U.S. patent number RE47,152 [Application Number 14/938,584] was granted by the patent office on 2018-12-04 for altering the appearance of a digital image using a shape.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC. Invention is credited to Scott H. Douglas, Steven P. Geffner, Larry T. Hatfield, Matthew J. Kotler, Zhao-Hong Mai, Nicholas W. Rohring, David Wayne Waltman, Auston Warner Zahrt.
United States Patent |
RE47,152 |
Hatfield , et al. |
December 4, 2018 |
Altering the appearance of a digital image using a shape
Abstract
Technologies are described herein for altering the appearance of
a digital image using a shape. A mask edit mode of operation is
provided in which an application program displays a mask shape
superimposed on a digital image. The application program also
provides user interface controls for altering the size, position,
and rotation of the digital image independently of the mask shape,
and user interface controls for altering the size, position, and
rotation of the mask shape independently of the digital image. When
a cropping request is received, the portion of the digital image
within the mask shape is mapped onto the mask shape, thereby
creating a mask-cropped shape, and a normal editing mode is
entered. In the normal editing mode a set of user interface
controls is provided for modifying the size, position, and rotation
of the mask-cropped shape.
Inventors: |
Hatfield; Larry T. (Kirkland,
WA), Douglas; Scott H. (Essex, VT), Rohring; Nicholas
W. (Bothell, WA), Kotler; Matthew J. (Sammamish, WA),
Geffner; Steven P. (Bothell, WA), Waltman; David Wayne
(Lake Stevens, WA), Zahrt; Auston Warner (Kirkland, WA),
Mai; Zhao-Hong (Temple City, CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC |
Redmond |
WA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Microsoft Technology Licensing,
LLC (Redmond, WA)
|
Family
ID: |
40471709 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/938,584 |
Filed: |
November 11, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
11859868 |
Sep 24, 2007 |
8582919 |
Nov 12, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06T
11/60 (20130101); G06T 11/60 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06K
9/00 (20060101); G06T 11/60 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1517951 |
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Aug 2004 |
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CN |
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1517951 |
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Aug 2004 |
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CN |
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10-027258 |
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Jan 1998 |
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JP |
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2000-132701 |
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May 2000 |
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JP |
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2007-509436 |
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Apr 2007 |
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JP |
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WO 2006/022768 |
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Mar 2006 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Ge; Yuzhen
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner,
P.A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for altering the appearance of a digital image with a
shape, the method comprising: presenting, by a computer executing
an application program, a canvas, the canvas comprising a word
processing document, a presentation document, or a spreadsheet
document; determining, by the computer, if a request to apply a
mask shape to a digital image has been received; .[.determining, by
the computer, if a request to fill the mask shape with the digital
image has been received;.]. in response to receiving the request to
apply the mask shape to the digital image .[.or in response to
receiving the request to fill the mask shape with the digital
image.]., entering a first editing mode in which the computer
displays a first set of user interface controls on the digital
image for modifying a size, a position and a rotation of the
digital image within the canvas independently of the mask shape and
a second set of user interface controls on the mask shape for
modifying an appearance of the mask shape upon the digital image
and independently of the digital image, the first set of user
interface controls and the second set of user interface controls
being useable without changing from the first editing mode;
receiving, by the computer, a cropping request comprising a request
to exit the first editing mode; in response to receiving the
cropping request, mapping the digital image to the mask shape to
create a mask-cropped shape; exiting the first editing mode; and
entering a second editing mode in which the computer displays a
third set of user interface controls for modifying an appearance of
the mask-cropped shape.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of user interface
controls comprise user interface controls for modifying a size, a
position, and a rotation of the mask shape independently of the
digital image.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the digital image
located outside of the mask shape is displayed to indicate that the
portion will be cropped when the first editing mode is exited.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the third set of user interface
controls comprise user interface controls for modifying a size, a
position, and a rotation of the mask-cropped shape.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying an effect to
the mask-cropped shape.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing one or more
user interface controls for editing a geometry of the mask
shape.
7. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable
instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer,
cause the computer to: present a canvas, the canvas comprising a
word processing document, a presentation document, or a spreadsheet
document; determine .[.if.]. .Iadd.one of whether .Iaddend.a
request to apply a mask shape to a digital image has been received
.[.;.]. .Iadd.or .Iaddend. .[.determine if.]. a request to fill the
mask shape with the digital image has been received; in response to
.[.receiving the request to fill the mask shape with the digital
image or in response to receiving the request to apply the mask
shape to the digital image.]. .Iadd.the determination.Iaddend.,
display a first set of user interface controls on the digital image
in which a size, a position and a rotation of the digital image
within the canvas can be modified independently of an appearance of
the mask shape; modify one of the size, the position or the
rotation of the digital image within the canvas in response to user
input received at the first set of user interface controls on the
digital image; receive a cropping request to apply the mask shape
to the digital image; in response to receiving the cropping
request, .[.to.]. map the digital image to the mask shape to create
a mask-cropped shape, and .[.to.]. provide a second set of user
interface controls on the mask shape for modifying an appearance of
the .[.digital image.]. .Iadd.mask shape .Iaddend.independently of
the digital image; and modify the appearance of the mask shape upon
the digital image in response to user input received at the second
set of user interface controls on the mask shape.
8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, comprising further
computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the
computer, will cause the computer to display a portion of the
digital image located outside of the mask shape in a manner that
indicates that the portion will be cropped when a cropping request
is received.
9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, comprising further
computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the
computer, will cause the computer to provide a third set of user
interface controls for modifying a size, a position, and a rotation
of the mask-cropped shape.
10. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, comprising further
computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the
computer, will cause the computer to apply an edge effect to an
edge of the mask-cropped shape.
11. A method for altering the appearance of a digital image with a
shape, the method comprising: presenting, by a computer executing
an application program, a canvas, the canvas comprising a word
processing document, a presentation document, or a spreadsheet
document; entering, by the computer, a mask edit mode of operation;
providing, by the computer in the mask edit mode of operation, a
first set of user interface controls on the digital image for
modifying a size, a position, and a rotation of the digital image
within the canvas independently of a size, a position, and a
rotation of a mask shape; providing, by the computer in the mask
edit mode of operation, a second set of user interface controls on
the mask shape for modifying a size, a position, and a rotation of
the mask shape upon the digital image and independently of the
size, the position, and the rotation of the digital image, the
first set of user interface controls and the second user interface
controls being useable without changing from the mask edit mode of
operation; displaying, by the computer while in the mask edit mode
of operation, a portion of the digital image outside the mask shape
in a manner that indicates that the portion will be cropped when a
cropping request is received; receiving a cropping request, the
cropping request comprising a request to exit the mask edit mode of
operation; in response to receiving the cropping request, mapping
the digital image to the mask shape to crop the portion and to
create a mask-cropped shape, exiting the mask mode of operation,
and entering a normal edit mode of operation; and providing, by the
computer in the normal edit mode of operation, a third set of user
interface controls for modifying a size, a position, and a rotation
of the mask-cropped shape.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising applying one or more
effects to an edge of the mask-cropped shape while in the normal
editing mode.
13. The method of claim 5, wherein applying the effect to the
mask-cropped shape comprises applying an edge effect to an edge of
the mask-cropped shape, the edge effect comprising a shadow
effect.
14. The method of claim 5, wherein applying the effect to the
mask-cropped shape comprises applying an edge effect to an edge of
the mask-cropped shape, the edge effect comprising a
three-dimensional effect.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask shape is a
three-dimensional object.
16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to
receiving a request to exit the second editing mode, exiting the
second editing mode; and in response to receiving a request to
reenter the first editing mode, reentering the first editing
mode.
.[.17. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, comprising further
computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the
computer, will cause the computer to: in response to receiving a
request to exit the second editing mode, exit the second editing
mode; and in response to receiving a request to reenter the first
editing mode, reenter the first editing mode..].
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising: in response to
receiving a request to exit the normal edit mode of operation,
exiting the normal edit mode of operation; and in response to
receiving a request to reenter the mask edit mode of operation,
reentering the mask edit mode of operation.
