Abstract: A system and method for rendering a digital image in order to recreate a physical instant analog print developing experience for the digital image is provided. The method includes, for example, receiving a digital image at a first computing device from a source over a network, the digital image including characteristic(s) (e.g., contrast, saturation, etc.), each characteristic having a received level; detecting whether the digital image is to be gradually rendered over a predetermined time in order to provide a user with a simulated experience of instant analog print developing; and based on the detecting, gradually rendering the digital image on a display associated with the first computing device over the predetermined time, the gradually rendering including increasing a level of the characteristic(s) until the level reaches the corresponding received level.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method programmed for execution in a computing environment for ordering and facilitating payment of a print product. The method comprises storing a digital image in a memory of the computing system; allowing for the selection of a print product using a user interface accessed by a user computing device to establish a print order, wherein the print product includes the digital image, and wherein the print order includes an identification of the selected print product and an order cost; generating a unique payment link by the processor that corresponds to the print order and provides a user computing device with access to communicate payment information to a remote payment processing system; providing access to the unique payment link to the user computing device; receiving a payment notification at the processor from the remote payment processing system; and allowing for fulfillment of the print order using a printing device.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically displaying a digital representation of one or more recommended print products on a user interface of a computing device is provided. The method comprises providing a digital representation of each of a plurality of print products stored in a computer memory, wherein the plurality of print products are categorized into at least one of a plurality of print product groups that include a first print product group; identifying a geographic location or a time of year; selecting the first print product group using the processor of the computing device, wherein the first print product group is selected based on the identified geographic location or time of year; and displaying the digital representations corresponding to at least one of the plurality of print products included within the first print product group on the user interface. Other aspects are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for generating a digital image collage is provided. The method includes accessing digital images stored in a memory; selecting first, second and third digital images; generating a first aperture in a collage template layout, and populating the first aperture with the first digital image; randomly dividing the first aperture into second and third apertures, populating the second and third apertures with the first and second digital images, respectively; randomly dividing the second aperture into fourth and fifth apertures, populating the third aperture with one of the three digital images, populating the fourth aperture with another of the three digital images, populating the fifth aperture with the remaining digital image, identifying one of the three digital images as a target digital image; and changing the size of the respective aperture associated with the target digital image so that the respective aperture includes a greatest aperture area.

Abstract: A method for providing a custom print product comprises displaying a video that includes an exhibited physical product; comparing feature or attribute data associated with the exhibited product with a feature or attribute associated with the available product; displaying a digital overlay in the video and in association with the displayed exhibited product if the displayed exhibited product corresponds to the available product; allowing for the selection of the digital overlay and then a digital image, wherein the selected digital image is not representative of the displayed exhibited physical product, and wherein the selected digital image is configured to be disposed on a selected physical product representative of the displayed exhibited physical product associated with the selected digital overlay to provide the customized print product.

Abstract: A system for producing a flipbook includes a processor that receives a video comprising a plurality of frames, selects a start frame and an end frame, and a plurality of frames therebetween. The processor can analyze the frames of the segment to determine an average rate of change of the plurality of frames and a threshold of relative image difference based on the average rate of change of the plurality of frames and a baseline frame rate. The processor can select, based on the results of its analysis, a plurality of selected frames, each of the selected frames being separated from two other selected frames by a sub-segment of the video, wherein each pair of adjacent frames comprises a relative image difference above the threshold and wherein each selected frame meets quality criteria not met by one or more local frames.

Abstract: A method for generating a digital image collage is provided. The method includes displaying a collage template on a user interface, wherein the collage template includes populating a plurality of randomly configured apertures with digital images; assigning a weight to each of the apertures based on an area of the apertures; and selecting a new digital image to add in the layout. In response to the user input command, comparing the weights assigned to the respective apertures in the layout to identify an aperture having the greatest weight among the apertures; randomly dividing the aperture having the greatest weight into two new apertures to change the layout to a different arrangement; and populating the two new apertures and the remaining undivided apertures among the plurality of apertures in the layout with the new selected digital image and the previously selected digital images, thereby generating the digital image collage.

Abstract: Automating a product offering presented in a consumer kiosk application for creating and order consumer photo-related products. An automated product offering system determines in real-time or near real-time the availability of products to be offered to the consumer and adjusts the display on the kiosk GUI to guide the user to select products that are currently available. The product availability may be specific to a location and a retailer hosting the consumer kiosk application. The kiosk GUI display is adjusted in accordance with product advertising and promotional campaigns to guide the user to generate orders for products that offer the best value to the consumer while helping retailers and kiosk operators succeed with advertising campaigns.

Abstract: A method for providing a custom print product comprises displaying a video that includes an exhibited physical product; comparing feature or attribute data associated with the exhibited product with a feature or attribute associated with the available product; displaying a digital overlay in the video and in association with the displayed exhibited product if the displayed exhibited product corresponds to the available product; allowing for the selection of the digital overlay and then a digital image, wherein the selected digital image is not representative of the displayed exhibited physical product, and wherein the selected digital image is configured to be disposed on a selected physical product representative of the displayed exhibited physical product associated with the selected digital overlay to provide the customized print product.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method programmed for execution in a computing environment for recommending at least one size and type of substrate to be used in conjunction with a digital image to form a print product includes: providing a digital image; providing a list of available substrates stored in a memory; utilizing a processor, analyzing the digital image to identify image content included in the digital image; utilizing the processor, automatically selecting at least one size of substrate to be used to form a print product based on the identified image content; automatically identifying at least one type of substrate from the list of available substrates utilizing the processor based on at least one of the selected at least one size of substrate or the identified image content; and displaying the identified at least one type of substrate and the selected at least one size of substrate on a display.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for recommending at least one substrate to be used in conjunction with a digital image to form a print product includes: providing a digital image; providing a list of available substrates stored in a memory; utilizing a processor, allowing for the selection of at least one of a size of substrate to be used to form a print product or a display location for the print product; automatically identifying at least one substrate from the list of available substrates utilizing the processor based on at least one of the selected substrate size or the selected display location; displaying the identified at least one substrate on a display; and allowing for the selection of the identified at least one substrate for fulfillment to produce the print product including the digital image disposed on the selected at least one substrate.

