a screen or display area, which is
physically a part of the mechanical unit. However, images can also
be created by optically projecting the image in the form of light
rays from behind or in front of the viewer toward a screen, which
is in front of a viewer, or by projecting a reversed image toward
the viewer onto a screen between the viewer and the projecting
device.
[0115] It is within the scope of the invention to transmit
processed image-bearing signals to an intended recipient as in step
109 of FIG. 1 in accordance with steps 101-107 to enable digital
motion imaging projection. A motion imaging data file (e.g., a
digital electronic movie) can be constructed by scene capture and
reproduction from a film intended for scanning with multiple
characteristic appearances applied on a frame-by-frame or on a
scene-by-scene basis to create associated multiple preferred scene
reproductions suitable for broadcast and wide-format display as in
a movie theater or home display, as on a television set.
[0116] Image data storage can be accomplished in a variety of ways,
including magnetic, optical, magneto-optical, RAM, biological,
solid state, or other materials, which permanently or
semi-permanently record information in a retrievable manner.
Examples of suitable storage media and devices include computer
hard drives, floppy disks, writeable optical disks such as KODAK
PHOTO CD.TM. Discs, KODAK PICTURE CD Discs, KODAK Picture Disk
Media, and flash EEPROM (Erasable Electrically Programmable
Read-only Memory) PCMCIA cards. Image data transmission can be
accomplished most effectively by high throughput means including
the use of optical and electromagnetic transmission
technologies.
[0117] The following concrete examples are provided for
illustrative purposes, and are not to be intended to be limiting in
any way.
[0118] In a first example, a customer purchases a package comprised
of color photographic film intended for scanning and a processing
mailer envelope for directed photofinishing from a retail
photospecialty shop. The packaging indicates that the
photofinishing service provides a selection of available image
appearances, and sample images with exaggerated differences and
with descriptive labels appear on the packaging. The mailer
envelope has check-off boxes associated with the descriptive names
for the different appearance selections, and the usual customer
identification, billing, and shipping information inputs (see.
FIGS. 2A and 2B). After exposing the roll of film intended for
scanning, the customer ships the film to the photofinisher in the
mailer envelope with two image looks selected and two prints per
image frame requested, each with a different print look, for his
whole roll order of processed images. One of the selected looks for
one set of prints is the service basic look, which features high
colorfulness that is intermediate in a range of offerings,
preferred color rendition based on the North American region, and a
lower contrast tone scale; the second look to be applied to the
second set of prints is the automated photofinisher selection,
based on best image rendition determined by scene categorization
algorithm software. The photofinisher receives the film,
establishes a customer account, tags the film intended for scanning
with a customer identification number, develops the film intended
for scanning, scans the film intended for scanning, and then
applies each of the two different image appearances requested by
the customer to each frame of scanned image data for the entire
processed roll of color negative film. The processed images are
printed onto silver halide color paper with a CRT printer, the
color paper is processed, finished and packaged for shipping with
the processed color negatives of the film intended for scanning.
The photofinisher ships the order of two sets of different color
paper prints to the customer.
[0119] In a second example, a customer visits an Internet World
Wide Web site for a photo specialty retailer/photofinisher, and
orders a supply of film intended for scanning and their processing
mailers, which is shipped to his home via a parcel delivery service
after a credit card transaction has been completed. While at the
Web site, the customer takes the tour of the variable printing
photofinishing service offered by the vendor. In a tutorial screen,
the vendor highlights the offering of various printing styles,
which can be applied to the customer's image, including true color,
high color, portrait color, landscape rendering, basic color
rendering with digitally enabled color reproduction preferences,
and black-and-white (see, for example, FIG. 10). The customer
samples the photofinishing service interactively, by selecting an
image from a sample customer roll displayed like an index print on
the Web screen, by taking that selected image to a customization
screen where he can select four of the available looks to apply to
the sample image, and by displaying three side-by side renditions
of the sample image with the selected printing styles (see FIG.
10).
[0120] The customer then views his output printing options, which
includes interactively selecting pictures and styles to print
following film development. The customer exposes the roll of film
intended for scanning, completes the photofinishing mailer electing
to try the interactive picture selection service, and he mails the
mailer with the contained film. The mailer is received by a local
photofinishing service, and a customer account is created to bill
the transaction; a customer identification number is associated
with the roll of film, and the film is developed and scanned. The
customer is notified by e-mail that his film has been scanned. The
customer again visits the Web page of the photofinishing service
and provides a password that admits him to another page in a secure
section of the network, which contains an index display of all of
the images from his roll.
