Virtual Paint Chip Matrix for Retail Color Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customers face challenges in finding specific paint colors in large retail paint displays and in visualizing how colors will appear on surfaces due to limitations in current two-dimensional swatches and image editing software.
Innovation Solution
A color selection and display system using a computing device that presents colors in a matrix format, allowing users to select colors and display rendered scenes with chosen colors applied to virtual paintable surfaces, accounting for lighting and reflections, and enabling navigation and zooming of color palettes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If paint chips are displayed in a large retail paint display with hundreds or thousands of colors, then the variety of color options is improved, but the ease of finding a specific paint chip is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional physical paint chip display to a three-dimensional virtual environment where users can navigate color spaces, zoom into specific color regions, and access paint chips from multiple perspectives. This dimensional enhancement allows comprehensive color exploration while maintaining ease of access to specific colors through virtual navigation tools and search capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a computing device as an intermediary between the customer and the physical paint chips. The computing device displays a virtual representation of the paint chip display, allows virtual selection and examination of colors, and provides guidance to the physical location of selected paint chips in the retail store. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by making the large collection of colors accessible through digital interfaces while maintaining the physical display for final selection.
2Device complexity
If two-dimensional paint swatches are used to display colors, then the simplicity of the display is improved, but the ability to show how color appears on surfaces under various lighting conditions is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system enhances two-dimensional paint swatches by incorporating three-dimensional virtual surface applications and multi-angle viewing capabilities. The computing device displays rendered images showing how selected colors appear on virtual surfaces with simulated lighting conditions, shadows, and reflections. This allows customers to see comprehensive color information while maintaining an simple interface through the computing device's display capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes display parameters including lighting conditions, viewing angles, and surface textures in the virtual environment. The computing device adjusts these parameters to show how the selected paint color appears under different conditions, providing comprehensive color information without requiring multiple physical samples. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining interface simplicity while enriching color information through parameter variation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual color selection and application in image editing software is required, then the flexibility of color application is improved, but the ease of use for customers without software training is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service color selection and visualization through an intuitive interface on the computing device. Customers can independently browse the virtual paint chip display, select colors, and view rendered applications without requiring assistance from staff or knowledge of image editing software. The system automatically handles color application to virtual surfaces and provides immediate visual feedback, making the process accessible to all customers regardless of technical skill level.
Solution Approach 2:
The computing device serves multiple functions: displaying the virtual paint chip display, enabling color selection, rendering color applications on virtual surfaces, providing product information, and guiding customers to physical paint chip locations. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate tools and skills into a single user-friendly device, maintaining flexibility while improving ease of use for untrained customers.
Data Source
AI summary
A color selection and display system. A computing device comprises a display, a memory storing a color matrix comprising a plurality of virtual paint chips each virtual paint chip representing a specified paint color, a user interface configured for receiving input data identifying a selected color and a processor configured to control the display to automatically display the color matrix such that the selected color is highlighted in the virtual paint chip arrangement. In embodiments, a retail paint chip display comprises a plurality of paint chips in a specified layout such that the relative location of each virtual paint chip in the color matrix corresponds to the layout of the retail paint chip display. In embodiments, a rendered scene is displayed based on a base image and at last one paintable surface defined by a plurality of locations in the base image.