.Iadd.19. A computing system comprising: at least one processor;
and at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions that
when executed by the at least one processor cause the computing
system to: present a canvas, the canvas comprising a word
processing document, a presentation document, or a spreadsheet
document; determine one of whether a request to apply a mask shape
to a digital image has been received or a request to fill the mask
shape with the digital image has been received; in response to the
determination, display a first set of user interface controls on
the digital image in which a size, a position and a rotation of the
digital image within the canvas can be modified independently of an
appearance of the mask shape; modify one of the size, the position
or the rotation of the digital image within the canvas in response
to user input received at the first set of user interface controls
on the digital image; receive a cropping request to apply the mask
shape to the digital image; in response to receiving the cropping
request, map the digital image to the mask shape to create a
mask-cropped shape, provide a second set of user interface controls
on the mask shape for modifying an appearance of the mask shape
independently of the digital image; and modify the appearance of
the mask shape upon the digital image in response to user input
received at the second set of user interface controls on the mask
shape..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the second set
of user interface controls comprise user interface controls for
modifying a size, a position, and a rotation of the mask shape
independently of the digital image..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND
Many types of computer application programs provide functionality
for inserting digital images into electronic documents. For
instance, many word processing application programs, spreadsheet
application programs, and presentation application programs permit
digital images to be inserted into an appropriate document.
However, the functionality provided by these types of application
programs for allowing a user to quickly improve the look of a
digital image is generally limited.
As an example, it is very difficult using current application
programs to highlight or isolate a particular region within a
digital image. While some application programs do permit the
cropping of a digital image, the current solutions generally
involve multiple steps, a complex user interface, or both. It is
also generally difficult to change the shape of a digital image
within a document. For instance, it can be a very complex process
to change the shape of a rectangular digital image to a star shape
or to a heart shape.
In order to isolate a particular region of a digital image, or to
change the shape of a digital image, previous application programs
generally require a user to "paint" a texture mask that is utilized
to mask off a portion of the image. This approach is very time
consuming, however, and requires artistic skill that many users do
not possess. Moreover, once the texture mask has been painted, it
is very difficult to edit and, in many cases, must be manually
repainted to achieve a different effect. Additionally, even after
application of the texture mask, the underlying digital image still
retains its original rectangular shape, thereby making it difficult
to apply effects to edge of the masked digital image.
It is with respect to these considerations and others that the
disclosure made herein is presented.
SUMMARY
Technologies are described herein for altering the appearance of a
digital image using a shape. In particular, through the utilization
of the technologies and concepts presented herein, a user can
easily and quickly change the shape of a digital image by visually
placing and adjusting a mask shape that crops the digital image, or
a portion of it, to a specifically-sized geometric shape. The
digital image is mapped to the mask shape, thereby allowing effects
to be easily applied to the edges of the mask-cropped shape.
According to one aspect presented herein, an application program is
provided that includes a user interface for altering the appearance
of a digital image using a mask shape. The mask shape defines the
area of a digital image that will be retained following a masking
operation and may take any shape. In order to allow a user to
easily define the size and position of the mask shape with respect
to the digital image, the application program provides a mask edit
mode of operation. The portion of the digital image located outside
the mask shape is not rendered outside of the mask edit mode of
operation.
The mask edit mode of operation may be entered in response to a
user request to apply a mask shape to a digital image, in response
to a user request to fill the mask shape with the digital image, or
in response to a user request to enter the mask edit mode of
operation directly. While in the mask edit mode of operation, the
application program displays the mask shape superimposed on the
digital image. The application program also provides user interface
controls for altering the size, position, and rotation of the
digital image independently of the mask shape. The application
program also provides user interface controls for altering the
size, position, and rotation of the mask shape independently of the
digital image. Through the use of these user interface controls, a
user can easily define the portion of the image that is to be
masked using the mask shape.
While in the mask edit mode of operation, the portion of the
digital image that is located outside of the mask shape may be
displayed in a manner that indicates that this portion will be
cropped when a cropping request is received. For instance, the
portion of the digital image that is located outside of the mask
shape may be displayed using a transparency effect to provide such
an indication. Other types of effects may be similarly utilized to
provide a visual indication of the portion of the digital image
that will be cropped when the mask edit mode is exited.