[0121] The customer then selects five of the 15 available images
for printing, and examines each of the five desired images at the
customization Web page, where he determines which printing style is
his preference for each image. Those five images are printed by the
photofinisher using an inkjet printer according to the customer
selection, and the prints are packaged. Image data files are
created of the five images selected for printing with the printing
style selected by the customer; image data files of all 15
available images rendered in the normal printing style are also
created. All 20 image data files are written to a photographic
image CD in a commonly accessible image data file format; the image
file construction with metadata encoding allows the photofinisher
to recreate the basic customer image data file from modest file
sizes produced by data compression as needed for further image
processing and to apply any of the available looks at the
customer's request at a later date. The image prints that were
printed according to the selection of the customer and the
photographic image CD are packaged together and shipped to the
customer. The processed color negatives derived from the film
intended for scanning are not returned to the customer by his
selection of that option. In addition, at the time of the creation
of image data files, downloadable compressed image data files are
made available on the server that the customer can access in order
to download his image files prior to the arrival of the package of
prints and the photographic image CD.
[0122] Before receiving his prints and the CD, the customer decides
he would like two additional prints of images he elected not to
print following initial development and printing. The customer
revisits the photofinisher Web page, enters the secure customer
image storage area and visits the Web page displaying his index
image file set. The customer selects those two images, selects new
looks to be applied to the two images, and he creates a new
printing order transaction and billing cycle. The customer also
downloads an image file from the Web page in order to send an
e-mail message with an attachment of the image to another party.
The customer arranges the seven images with his selected looks in
an electronic photo album Web page that is part of the image
network offer by the photofinisher; he then annotates the Web page
via PC telephony with comments and captions. The customer transmits
the password associated with that secure Web page to a relative via
e-mail to invite their viewing of his photography and his artistic
creation.
[0123] FIGS. 8-11 illustrate further features of the photofinishing
method and system of the present invention. In a first arrangement,
it is possible for a photofinishing service provider (i.e., a
wholesale photofinishing lab, a minilab, a retail store, an online
service provider, etc.) to identify customer preferences utilizing
an interactive "look preference" identification screen by way of
their home computer or a computer at a retail location. More
specifically, a photofinishing service provider can track previous
customer selections as to picture "look" and return the customer to
that "look" at the next interaction. Thereafter, the photofinishing
service provider can customize the next selection screen based on
past preferences. The photofinishing service provider can also
track "look" preferences through total order fulfillment.
[0124] In the system as illustrated in FIG. 8, when a customer
opens up an interactive session via, for example, his/her home
computer, and connects with the photofinishing service provider
via, for example, the World Wide Web, the photofinishing service
provider can offer various looks to the customer at the interactive
screen and record the customer's selection. During the interactive
session, the photofinishing service provider can also return
previously chosen looks to the customer at the screen and tie a
unique film identification (ID) to the customer's preferred look
based on the interactive screen. Thereafter, the photofinishing
service provider can provide digital processing derived by, for
example, scanning and/or digitization of exposed and
photographically developed film according to the preferred look at
the interactive screen.
[0125] More specifically, in the system and method of the first
arrangement, the customer would first open an interactive ordering
session (step 802). After the customer opens the ordering session,
and connects with a photofinishing service provider, the
photofinishing service provider can capture the customer ID (step
804) via, for example, the logon ID 902/password 904 entered at the
customer's web access device as illustrated in FIG. 9. As a further
option, the photofinishing service provider can offer an ancillary
ID/password reminder function 906 using well-known techniques. New
users can be automatically directed 908 towards tutorial screens
relating to the screens shown earlier as FIGS. 3 through 4B that
will describe the photofinishing service offerings. Known users who
directly reach service entry points such as those shown in FIGS.
3-4B can also be provided with the pre-built preference profiles to
be described below. The photofinishing service provider thereafter
provides the customer ID to a server and checks for the existence
of a customer profile on this server in a file that is identified
by the customer ID (step 806). If the customer does not have a
profile, then the system proceeds with step 808 that commences the
building of a preference profile that is unique to the
customer.
[0126] In building the profile, the photofinishing service provider
can pass a generic order screen to the customer's web access
device. Thereafter, the photofinishing service provider can capture
customer order characteristics, such as for example, items,
quantity, payment method, delivery method, etc., and preferred
picture look preferences (like that shown earlier as FIGS. 3-4B).
