Object Tinting by Luminosity Regions to Preserve Highlights

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tinting methods for computer-generated objects result in perceptual alteration of features such as highlights and shadows, leading to undesirable visual effects.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that selects tinting methods based on the luminosity and chroma components of a target color, using a plurality of tinting techniques to maintain the original object's visual characteristics while achieving the desired color shift.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional tinting methods are used to apply target color to computer-generated objects, then the object achieves the desired color change, but the highlights and shadows of the object are perceptually altered resulting in undesirable visual effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor applicationVSAvoidvisual characteristic preservation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different blending modes to different luminosity regions of the object. For dark regions (shadows), one blending mode is used; for mid-tone regions, a different blending mode is applied; and for light regions (highlights), yet another blending mode is used. This local differentiation preserves the perceptual integrity of highlights and shadows while achieving the target color tint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the blending mode parameter based on the luminosity value of different regions of the object. By dynamically selecting blending modes (e.g., multiply for dark regions, overlay for mid-tones, screen for light regions) according to local luminosity parameters, the system maintains visual characteristics while applying the target color tint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple tinting methods are used to preserve visual characteristics, then the quality of tinting improves, but the computational resources and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual characteristic preservationVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the object's surface into different luminosity-based regions (dark, mid-tone, light) and applies appropriate blending modes to each segment. This segmentation allows the system to use multiple tinting methods only where necessary, rather than applying all possible methods across the entire object, thus balancing quality with processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies a full set of blending mode evaluations only to regions where it is most needed (mid-tone and highlight regions), while using simplified or single-mode approaches for shadow regions where the target color has less visual impact. This partial application of complex processing reduces overall computational burden while maintaining visual quality where it matters most.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4029235B1A system and method for tinting of computer-generated object(s)
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP4029235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4029235B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4029235B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described herein is a system and method for tinting of a computer-generated object. Selection of a target color to be applied to be an object is received. The target color can have a luminosity component and a chroma component (e.g., the luminosity, hue, chroma (LHC) color space). Based, at least in part, upon at least one of the luminosity component or the chroma component of the target color, one or more tinting methods of a plurality of tinting methods is selected to tint the object to the target color. The object can be tinted using the selected one or more tinting methods, and, the tinted object provided (e.g., stored and/or displayed to a user via a graphical user interface).