Abstract: An apparatus, system and method are disclosed for photographing an image in a photo booth employing a light-emitting backdrop. For example, the apparatus comprises a photo booth including a housing having an entrance on one side with movable closure member to minimize encroachment of exterior light, a seat, a first white light source facing the subject(s) for emitting a first selected light intensity upon the subjects, a second white light emitting source facing generally the rear of the subject(s) so as to provide a light-emitting photographic backdrop, and a device for receiving a selected form of payment, or alternatively, for activating the apparatus without payment. In addition, the apparatus includes a photography unit comprising a selected camera, a program-controlled apparatus, a printer, and the first light source, for taking a digital photograph of objects within a selected frame of reference.

Abstract: A photobooth/e-mail center for taking a digitized photographic image of a user at a first station and retrieving and electronically displaying the digitized photographic image at a second station comprising: one or more first stations, comprising, a unit for taking the digitized photograph of the user; a first display for displaying the digitized photograph; a generator for generating a code corresponding to the digitized photographic image; printer for printing and delivering a hardcopy of the photograph to the user at the first station; and a circuit for transmitting the digitized photograph and the code to a first database residing in one or more second stations; the second station, comprising, an input circuit for electronically entering the code; a circuit for retrieving the stored digitized photograph from the first database in response to the input circuit for electronically entering the code; a receiver for receiving and storing the digitized photograph in response to the circuit for retrieving the st

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method of creating a caricature of an image taken of or provided by a user at a photobooth. The invention provides an image fixing device, fixes the image at the photobooth with the image fixing device, assigns a first set of control points at predetermined locations on the fixed image, establishes a distance between the control points, alters the distance between at least two of the control points, defines a second set of control points which incorporates the altered distances, and renders the caricature in a visible format using the second set of control points. Also disclosed is a device for accomplishing the methods of this invention.

Abstract: A method for saving, accessing and reprinting a digitized photographic image of a user at a photography booth comprising the steps of: generating a code corresponding to the digitized photographic image; printing a first hard copy of the digital photographic image so that the code appears either on the first hard copy, on a separate receipt or on the photo booth itself; saving the digitized photographic image as the set of digital information under the code onto a first computer readable means capable of storing digital information; accessing the digitized photographic image comprising the steps of, entering the code, as it appears on the hard copy, receipt or photography booth, into a means for accessing the set of digital information from the first computer readable means capable of storing digital information, retrieving the saved digitized photographic image, and printing a second hard copy of the digitized photographic image in various alternative print formats.

Abstract: A method of simulating the creation of a mock artist's drawing or painting image on a monitor, from an electronically-stored image, comprising translating the electronically-stored image into instructions capable of creating the mock image; generating and displaying on the monitor an icon which simulates drawing or painting the mock image; and using the instructions to move the icon across the monitor, wherein the mock image is created gradually as the icon moves across the monitor, to simulate the process by which an artist may create the mock image. Also disclosed is a device for accomplishing the methods of this invention.

Abstract: An interactive photo kiosk in which, in one embodiment thereof, presents an upright open face which enables a user to stand directly in front of the kiosk, which optically defocuses the background image and substitutes a selected computer generated image, and which enables the user to pose and freeze a selected image made visible to the user on a display screen. Users may choose from among a menu of different computer generated background images. In a preferred embodiment, the selected frozen image is in digital form and is processed electronically to form a single digital multiple image of the same image in a selected area format which, when delivered to a printing apparatus for hard copy print-out, produces a multiple image of the same frozen image on a single sheet wherein each of the multiple images can be peeled off the single sheet and used separately from each other.

Abstract: A method of creating a composite print including a preestablished background portion and a live portion comprising the steps of providing a plurality of different preestablished background images, allowing a user to select one background image at a time for display on a display device, obtaining an image of the user, displaying on the display device a composite image of the background image and the user image, and printing the composite image after sensing money input.

Abstract: A mechanical camera position adjustment device that allows a user to adjust the relative position of a photography-booth camera to alter the position of the user's image in the camera's field of view, including a camera mount for providing horizontal and/or vertical camera movement, a remote camera adjustment device operable by the user to move the camera, and a mechanical linkage between the adjustment mechanism and the camera mount for directly translating user adjustment device operation into camera movement to allow the user to directly control the camera position.

Abstract: An automatic film changing system for a camera-back which uses a film cassette, including a film magazine for storing a plurality of new cassettes of fresh film and presenting a fresh film cassette to replace a spent film cassette in the camera-back; a detector for detecting when the film cassette in the camera-back is spent; an accessing device, responsive to the detector, for enabling access to the film cassette in the camera-back when the cassette is spent; a cassette reloader, responsive to the detector, for ejecting a spent cassette from the camera-back and for loading a fresh cassette in the camera back from the film magazine; and a bifurcated dispensing path for normally directing finished photographs in one direction and periodically, selectively directing a spent cassette ejected from the camera-back in a second direction.