Possible picture look preference choices vary according to criteria
such as colorfulness or color intensity (black and white to high
color); color shading or hue; contrast (low to high); or low to
high detail (softer portrait look to every-small-feature-shows
look). Further look preferences can include most accurate color
style, portrait style (muted color, best skin tones), brilliant
color style (highly saturated colors, postcard look), historic
sepia style, black and white style, etc.
[0127] One embodiment of the first arrangement discussed above is
illustrated in FIG. 10. Here the choices are presented as multiple
renditions 1004 of a single scene on one screen 1002 with the
renditions varying along the named criteria discussed above, and
the customer is asked to choose 1006 his/her favorite rendition.
After three to five screens, each probing a distinct single scene,
the customer's average look/preference choice can be identified and
a profile developed accordingly.
[0128] In a further embodiment of the first arrangement, a single
scene can be shown to the customer on a screen and the customer can
be asked to mouse-position a set of on screen sliders (or radio
buttons) to bring the scene to his/her favorite look. After three
to five screens, each probing a single scene, the customer's
average look/preference choice can be identified and a profile
established. In a still further embodiment of the first
arrangement, a customer can choose to defer his/her look/preference
until the return of the exposed film.
[0129] After the profile is built, product preparation directions
which follow the customer's order characteristics and the
customer's average look/preference can be provided along with
payment and delivery directions to the server, and these directions
can be passed to an order fulfillment service/function station
(step 810), following generally the scheme illustrated in FIGS.
2-4. Thereafter, the look/preference choices and the directions can
be stored (step 812) in a new file which is identified by the
customer ID and a date stamp.
[0130] The building of a preference profile is schematically
illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 11. Here, the selected
interrogatory scenes are sequentially passed to the customer, steps
1102, 1106, 1110 and 1114, and the customer's rendition preferences
for the individual scenes are recorded, steps 1104, 1108, 1112 and
1116. Based on the tonal and color differences between that
preferred rendition of each scene and the spectrally and tonally
accurate position of each scene, the average offset to the accurate
spectral and tonal values that best fulfill the customer's
preferences are determined and recorded at step 1118. The selected
interrogatory scenes are chosen to span the range of scenes
typically encountered and can include low and high contrast scenes,
scenes with a high memory color content, busy scenes, indoor
scenes, outdoor scenes and so forth. Clearly, a single scene can be
used to probe several of these axes.
[0131] In another embodiment, a single scene can be shown on each
screen and interactive means, such as radio buttons or sliders, can
be provided for actively altering scene characteristics until a
preferred rendition is achieved, and the position of the sliders or
radio buttons recorded and passed back to the server.
[0132] In another embodiment, not shown, the customer may be
provided with a brochure showing various renditions of the
interrogatory scenes and instructions for first choosing between
the scenes and then entering the choices, either directly on the
brochure or otherwise communicating the selection to the
photofinishing service provider as for example via an interactive
web-page or a touch screen at a kiosk. This embodiment can be
preferred since it tends to suppress artifacts relate to the
specific color and tonal characteristics of a particular soft copy
display. This embodiment can also be preferred when communications
between the customer's information entry point and the server are
challenged.
[0133] More generally, when communications between the customer's
information entry point and the server are facile, the entry point
can act primarily as a data entry and display device, however, when
communications are intermittent, slow or otherwise bandwidth
restricted, the selection routine can be downloaded to the entry
point as a free standing application, as for example a JAVA
applet.
[0134] In yet another embodiment, selections around the customer's
own scenes, as described in FIGS. 4A and 4B can be employed to form
the basis for determining the average offset required to provide
preferred renditions to the customer at future sessions.
[0135] If at step 806 (FIG. 8) it is discovered that the customer
does have a profile in existence, the photofinishing service
provider can retrieve the customer's preferences from a server file
identified by the customer's identification. The photofinishing
service provider can post all customer order characteristics to the
customer's web access device, and present one of the previous
look/preference probing screens pre-set to the customer's last
chosen look. As an option, the photofinishing service provider can
present one of the customer's images from a recent order pre-set to
the customer's last chosen look. Next, the photofinishing service
provider can capture the customer order characteristics (such as
items, quantity, payment method, delivery method, etc) and
preferred picture look/preferences. As noted above, possible
picture look/preference choices vary according to criteria such as
color intensity (black and white to high color); contrast (low to
high); etc.