When a cropping request is received, the portion of the digital
image within the mask shape is mapped onto the mask shape, thereby
creating a mask-cropped shape. In one embodiment, the cropping
request comprises a request to exit the mask edit mode of operation
but may take other forms, the selection of a user interface object
provided for indicating that the image should be cropped.
Once the portion of the digital image within the mask shape has
been mapped onto the mask shape, a normal editing mode is entered.
In the normal editing mode, user interface controls are provided
for modifying the size, position, and rotation of the mask-cropped
shape. Because the digital image is mapped to the mask shape during
the masking operation, visual effects can be easily added to the
edges of the mask-cropped shape. For instance, edge effects like
shadows and bevel effects can be added to the edges of the
mask-cropped shape. At any time, the mask edit mode of operation
can be invoked to independently alter the size, shape, and rotation
of the digital image and the mask shape.
It should be appreciated that the features presented herein may be
utilized with any type of computer program that provides
functionality for utilizing digital images. It should also be
appreciated that the above-described subject matter may also be
implemented as a computer-controlled apparatus, a computer process,
a computing system, or as an article of manufacture such as a
computer-readable medium. These and various other features will be
apparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description and a
review of the associated drawings.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed
Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features
or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it
intended that this Summary be used to limit the scope of the
claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is
not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages
noted in any part of this disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1-7 are user interface diagrams showing aspects of an
illustrative user interface provided in embodiments described
herein for modifying the appearance of a digital image with a
shape;
FIG. 8 is a state diagram showing aspects of a process presented
herein in one embodiment for modifying the appearance of a digital
image with a shape; and
FIG. 9 is a computer architecture diagram showing an illustrative
computer hardware and software architecture for a computing system
capable of implementing the embodiments presented herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description is directed to technologies for
altering the appearance of a digital image using a shape. Through
the use of the embodiments presented herein, a user can easily and
quickly change the shape of a digital image to a specifically sized
geometric shape. Visual effects can also be easily applied to the
edges of the mask-cropped shape. Additional details regarding the
various embodiments presented herein will be provided below with
reference to FIGS. 1-9.
While the subject matter described herein is presented in the
general context of program modules that execute in conjunction with
the execution of an operating system and application programs on a
computer system, those skilled in the art will recognize that other
implementations may be performed in combination with other types of
program modules. Generally, program modules include routines,
programs, components, data structures, and other types of
structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular
abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the subject matter described herein may be
practiced with other computer system configurations, including
hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or
programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe
computers, and the like.
In the following detailed description, references are made to the
accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and which are shown
by way of illustration specific embodiments or examples. Referring
now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements
through the several figures, aspects of a computing system and
methodology for altering the appearance of a digital image using a
shape will be described.
Turning now to FIG. 1, details will be provided regarding one
embodiment presented herein for altering the appearance of a
digital image using a shape. In particular, as will be described in
greater detail herein, an application program that embodies the
concepts provided herein is operative to provide a mask edit mode.
A mask edit mode is a mode of operation that allows a user to
control the position of a mask shape and a digital image relative
to one another by controlling the size, rotation, and position of
the mask shape and the digital image. As will be discussed in
greater detail below, the mask edit mode of operation is invoked
whenever a user requests to add a shape mask to a digital image, to
fill a shape with a digital image, or through the selection of an
appropriate user interface control for entering the edit mask mode
of operation.
FIG. 1 illustrates the first entry point into the mask edit mode of
operation whereby a user has placed a digital image 104 onto an
application-provided canvas 102. The canvas 102 may comprise any
type of document, including a word processing document, a
presentation document, a spreadsheet document, or any other type of
document. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a user has also requested
that a mask shape be applied to the digital image 104. An
appropriate user interface control, such as a pull down menu, may
be utilized by a user to generate such a request. In response to
such a request, the drop-down menu 106A has been displayed. The
drop-down menu 106A includes the icons 108A-108C corresponding to
mask shapes having different geometric configurations. For
instance, the icon 108A corresponds to a square mask shape, the
icon 108B corresponds to a circular mask shape, and the icon 108C
corresponds to a heart mask shape. In response to the selection of
one of the icons 108A-108C, the corresponding mask shape is applied
to the digital image 104 and the mask edit mode of operation is
entered. This process is illustrated in greater detail below with
respect to FIG. 2.
