Abstract: Method of manufacturing a substrate with a cut thermal film comprises obtaining an input digital image of a design to be transferred to the substrate; storing the input image in memory; rendering design elements of the design as a single output image; based upon a bleed size value, a maximum number of negative areas, a maximum number of positive areas, and attribute values: resizing the image to include a border for bleed; filling transparent areas of the image with the substrate attribute values; creating a cutting path; creating a mask image; inverting the mask image; modifying the mask image to adjust fill areas around details, to limit negative areas to be less than the maximum number of negative areas, and to limit positive areas to be less than the maximum number of positive areas; creating cutting path data in memory as a vector path outlining the mask image.

Abstract: Techniques are described for visualizing a product at the actual location in the environment at which the product is to be used or displayed. An embodiment of the approaches described herein may be used in the context of a computer-based system that can receive and store digital images, receive a request to manufacture a custom framed product including an identification of an image to be framed and a type of mat and/or frame, and display a preview image of the custom framed product that simulates the actual appearance of the product as closely as possible. With such a system, the preview image may be highly realistic under idealized lighting and display conditions. A digital asset visualizing the custom product may be built using a data that maps nodes of a reference connectivity graph of a marker to nodes of a candidate connectivity graph.

Abstract: A handheld scanner system for obtaining sizing of an irregularly shaped object. The system includes a housing and an inertial measurement unit configured to record orientation and displacement history of the housing. An optical module includes at least one 3D optical sensor configured to generate a 3D point cloud of information about the object. A radar module includes at least one radar sensor configured to sense spacing between the housing and the object. A processor receives data from the inertial measurement unit, the optical module and the radar module and creates a map representing the object based on the received data.

Abstract: A handheld scanner system for obtaining sizing of an irregularly shaped object. The system includes a housing and an inertial measurement unit configured to record orientation and displacement history of the housing. An optical module includes at least one 3D optical sensor configured to generate a 3D point cloud of information about the object. A radar module includes at least one radar sensor configured to sense spacing between the housing and the object. A processor receives data from the inertial measurement unit, the optical module and the radar module and creates a map representing the object based on the received data.

Abstract: Techniques are described for describing and associating custom products. In an embodiment, a first attribute value that defines an attribute of a custom product is received from a user that is customizing the custom product. In response to receiving the first attribute value, a legal set of attribute values for a second attribute of the custom product or an accessory product may be determined. The legal set of attribute values identifies one or more attribute values of the second attribute of the custom product or accessory product that are compatible with the first attribute value. The legal set of attribute values may identify a continuous range of values where any value within the continuous range of values is compatible with the first attribute value. In an embodiment, the user may be limited to selecting accessory products having a legal attribute value.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more attribute location inputs. Each attribute location input identifies a location within a product image depicting a customizable product. The method includes receiving an attribute definition for each of the one or more attribute location inputs. The method also includes storing customization information that associates the locations specified in the location inputs with attribute definition information included in the respective attribute definition. In another embodiment, a method includes causing the display of a product image depicting a customizable product. One or more locations within the product image are each associated with a respective customizable attribute. The method includes causing the display of an attribute image representing a particular customizable attribute associated with the particular location in association with a particular location of the one or more locations within the product selection image.

Abstract: Techniques for using infrared imaging to create digital images for use in product customization are described. In an embodiment, an infrared photograph of a product with imprinted markup is received and a visible light photograph of the product with the imprinted markup is received. The imprinted markup is visible in the visible light photograph but is not visible in the infrared photograph. Instructions for rendering a customization image of the product depicting a particular customization are determined based in part on the infrared photograph and visible light photograph, where the particular customization is not in the infrared photograph or the visible light photograph.

Abstract: Techniques for digital image retrieval are described. In an embodiment a system stores a plurality of tiles for a plurality of versions of a particular image. Each respective image of the plurality of versions has a different resolution. Each respective tile of the plurality of tiles comprises a bounded region of the respective version of the particular image. Based on a display resolution where a portion of the particular image will be visible, the system determines a final image resolution for the particular image. The system fetches one or more tiles of the respective version of the particular image that has the final resolution. The one or more tiles include the portion of the particular image that will be displayed. The system applies the one or more tiles to a model and renders the model.

Abstract: Techniques are described for visualizing a product at the actual location in the environment at which the product is to be used or displayed. An embodiment of the approaches described herein may be used in the context of a computer-based system that can receive and store digital images, receive a request to manufacture a custom framed product including an identification of an image to be framed and a type of mat and/or frame, and display a preview image of the custom framed product that simulates the actual appearance of the product as closely as possible. With such a system, the preview image may be highly realistic under idealized lighting and display conditions.