[0136] In the embodiment which involves building a profile,
multiple renditions of a single scene on one screen can be
presented to the customer, with the renditions varying along the
name criteria and the customer being asked to choose his/her
favorite rendition. After three to five screens, each probing a
single scene, the customer's average look/preference choice can be
identified. In the further embodiment with a respect to a
pre-existing profile, a single scene can be shown on a screen and a
customer can be asked to mouse/position a set of on-screen sliders
(or radio buttons) to bring the scene to his/her favorite look.
After three to five screens, each probing a single scene, the
customer's average look/preference choice can be identified.
[0137] After the customer's look/preference choices have been
selected (regardless of whether a profile has been built or a
preexisting profile has been used), the photofinishing service
provider can pass product preparation directions following the
customer order characteristics and the customer's average
look/preference along with payment and delivery directions to a
server. Further, the photofinishing service provider can pass
directions to an order fulfillment station for fulfilling the
customer's specific orders. Thereafter, the photofinishing service
provider can store the look/preference choices and all directions
in a customer's file identified by the customer's identification
and a date stamp.
[0138] In the first arrangement, noted above (regardless of whether
a profile has been built or a preexisting profile has been used),
after the interactive session is closed, the photofinishing service
provider can proceed to fulfill the film order (order fulfillment
function). In doing this, the photofinishing service provider can
proceed to make arrangements for the execution of payment, and pull
unexposed film according to the order and the recorded unique film
ID. The photofinishing service provider can additionally proceed to
pull an unused film return envelope and endorse the envelope with
the unique film identification, the customer identification, and
customer order preferences and desired look/preference. All the
endorsements can preferably be made in both human readable and
machine readable form. If the customer desires to chose
look/preference later, the envelope can be endorsed accordingly,
and include a reminder and illustrative samples to encourage a
look/preference choice. The photofinishing service provider further
associates the unexposed film and the unused film return envelope.
Thereafter, the photofinishing service provider can access the
server and customer file and store the unique unexposed film
identification in that file in association with other specific
order characteristics (look/preference), and thereafter execute
order delivery.
[0139] Once the customer receives the unexposed film, they can
expose the film accordingly, and return the exposed film to the
photofinishing service provider. The photofinishing service
provider receives the exposed film in an endorsed envelope. If the
look/preference on the endorsed envelope matches the stored
look/preference, then the photofinishing service provider proceeds
with order fulfillment in accordance with the customer's request.
If no look/preference is indicated in the stored customer file, the
customer file is updated with the look/preference chosen and also,
an indication that the look/preference was chosen after order
placement. If the look/preference on the envelope does not match
with the stored look/preference, the customer file is updated with
the look/preference indicated on the envelope, and an indication is
made that the look/preference was changed after an initial order
placement.
[0140] Thereafter, the photofinishing service provider can proceed
to process the imagewise exposed film, scan the film ID, scan
images, etc. After processing, the photofinishing service provider
accesses a server and based on the film ID, identifies customer
specifications as to look/preference, etc. Based on this, the
photofinishing service provider can prepare prints, etc. according
to customer specifications including look/preference, and return
the prints to the customer. Additionally, the photofinishing
service provider can add a descriptive filler to the returned
prints to specifically indicate which look/preference was chosen
and when it was chosen.
[0141] In a second arrangement of a further feature of the present
invention, it is possible to create a soft display (monitor) color
profile by providing selectable test targets and recording the
customer's best match judgment between the provided target and on
screen colors. The test targets can be chosen from provided
trade-dress, provided calibration patches or preferred memory.
Sliders/radio buttons/ring-around can be provided to alter color
signals and if an accurate color is not possible, the
photofinishing service provider can thereafter inform the
customer.
[0142] In such a system, as in the first arrangement discussed
above, the customer opens an interactive session. The
photofinishing service provider can capture the customer ID from a
logon ID/password and enter the customer's web access device.
Otherwise, the photofinishing service provider can offer an
ancillary ID/password reminder function. During the interactive
session, the monitor resolution, monitor color depth, monitor color
temperature, operating system information, video card information
of the customer's web access device and monitor drive information
can be captured using standard browser calls.
[0143] Thereafter, the monitor and system settings of the
customer's web access device are compared to preferred system
settings that provide the best calibration results. If the current
settings are acceptable, these settings can be recorded and stored
at a server. If the current settings are not acceptable, the
customer can be provided with suggested monitor and system settings
for best results. Further, the photofinishing service provider can
request that the customer make suggested changes and restart the
session if the customer accepts the suggested changes. If the
customer does not accept the suggested changes, the photofinishing
service provider can provide the customer with a warning that
remote calibration may be sub-optimal.