In the illustrative user interface shown in FIG. 2, a user has
selected the icon 108C using a cursor 110 controlled by an
appropriate user input device. In response to such a selection, a
mask shape 112 has been displayed superimposed over the digital
image 104. In one implementation, the mask shape 112 comprises a
vector image that can have any geometry. However, in general, a
mask shape may be any type of two-dimensional or three-dimensional
object to which a digital image may be applied as a fill. In the
example shown in FIG. 2, the mask shape 112 is in the shape of a
heart. It should be appreciated that a virtually endless number of
shapes, including user created shapes, may be provided in the
drop-down menu 106A and utilized as a mask for the digital image
104.
In one implementation, a set of user interface controls is
displayed in conjunction with the mask shape 112 that allows a user
to resize, rotate, and reposition the mask shape 112. In
particular, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the set of user
interface controls includes a number of drag handles 114I-114P.
Through the use of the drag handles 114I-114P, a user can change
the size of the mask shape 112. The set of user interface controls
also includes a rotate handle 116B. When selected, the rotate
handle 116B allows a user to change the rotation of the mask shape
112. A user may also directly select the mask shape 112 using the
cursor 110 for instance, to change the position of the mask shape
112 on the canvas 102. According to embodiments, user interface
controls may also be provided for editing or modifying the geometry
of the mask shape 112 either by directly editing the mask shape 112
or by combining the mask shape 112 with other shapes.
In this implementation, the digital image 104 also includes a set
of user interface controls for modifying the size, position, and
rotation of the digital image 104 independently of the size,
position, and rotation of the mask shape 112. In particular, in the
implementation shown in FIG. 2, the set of user interface controls
includes a number of drag handles 114A-114H for modifying the size
of the digital image 104. The set of user interface controls also
includes the rotate handle 116A for modifying the rotation of the
digital image 104. The digital image 104 may also be selected, for
instance, using the cursor 110, and repositioned on the canvas 102.
It should be appreciated that through the use of the user interface
controls illustrated in FIG. 2 and described above, the size,
position, and rotation of the mask shape 112 and the digital image
104 can be specified independently of one another. It should also
be appreciated that the specific user interface controls
illustrated in FIG. 2 are merely illustrative and that other types
of user interface controls may be provided for specifying the size,
position, and rotation of the mask shape 112 and the digital image
104.
In one implementation, the portion 117 of the digital image 104
outside of the mask shape 112 is displayed in a manner that
indicates that the portion 117 will be cropped when the mask edit
mode is exited. For instance, in one implementation, the portion
117 of the digital image 104 outside the mask shape 112 is
displayed in a transparent fashion. Other types of visual effects
may be utilized to display the portion 117 of the digital image 104
outside the mask shape 112 in a manner that conveys to a user that
the portion 117 will be cropped when the mask edit mode is exited.
Additional details regarding the functionality provided by the user
interface controls shown in FIG. 2 will be provided below with
respect to FIG. 3.
Referring now to FIG. 3, additional details will be provided
regarding the functionality of the user interface controls
described above with respect to FIG. 2 in one implementation. In
the example shown in FIG. 3, the rotate handle 116B has been
selected and utilized to rotate the mask shape 112 clockwise. As a
result, the mask shape 112 has been rotated clockwise on the canvas
102. It should be appreciated that in one implementation the
digital image 104 is not rotated. It should also be appreciated
that a similar effect could have been achieved by rotating the
digital image 104 in a counterclockwise fashion. It should
therefore be appreciated that through the use of the user interface
controls discussed herein with respect to FIG. 3 and above with
respect to FIG. 2, the size, rotation, and placement of the digital
image 104 and the mask shape 112 may be independently specified in
a manner to crop the digital image 104 using the mask shape 112 in
virtually any fashion. Additional details regarding this process
will be provided below with respect to FIG. 4.
