Editing Method for HDR and SDR Image Intent Preservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing techniques fail to effectively display images that reflect the creator's or editor's intention, particularly in high dynamic range (HDR) and standard dynamic range (SDR) image scenarios, where editing control is limited and image quality is not consistently maintained across different devices.

Innovation Solution

An editing method and device that includes generating HDR and SDR images from RAW data, along with edit management information to control editing permissions and conversions, ensuring that images are displayed according to the creator's or editor's intent by determining whether to permit editing or conversion based on the capabilities of the display device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If HDR images are converted to SDR images for display on standard devices, then compatibility with display devices is improved, but image quality and dynamic range are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with display devicesVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-converting HDR images to SDR images during the image creation stage, storing multiple versions (both HDR and SDR) alongside edit management information. This allows the appropriate version to be selected later based on display device capabilities, avoiding the need for conversion at display time and preserving image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces edit management information as an intermediary element that mediates between HDR and SDR image formats. This metadata structure stores conversion permissions and guidelines, enabling the system to intelligently select whether to display the original HDR image or a pre-converted SDR version based on device capabilities and creator intent, thus maintaining image quality while ensuring compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If editing permissions are restricted to preserve creator's intention, then image integrity is improved, but flexibility in editing and conversion is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage integrityVSAvoidediting flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing granular control over editing permissions through the edit management information structure. Different permission levels can be set for different types of edits (e.g., allowing SDR conversion while restricting HDR modification, or permitting certain adjustments while forbidding others). This enables precise control over specific image aspects while maintaining overall integrity, rather than applying blanket restrictions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple image formats (HDR and SDR) are stored separately, then image quality across different devices is improved, but data volume and storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage quality consistencyVSAvoiddata volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-converting HDR images to SDR formats and storing both versions during the image creation process. This eliminates the need for real-time conversion during display, ensuring image quality consistency across different devices while allowing the system to select the appropriate format based on device capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a selective storage strategy where both HDR and SDR versions are stored, but the system can discard (not display) the HDR version when displaying on SDR-only devices, and recover (display) the HDR version when appropriate. The edit management information tracks which versions are available and appropriate for display, optimizing storage utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP3522526B1Editing method, creation method, editing device, creation device, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2022.05.04 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

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AI summary

There is provided an editing method that can display images that reflect a creator's or editor's intention of the images on a display device. The editing method includes: obtaining a high quality image and a first low quality image that are still images showing an identical scene, and edit management information that indicates whether or not to permit editing at least one image of the high quality image and the first low quality image; and editing the at least one image when the edit management information indicates to permit editing the at least one image, and when the edit management information indicates not to permit editing the at least one image, the at least one image is not edited.