DPX Color Conversion Using ICC Profiles for Scene Space Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

The motion picture industry faces challenges in making editorial modifications and special effects appear realistic due to inaccuracies in film scanning operations, which fail to accurately recreate original scene colors.

Innovation Solution

The use of International Color Consortium (ICC) color profiles and look-up tables (LUTs) and matrices to convert Digital Picture eXchange (DPX) data into scene space, allowing for realistic application of special effects by colormetrically representing original scene colors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If film scanning operation is used to digitize captured images, then digital data can be obtained for editorial modifications and special effects, but the original scene colors are not accurately recreated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoidoriginal scene color information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an ICC color profile as an intermediary between the scanned digital image and the original scene color space. The color profile contains transformation data (LUTs and matrices) that mediate the conversion from scanner color space to scene color space, enabling accurate color reproduction without directly accessing the original film

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms color data by changing color space parameters through ICC profile conversions. By applying lookup tables and transformation matrices stored in the color profile, the system converts color values from the scanner's color space to the original scene's color space, accurately recreating original colors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If standard film scanning workflow is used, then digital data can be manipulated and edited, but special effects do not appear realistic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeditorial modification capabilityVSAvoidrealism of special effects

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary color space conversion by embedding an ICC color profile in the digital image data before editorial modifications and special effects are applied. This preliminary action establishes the correct scene color space context, ensuring that all subsequent manipulations and effects are applied in the accurate color space, which maintains realism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The ICC color profile acts as a mediator that enables editors to work in the accurate scene color space. By converting the digital data to the correct color space through the color profile, the system allows standard editorial operations to produce realistic results without requiring specialized equipment or processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7636469B2Motion picture content editing

Publication Date: 2009.12.22 ADOBE INC

AI summary

Processing Digital Picture eXchange (DPX) data obtained by scanning Negative Camera Film to colormetrically recreate an original de-rendered scene image is described. One method described includes converting a DPX color file, obtained from scanning a camera negative film used to capture a scene with a film camera, to scene color data using an ICC Color management engine. The ICC Color management engine executes an ICC color profile created using parameters representing a characteristic curve and spectral sensitivity of the camera negative film.