Referring now to FIG. 4, additional details will be provided
regarding a normal editing mode of operation. In the example user
interface shown in FIG. 4, a user has exited the mask edit mode of
operation described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. This may
be performed, for instance, by selecting a portion of the canvas
102 outside of the digital image 104 or mask shape 112. Other types
of user interface mechanisms may be provided for allowing a user to
exit the mask edit mode of operation. When the mask edit mode of
operation is exited, the portion of the digital image 104 within
the mask shape 112 is mapped to the mask shape 112. This results in
the mask-cropped shape 118 shown in FIG. 4. The mask-cropped shape
118 comprises the portion of the digital image 104 within the mask
shape 112 mapped thereto.
When the mask-cropped shape 118 is selected in the normal editing
mode of operation, another set of user interface controls is made
available for modifying the size, rotation, and placement of the
mask-cropped shape 118 on the canvas 102. In the example shown in
FIG. 4, the set of user interface controls includes a number of
drag handles 114Q-114X and a rotate handle 116C. Through the use of
these controls, the mask-cropped shape can be resized and rotated.
The mask-cropped shape 118 can also be selected and moved to any
location on the canvas 102. It should be appreciated that in the
normal editing mode of operation, the digital image 104 and mask
shape 112 that make up the mask-cropped shape 118 move together in
unison.
In one embodiment, a user interface control is also provided for
allowing a user to return to the mask edit mode of operation
described above to change the size, position, and placement of the
digital image 104 and the mask shape 112 independently of one
another. In this regard, it should be appreciated that according to
embodiments, the portion 117 of the digital image 104 outside of
the mask shape 112 is retained for use in future mask editing
operations.
Referring now to FIG. 5, additional details will be provided
regarding the operations that may be performed on a mask-cropped
shape 118 in the normal mode of operation. In the example shown
FIG. 5, a drop-down menu 106B has been displayed, including a menu
item 120A for applying a shadow effect to the mask-cropped shape
118. It should be appreciated that because the digital image 104 is
mapped to the mask shape 112 during the masking operation, effects
may be applied to the edges of the mask-cropped shape 118. For
instance, if a user selects the menu item 120A, such as through the
use of the cursor 110, a shadow effect 122 can be applied to the
edges of the mask-cropped shape 118. It should also be appreciated
that other types of bevel effects, drop effects, and
three-dimensional effects, may be applied to the edges of the
mask-cropped shape 118. The mask-cropped shape 118 can also be
rotated in three dimensions and Z-ordered with other shapes or
objects. Other types of image effects may also be applied to the
internal portion of the mask-cropped shape 118. Any type of editing
or visual effect that can be performed on a digital image may also
be performed on the mask-cropped shape 118.
Referring now to FIG. 6, additional details will be provided
regarding another mechanism for entering the mask edit mode of
operation in one embodiment provided herein. As discussed briefly
above, a user may also cause an application program to enter the
mask edit mode of operation by inserting a shape 124 onto the
canvas 102. This may be accomplished, for instance, by displaying a
drop-down menu 106C that includes the icons 108D-108F corresponding
to shapes that may be placed onto the canvas 102. If a user selects
the icon 108F corresponding to the shape 124, such as through the
use of the cursor 110, the corresponding shape 124 will be placed
on the canvas 102. User interface controls such as the drag handles
114J-114Q and the rotate handle 116B may be provided in conjunction
with the shape 124 in order to modify the size and rotation of the
shape 124. Shape 124 may also be selected in order to modify the
position of the shape 124 on the canvas 102. The user may also
request that the shape 124 be filled with a digital image.
Additional details regarding this process are described below with
respect to FIG. 7.
Referring now to FIG. 7, additional details will be provided
regarding the process for entering the mask edit mode of operation
by generating a request to fill a shape 124 with a digital image.
In this implementation, a drop-down menu 106D has been displayed
that includes a number of menu items 120B-120D for filling a shape
124. In particular, the menu item 120B corresponds to patterns that
may be utilized to fill the shape 124. The menu item 120C may be
selected to indicate that a fill should not be utilized. The menu
item 120D may be selected, such as through the use of the cursor
110, to request that the shape 124 be filled with a digital
image.
