Digital Image Masking with Independent Shape and Content Controls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer application programs are inefficient in allowing users to easily highlight or isolate regions within digital images or change the shape of digital images, requiring complex processes and artistic skill, and fail to apply effects to the edges of masked images effectively.
Innovation Solution
An application program with a mask edit mode that allows users to visually place and adjust a mask shape to crop a digital image, providing user interface controls for altering the size, position, and rotation of both the mask shape and the digital image independently, enabling easy definition of the masked area and application of effects to the edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user wants to isolate a particular region or change the shape of a digital image using current application programs, then the user must paint a texture mask, but this approach is very time consuming and requires artistic skill that many users do not possess
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image manipulation process into two independent components: a pre-defined geometric mask shape and the digital image content. Instead of requiring users to manually paint the entire mask, the system segments the task into selecting a geometric shape (circle, rectangle, polygon, etc.) and automatically applying it to define the masked region. This segmentation eliminates the time-consuming manual painting process while maintaining precise control over the isolated region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pre-defined geometric mask shapes as templates that can be copied and applied to images. Rather than creating custom masks from scratch, users can select from a library of standard geometric shapes and apply them directly to images. This copying approach eliminates the need for artistic skill in mask creation while maintaining consistency and precision in the masking operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a user paints a texture mask to isolate a region, then the masked area can be defined, but once painted it is very difficult to edit and must be manually repainted to achieve a different effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mask shape dynamic and adjustable after initial application. Users can modify the geometric parameters of the mask (size, position, rotation, number of sides for polygons) at any time without repainting. The mask responds dynamically to user input, allowing easy adjustment of different effects by simply changing the geometric parameters of the selected shape type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables easy reconfiguration of mask shapes by allowing users to change geometric parameters such as the number of sides for polygonal shapes, radius for circular shapes, or position and orientation. These parameter changes instantly update the mask without requiring manual repainting, providing high adaptability for achieving different masking effects while maintaining ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If a texture mask is applied to a digital image, then a portion of the image can be masked off, but the underlying digital image still retains its original rectangular shape, thereby making it difficult to apply effects to the edge of the masked digital image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the geometric mask shape with the digital image content to create a unified masked image object. The mask shape is not merely an overlay but is integrated with the image data, so that the resulting masked image inherits the geometric shape of the mask (circle, rectangle, polygon) rather than retaining the original rectangular image boundaries. This merging enables direct application of edge effects to the geometrically-shaped masked region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates equipotentiality between the mask shape and the image content, treating them as a unified object with consistent geometric properties. The masked image region adopts the same geometric shape as the mask, creating a homogeneous object where edge effects can be uniformly applied to all edges regardless of the specific geometric shape (circle, rectangle, polygon), eliminating the discrepancy between mask shape and image shape.
Data Source
AI summary
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.