[0144] In the event that the settings are acceptable, as indicated
above, the settings along with the customer identification can be
stored at a server. At this point, the photofinishing service
provider can check for the existence of a customer color profile on
the server in the file identified by the customer's ID. If no
profile is found, the photofinishing service provider can proceed
to build a customer profile. If a profile exists, the
photofinishing service provider can utilize the existing
profile.
[0145] In building a profile, the photofinishing service provider
will pass a color calibration tool to the customer's web access
device. In one embodiment (color matching) the tool can include a
sequence of screens, each of which presents a patch of a particular
color with a set of variations (ring-around) of hue-modified
renditions, chroma-modified renditions, and/or lightness-modified
renditions of that same color. The customer is instructed to pick
the best match between the screen display and an in-hand standard.
The in-hand standard can be a set of ID calibration patches
previously provided to the customer, or it can be a set of ID
patches printed in a recent catalogue, or it can be an article
having a multi-colored trade-dress, etc.
[0146] In a second embodiment (color matching), the tool can be
presented as a sequence of screens, each of which presents a color
patch with a set of control-sliders or control-radio buttons which
can independently control the R, G and B content of the transmitted
patch. The customer is thereafter instructed to choose the slider
combination or radio-button combination that provides the best
match between the presented patch and the in-hand standard.
[0147] In a third embodiment (memory preferences), the tool can
include a sequence of screens, each of which presents a memory
color (sky, grass, skin, etc.) and is labeled with that memory
color. The customer is requested to choose which color rendition
best accommodates his memory preferences. Either a color matching
protocol or a control method can be employed here.
[0148] In each of the above embodiments, the color calibration tool
can be controlled remotely from the server or it can be a
downloaded tool. As a further option, mixed combinations of the
first, second and third embodiments can be employed.
[0149] Other useful remote color calibration schemes are described
by Gu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,988; Daly, et al., U.S. Pat. No.
5,754,222; Collette, U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,529; by W. Benedetti in
Photo Electronic Imaging, page 28-ff, March 2000; and in the
Imation Verifi.TM. color system. The underlying computer
instructions to drive all the look optimization schemes described
herein can be provided remotely, as a free-standing applet run
during the optimization or as installed software depending on the
cost and convenience of communication between the customer's data
entry point and the photofinisher's server.
[0150] After the above options are presented to the customer, the
customer employs the chosen color calibration tool to choose the
modifications to each provided color patch that provides the best
match between his screen output and the in-hand color patches. The
best-matched customer judgments from above are returned to the
server and the R, G, B characteristics that compensate for the
biases of the user's soft display screen are calculated. The color
calibration tool with all color patches modified is passed back to
the customer's web access device for confirmation by the customer.
Further, notice is given that the colors of the color calibration
tool have been modified to account for the customer's judgment. If
the customer confirms, then the photofinishing service provider can
proceed to use the profile, or else use the information to build a
profile for an additional pass, and keep count of the number of
passes. After two passes, if the colors are still not correct in
the customer's judgment, the photofinishing service provider can
suggest that color calibration is not likely to succeed and record
the results. Thereafter, all the colors can be reset to a standard
valve and the program can be closed.
[0151] In the event that the customer already has a profile stored,
the photofinishing service provider can retrieve the customer color
preferences from the server file identified by the customer
identification. The photofinishing service provider checks the
retrieve monitor and system settings and compares them to the
monitor and systems settings captured in the current session. If
different, the system can proceed to indicate that the color
profile should be rebuilt for best results and directs the customer
to build a profile. If everything is acceptable, the photofinishing
service provider program can transmit several test colors to the
customer's access device using the deviations built into the
customer's profile and ask the customer to confirm transmitted
colors. If rejected, either that color profile should be rebuilt
for best results and the customer should be directed to build a
profile. Otherwise, the color deviations can't be employed and
embedded in the customer profile to conduct a transaction. At the
end of the transaction, the color deviations recorded are employed
along with the transaction data.
[0152] It is noted that the methods and systems described can be
part of a computer program product that includes a computer
readable storage medium with a computer program stored thereon.
When the computer program product is loaded with a computer, it
causes the computer to process images and perform photofinishing
services in the manner described in the present specification.
[0153] The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modifications can be effected within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *
References