Abstract: A system for producing a flipbook includes a processor that receives a video comprising a plurality of frames, selects a start frame and an end frame, and a plurality of frames therebetween. The processor can analyze the frames of the segment to determine an average rate of change of the plurality of frames and a threshold of relative image difference based on the average rate of change of the plurality of frames and a baseline frame rate. The processor can select, based on the results of its analysis, a plurality of selected frames, each of the selected frames being separated from two other selected frames by a sub-segment of the video, wherein each pair of adjacent frames comprises a relative image difference above the threshold and wherein each selected frame meets quality criteria not met by one or more local frames.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method programmed for execution in a computing environment for ordering and facilitating payment of a print product. The method comprises storing a digital image in a memory of the computing system; allowing for the selection of a print product using a user interface accessed by a user computing device to establish a print order, wherein the print product includes the digital image, and wherein the print order includes an identification of the selected print product and an order cost; generating a unique payment link by the processor that corresponds to the print order and provides a user computing device with access to communicate payment information to a remote payment processing system; providing access to the unique payment link to the user computing device; receiving a payment notification at the processor from the remote payment processing system; and allowing for fulfillment of the print order using a printing device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method programmed for execution in a computing environment for ordering and facilitating payment of a print product. The method comprises storing a digital image in a memory of the computing system; allowing for the selection of a print product using a user interface to establish a print order, wherein the print product includes the digital image, and wherein the print order includes an identification of the selected print product and an order cost; generating a unique payment link by the processor that corresponds to the print order and provides a user computing device with access to communicate payment information to a remote payment processing system; providing access to the unique payment link to the user computing device; receiving a payment notification at the processor from the remote payment processing system; and allowing for the fulfillment of at least a portion of the print order using a printing device.

Abstract: A method for generating a digital image collage is provided. The method includes displaying a collage template on a user interface, wherein the collage template includes populating a plurality of randomly configured apertures with digital images; assigning a weight to each of the apertures based on an area of the apertures; and selecting a new digital image to add in the layout. In response to the user input command, comparing the weights assigned to the respective apertures in the layout to identify an aperture having the greatest weight among the apertures; randomly dividing the aperture having the greatest weight into two new apertures to change the layout to a different arrangement; and populating the two new apertures and the remaining undivided apertures among the plurality of apertures in the layout with the new selected digital image and the previously selected digital images, thereby generating the digital image collage.

Abstract: A method for providing a custom print product comprises displaying a video that includes an exhibited physical product; comparing feature or attribute data associated with the exhibited product with a feature or attribute associated with the available product; displaying a digital overlay in the video and in association with the displayed exhibited product if the displayed exhibited product corresponds to the available product; allowing for the selection of the digital overlay and then a digital image, wherein the selected digital image is not representative of the displayed exhibited physical product, and wherein the selected digital image is configured to be disposed on a selected physical product representative of the displayed exhibited physical product associated with the selected digital overlay to provide the customized print product.

Abstract: A method for generating and displaying a print product offering including a plurality of digital images is provided. In one aspect the method comprises: generating a group of digital images from the plurality of digital images; classifying each of the digital images within the group based on at least one image quality parameter that includes an average image quality based on at least one characteristic of the digital images; selecting only the digital images in the group which conform to the image quality parameter for inclusion in the print product offering; providing a pre-developed electronic image product layout including a plurality of virtual orifices; populating the plurality of virtual orifices with only the digital images which conform to the image quality parameter to provide an image product template design; and displaying the image product template design as the print product offering on a display of a computing device.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a digital image collage is provided. The method comprises displaying a user interface comprising a collage template including a layout, and a catalog segment; displaying a plurality of digital images in the catalog segment; generating a first aperture in the layout to establish a first arrangement, and populating the first aperture with the first selected digital image; changing the layout from the first arrangement to a second arrangement, wherein the second arrangement comprises randomly dividing the first aperture into a second aperture and a third aperture, populating the second aperture with the first selected digital image, and populating the third aperture with the second selected digital image thereby generating the digital image collage.

Abstract: A method for generating and displaying a print product offering including a plurality of digital images is provided. In one aspect the method comprises: generating a group of digital images from the plurality of digital images; classifying each of the digital images within the group based on an image quality parameter that is a predetermined minimum image file size; selecting only the digital images in the group which conform to the image quality parameter; providing a pre-developed electronic image product layout including a plurality of virtual orifices; populating the plurality of virtual orifices with only the digital images which conform to the image quality parameter to provide an image product template design; and displaying the image product template design as the print product offering on a display of the computing device.

Abstract: A method for ordering a print product comprises displaying a video that includes an exhibited physical product; comparing a feature or attribute associated with the exhibited product with a feature or attribute associated with the available product; displaying a digital overlay in the video and in association with the displayed exhibited product if the displayed exhibited product corresponds to the digital representation of the available product; allowing for the selection of the digital overlay and then a digital image; establishing a print order including an identification of the displayed exhibited product associated with the selected digital overlay and the selected digital image; and allowing for the fulfillment of the print order to produce a print product using a printing device, wherein the print product includes the selected digital image disposed on a selected physical product representative of the displayed exhibited product associated with the selected digital overlay.