Abstract: An input image is partitioned into a plurality of image regions based on color and color differences. The partitioning comprises assigning a color difference value to plurality of locations within the input image. The partitioning further comprises assigning each of the plurality of locations to an image region of the plurality of image regions, where the assigning occurs according to a particular order. The particular order is based at least in part on color difference values associated with the plurality of locations. The input image may comprise markup. Data representing at least a particular portion of the markup in the input image based on the partitioning is identified. Data representing at least the portion of the markup may be used in a visualization of a customizable product or a manufacturing control associated with a customizable product.

Abstract: Data processing methods provide automated screen printing techniques. A request associated with screen printing an image is obtained. The request includes a source image and a key color value indicating a number of ink colors for use in the screen printing. A set of key colors equal in size to the key color value is computationally determined by filtering the image so that a plurality of contiguous color areas that are close in color space are preserved, determining a plurality of candidate colors for the plurality of contiguous color areas, and grouping the plurality of contiguous color areas into a number of groups equal in size to the key color value based on the plurality of candidate colors. The source image is transformed to at least one destination image that is usable in screen printing of a product using ink colors based on the set of key colors.

Abstract: A product customization system and method are provided in which a consumer can insert user content, such as images or text, onto a product, such as a skateboard, and then view the customized product before purchasing the customized product.

Abstract: Data processing methods provide automated screen printing techniques. A request associated with screen printing an image is obtained. The request includes a source image and a key color value indicating a number of ink colors for use in the screen printing. A set of key colors equal in size to the key color value is computationally determined by filtering the image so that a plurality of contiguous color areas that are close in color space are preserved, determining a plurality of candidate colors for the plurality of contiguous color areas, and grouping the plurality of contiguous color areas into a number of groups equal in size to the key color value based on the plurality of candidate colors. The source image is transformed to at least one destination image that is usable in screen printing of a product using ink colors based on the set of key colors.

Abstract: A product modeling system and method are provided. On one embodiment, the product modeling system is used to model a piece of apparel, such as a shirt, with a design wherein the model with the design is used to display the piece of apparel with the design to a consumer.

Abstract: Techniques for automated imaging of customizable products are disclosed. In one embodiment, survey photographic images of a customizable product having one or more markers affixed upon the customizable product are received. Camera positions relative to the customizable product are automatically determined based on the plurality of survey photographic images. Associations between the determined camera positions and customizable attributes of the customizable product are stored. Non-survey photographic images of the same customizable product without at least some of the one or more markers are obtained.

Abstract: An input image is partitioned into a plurality of image regions based on color and color differences. The partitioning comprises assigning a color difference value to plurality of locations within the input image. The partitioning further comprises assigning each of the plurality of locations to an image region of the plurality of image regions, where the assigning occurs according to a particular order. The particular order is based at least in part on color difference values associated with the plurality of locations. The input image may comprise markup. Data representing at least a particular portion of the markup in the input image based on the partitioning is identified. Data representing at least the portion of the markup may be used in a visualization of a customizable product or a manufacturing control associated with a customizable product.

Abstract: Techniques are described for describing and associating custom products. In an embodiment, a first attribute value that defines an attribute of a custom product is received from a user that is customizing the custom product. In response to receiving the first attribute value, a legal set of attribute values for a second attribute of the custom product or an accessory product may be determined. The legal set of attribute values identifies one or more attribute values of the second attribute of the custom product or accessory product that are compatible with the first attribute value. The legal set of attribute values may identify a continuous range of values where any value within the continuous range of values is compatible with the first attribute value. In an embodiment, the user may be limited to selecting accessory products having a legal attribute value.

Abstract: Data processing methods provide a work flow for producing custom screen printed products based on digital images. Disclosed techniques include a work flow for receiving user-supplied images and transforming the images into color separation data and related metadata that can drive screen printing, including previewing the appearance of the products as they will appear when screen printed, for user approval; finding key color components using a filtering and grouping approach; image resolution limiting; structured error diffusion halftoning with an improved random number generator for use in adding blue noise; error diffusion dot spread correction; and others.

Abstract: A product modeling system and method are provided. On one embodiment, the product modeling system is used to model a piece of apparel, such as a shirt, with a design wherein the model with the design is used to display the piece of apparel with the design to a consumer.

Abstract: Techniques are described for describing and associating custom products. In an embodiment, a first attribute value that defines an attribute of a custom product is received from a user that is customizing the custom product. In response to receiving the first attribute value, a legal set of attribute values for a second attribute of the custom product or an accessory product may be determined. The legal set of attribute values identifies one or more attribute values of the second attribute of the custom product or accessory product that are compatible with the first attribute value. The legal set of attribute values may identify a continuous range of values where any value within the continuous range of values is compatible with the first attribute value. In an embodiment, the user may be limited to selecting accessory products having a legal attribute value.