Inter-image effect array for digital motion picture preview

Solution Overview

Problem

In the motion picture industry, editing digital picture files on computer systems often results in discrepancies when projected on a theatre screen, as special effects do not match the look and feel of unedited scenes, due to the limitations of empirical look-up table generation techniques which are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to instrument noise and estimation errors, especially with saturated colors.

Innovation Solution

An analytical model is used to generate a look-up table that predicts how a digital motion picture will appear on a theatre screen, incorporating an inter-image effect array to correct spectral dye density curves and avoid the need for repeated film development, allowing for more accurate and flexible modifications to the motion picture workflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If empirical techniques are used to generate look-up tables by projecting color patches onto theatre screens and comparing colors, then the look-up table can be generated, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoidtime for look-up table generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the film projection system by building a digital model that includes the film stock characteristics, camera response, and projection system. This virtual model allows color transformation to be simulated computationally without physically projecting films onto theatre screens, thereby maintaining color accuracy while eliminating the time-consuming physical measurement process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical process of projecting color patches onto theatre screens and measuring them with a computational model. The physical film projection and measurement system is substituted with a digital simulation that uses mathematical models of film characteristics and color transformation, achieving the same color accuracy without the time and labor requirements of physical measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If empirical techniques are used to generate look-up tables, then color transformation can be achieved, but instrument noise and estimation errors occur especially with saturated colors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoidconsistency of measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the film projection system by building a digital model that includes the film stock characteristics, camera response, and projection system. This virtual model allows color transformation to be simulated computationally without physically projecting films onto theatre screens, thereby maintaining color accuracy while eliminating the time-consuming physical measurement process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical process of projecting color patches onto theatre screens and measuring them with a computational model. The physical film projection and measurement system is substituted with a digital simulation that uses mathematical models of film characteristics and color transformation, achieving the same color accuracy without the time and labor requirements of physical measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If repeated film development is performed to modify the motion picture workflow, then color representation can be adjusted, but the entire film development process must be repeated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in workflow modificationVSAvoidtime for repeated film development

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing color transformation lookup tables that map digital image values to projected film values. These pre-computed tables capture the complete color transformation characteristics of the film stock and projection system. When workflow modifications are needed, the system can quickly query and apply the appropriate pre-computed transformation data without repeating the entire film development process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the film projection system by building a digital model that includes the film stock characteristics, camera response, and projection system. This virtual model allows color transformation to be simulated computationally without physically projecting films onto theatre screens, thereby maintaining color accuracy while eliminating the time-consuming physical measurement process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8654192B2Inter-image effect array for previewing digital motion picture content

Publication Date: 2014.02.18 ADOBE INC

AI summary

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to calculating an inter-image effect array capable of tuning an effect of spectral dye density curves for use in a preview of digital motion picture content.