Abstract: A computer user interface improves speed and accuracy of manual operations in an image layout process where an array of rectangular images are placed adjacent each other so as to cover a rectangular area without gaps or overlap. The interface provides support for two different adjustments: a border between a pair of adjacent images covering a “duocell” rectangle may be adjusted from side to side, altering the aspect ratio of the area available to display each of the images; or a row border between two adjacent rows of images covering a “duorow” rectangle may be adjusted, altering the aspect ratio of every image having an edge adjacent to the row border. The user interface accepts user input to adjust the relevant border, recomputes the images to be displayed under the new aspect ratios, and presents the display in a “what you see is what you get” (“WYSIWYG”) manner. Several extensions communicate important information to the user while such adjustments are being made.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention assist a human pre-press operator or designer to produce layouts of photos in a multi-page book. Some embodiments operate autonomously, given only high-level configuration parameters such as number of pages and number of images. Other embodiments operate interactively, preparing an automatic layout and then accepting manual adjustments to the selection of images and their arrangement on the pages. An embodiment may produce a computer-readable medium for use in a subsequent printing process, or may produce the finished printed book itself.

Abstract: Automatic photo-album layout methods create printed pages by assigning each image in an ordered series of images to a position on one of several rows (or positions in one of several columns). Images in each row (or each column) are scaled so that the widths of the rows (or the heights of the columns) are equal, while the heights of the rows (or the widths of the columns) are unequal. The rows or columns form a rectangle, which is centered in a rectangular drop zone, and a physical page is printed containing the array of images as arranged and scaled. Other transformations may be applied to the images, the rows or columns, or the array of images in the drop zone prior to printing.