In response to the selection of the menu item 120D, a user may be
presented with a user interface for selecting an appropriate
digital image, such as the digital image 104, to be utilized in
filling the shape 124. In response to such a selection, the mask
edit mode is entered and the user interface controls illustrated in
FIG. 7 are displayed. In particular, as shown in FIG. 7, the
digital image 104 is displayed in conjunction with the mask shape
112 and the user interface controls for modifying the size,
rotation, and position of the digital image 104 and the mask shape
112 independently of one another are provided. The portion 117 of
the digital image 104 to be masked off following the exit from the
mask edit mode is also displayed in a manner to indicate to the
user that this portion will be cropped. It should be appreciated,
therefore, that the mask edit mode may be entered by either the
placement of an image on the canvas 102 and a request to apply a
mask shape to the image, through the placement of a shape 124 on
the canvas 102 and a request to fill the shape 124 with a digital
image 104, or through a direct user request to enter the mask edit
mode.
Referring now to FIG. 8, additional details will be provided
regarding the embodiments presented herein for altering the
appearance of a digital image using a shape. In particular, FIG. 8
includes a state diagram showing an illustrative process for
altering a digital image using a shape in one implementation. It
should be appreciated that the logical operations described herein
are implemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented acts or
program modules running on a computing system and/or (2) as
interconnected machine logic circuits or circuit modules within the
computing system. The implementation is a matter of choice
dependent on the performance and other requirements of the
computing system. Accordingly, the logical operations described
herein are referred to variously as states operations, structural
devices, acts, or modules. These operations, structural devices,
acts and modules may be implemented in software, in firmware, in
special purpose digital logic, and any combination thereof. It
should also be appreciated that more or fewer operations may be
performed than shown in the figures and described herein. These
operations may also be performed in a different order than those
described herein.
The process for altering the appearance of a digital image using a
shape illustrated in FIG. 8 begins at state 802, at state 808, or
at state 812. In particular, as discussed above, a user may enter
the mask edit mode represented by the state 804 in FIG. 8 by
requesting that a mask shape be applied to an image that has been
placed onto the canvas 102. This is represented by the state 812 in
FIG. 8. Once a user has selected the shape to be applied to the
image, the process illustrated in FIG. 8 proceeds to the mask edit
mode represented by the state 804.
As also discussed above, the mask edit mode represented by the
state 804 may also be entered in response to receiving a user
request to apply an image fill to a shape on the canvas 102. This
is represented by the state 808. Once the user has selected the
appropriate image to fill the shape, the mask edit mode is entered
at state 804. The mask edit mode may also be entered from the
normal edit mode represented by state 802 in response to the user
selection of an image and an appropriate user interface control for
entering the mask edit mode.
As discussed above, once in the mask edit mode represented by the
state 804, user interface controls are provided for independently
positioning, sizing, and rotating the digital image 104 and the
mask shape 112. Utilizing these user interface controls, a user may
rotate the mask shape 112, resize the mask shape 112, or reposition
the mask shape 112 at states 820, 822, and 823, respectively. The
user may also utilize these user interface controls to resize the
digital image 104, rotate the digital image 104, and reposition the
digital image 104 at states 818, 816, and 815, respectively.
While in the mask edit mode represented by the state 804, a user
may also request to change the mask shape 112. This occurs at state
814. In order to change the mask shape 112, an appropriate user
interface control may be displayed to the user including the
available mask shapes that permits the user to select one of the
mask shapes for masking the digital image 104. Facilities may also
be provided for allowing the user to create a custom mask
shape.
In order to crop the image 104 to the mask shape 112, a cropping
request may be received. As discussed above, the cropping request
may take the form of a request to exit the mask edit mode
represented by the state 804. For instance, a user may select a
portion of the canvas 102 outside of the digital image 104 and the
mask shape 112 to request that the cropping operation be performed
and the mask edit mode be exited. A user may also select an
appropriate user interface control, such as a user interface
button, for cropping the image 104 to the mask shape 112. In
response to such a request, the process illustrated in FIG. 8
transitions to state 824 where the portion of the digital image 104
inside the mask shape 112 is mapped to the mask shape 112, thereby
creating the mask-cropped shape 118. The process may then
transition to state 802, where the normal editing mode is
entered.
