Alpha Blending Transparency Optimization Logic for Color Format Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for alpha blending images from different color formats, such as HDR and SDR, often result in incorrect transparency levels and altered original blending intent due to non-linearity differences, with no existing method to convert images to color formats other than the destination's format before blending or account for different formats between multiple blending stages.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of alpha blending transparency optimization logic that converts source and destination images to a common blending color format, using gamma spaces and color primaries, to maintain the original blending intent, and allows for multiple blending stages with different color formats, followed by tone mapping to the output format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If images are converted to a common linear light HDR format for alpha blending, then the blending can be performed, but the transparency result becomes incorrect when alpha values were formatted for SDR color format
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the alpha blending problem by changing the parameter space - converting images to a common linear light HDR format while simultaneously adjusting the alpha values to compensate for the non-linearity differences between SDR and HDR color formats. This parameter transformation allows correct transparency results across different color formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary conversion process that acts as a mediator between SDR and HDR images. By converting both images to a common linear light HDR format as an intermediate representation space, the system enables accurate alpha blending while preserving the original transparency intent regardless of the source color formats.
2Ease of operation
If alpha blending is performed in the destination image's color format, then the blending can be displayed, but the original alpha blending intent is altered due to non-linearity differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing color format conversion to a common linear light HDR format before the alpha blending operation. This preliminary transformation ensures that the alpha blending is performed in a linear space where the original transparency intent is preserved, preventing information loss that would occur if blending were performed directly in the non-linear destination color format.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple blending stages use different color formats, then flexibility is increased, but no existing method accounts for different formats between blending stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a universal color conversion framework that can handle multiple blending stages with different color formats. By converting all images to a common linear light HDR format as a universal intermediate representation, the system enables flexible multi-stage alpha blending while maintaining reliability and accuracy across all stages, regardless of the original color formats or intended blending spaces.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, an apparatus obtains source layer pixels, such as those of a content image and first destination layer pixels, such as those of a destination image. The first destination layer pixels have associated alpha values. The apparatus obtains information that indicates a first blending color format for the alpha values. The first blending color format is different from a first destination layer color format for the first destination layer pixels and an output color format for a display. The apparatus converts the source and/or first destination layer pixels to the first blending color format. The apparatus generates first alpha blended pixels based on alpha blending the source layer pixels with the first destination layer pixels using the associated alpha values. The apparatus provides, for display on the display, the first alpha blended pixels.