As discussed above, in the normal edit mode represented by the
state 802, a set of user interface controls are provided for
sizing, rotating, and positioning the mask-cropped shape 118. Due
to the use of these controls, the digital image 104 and mask shape
112 may be rotated, resized, and positioned together. This is
represented by the state 832 in FIG. 8. As also discussed briefly
above, while in the normal edit mode represented by the state 802,
a user may also apply edge effects to the mask-cropped shape. This
is reflected by the state 830 in FIG. 8. Other operations that may
be performed in the normal edit mode 802 include adding a picture
style to an image at state 828. A picture style defines one or more
properties that can be applied to the image, such as color or
lighting effects.
FIG. 9 shows an illustrative computer architecture for a computer
900 capable of executing the software components described herein
for altering the appearance of a digital image using a shape in the
manner presented above. The computer architecture shown in FIG. 9
illustrates a conventional desktop, laptop, or server computer and
may be utilized to execute any aspects of an application program
capable of altering a digital image with a shape in the manner
described herein.
The computer architecture shown in FIG. 9 includes a central
processing unit 902 ("CPU"), a system memory 908, including a
random access memory 914 ("RAM") and a read-only memory ("ROM")
916, and a system bus 904 that couples the memory to the CPU 902. A
basic input/output system containing the basic routines that help
to transfer information between elements within the computer 900,
such as during startup, is stored in the ROM 916. The computer 900
further includes a mass storage device 910 for storing an operating
system 918, application programs, and other program modules, which
are described in greater detail herein.
The mass storage device 910 is connected to the CPU 902 through a
mass storage controller (not shown) connected to the bus 904. The
mass storage device 910 and its associated computer-readable media
provide non-volatile storage for the computer 900. Although the
description of computer-readable media contained herein refers to a
mass storage device, such as a hard disk or CD-ROM drive, it should
be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable
media can be any available computer storage media that can be
accessed by the computer 900.
By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may
include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable
media implemented in any method or technology for storage of
information such as computer-readable instructions, data
structures, program modules or other data. For example,
computer-readable media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM,
EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology,
CD-ROM, digital versatile disks ("DVD"), HD-DVD, BLU-RAY, or other
optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk
storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium
which can be used to store the desired information and which can be
accessed by the computer 900.
According to various embodiments, the computer 900 may operate in a
networked environment using logical connections to remote computers
through a network such as the network 920. The computer 900 may
connect to the network 920 through a network interface unit 906
connected to the bus 904. It should be appreciated that the network
interface unit 906 may also be utilized to connect to other types
of networks and remote computer systems. The computer 900 may also
include an input/output controller 912 for receiving and processing
input from a number of other devices, including a keyboard, mouse,
or electronic stylus (not shown in FIG. 9). Similarly, an
input/output controller may provide output to a display screen, a
printer, or other type of output device (also not shown in FIG.
9).
As mentioned briefly above, a number of program modules and data
files may be stored in the mass storage device 910 and RAM 914 of
the computer 900, including an operating system 918 suitable for
controlling the operation of a networked desktop, laptop, or server
computer. The mass storage device 910 and RAM 914 may also store
one or more program modules. In particular, the mass storage device
910 and the RAM 914 may store an image editing application program
924 or another type of application program that provides the
functionality described herein for altering the appearance of a
digital image using a shape.
Based on the foregoing, it should be appreciated that technologies
for altering the appearance of a digital image using a shape are
provided herein. Although the subject matter presented herein has
been described in language specific to computer structural
features, methodological acts, and computer readable media, it is
to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims
is not necessarily limited to the specific features, acts, or media
described herein. Rather, the specific features, acts and mediums
are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
The subject matter described above is provided by way of
illustration only and should not be construed as limiting. Various
modifications and changes may be made to the subject matter
described herein without following the example embodiments and
applications illustrated and described, and without departing from
the true spirit and scope of the present invention, which is set
forth in the following claims.
* * * * *
References