Abstract: A computer-implemented method for creating a photo product design with minimal user inputs includes generating a first portion of a photo product design by a product design module in response to user input, determining one or more layout parameters from the user input to the first portion of the photo product design by a user design learning module, automatically creating a second portion of the photo product design by an intelligent product creation engine at least in part in response to the one or more layout parameters, and automatically making a physical photo product based on at least the first portion and the second portion of the photo product design.

Abstract: A method for matching and tracking workpieces in laser etching operation includes generating by the computer a label image that uniquely identifies the workpiece, moving a laser head to the workpiece, setting the laser head to a first power level by a power controller, etching the product image on the workpiece using a laser beam emitted from the laser head, wherein the laser beam is modulated at the first power level in accordance with a product image in a pixel wise fashion across the workpiece, moving the laser head to the label by the transport mechanism, setting the laser head to a second power level by the power controller, etching the label image on the workpiece using a laser beam emitted from the laser head, wherein the laser beam is modulated at the second power level in accordance with the label image in a pixel wise fashion across the label.

Abstract: A method for automatically analyzing and constructing communications to a plurality of recipients includes automatically separating communication content files into page groups in a system comprising one or more intelligent communication design servers, wherein each of the page groups is associated a recipient of the communications, inputting the communication content files into an intra-page machine prediction model to produce intra-page parameters, inputting the communication content files and the intra-page parameters into an intra-page machine prediction model to produce intra-group parameters and inter-group parameters, automatically constructing standard communication design files by an intelligent communication content learning and constructing engine based on the communication content files and the intra-page parameters, intra-group parameters, and inter-group parameters, and printing and finishing physical mailing pieces to be mailed to the recipients based on the standard communication design files.

Abstract: A photo design smart assistant system for reducing similar photos for display and product design includes a similarity distance computation module that can calculate hash values of images and to calculate similarity distances between the images using at least the hash values, a burst grouping module that can automatically group the images into a burst based at least in part on the similarity distances of the images, wherein at least one image is automatically selected from the burst of images, an intelligent design creation engine that can automatically create a photo product design using the selected image from the burst, and a printing and finishing facility that can automatically make a physical photo product based on the photo product design.

Abstract: A system for assembling a group composite image from individual subject images is described. Often subjects of a group vary in height. Additionally, as each subject is photographed individually, different zoom factors can be applied by a camera that affects a pixel density of the image captured. The system includes a fiducial marking device that emits collimated light to form one or more fiducial markers on a subject while an image is captured by the camera. Based on a location of the fiducial markers in the image, a pixel density of the image and a reference height of the subject can be determined. The individual subject image can be scaled based on the pixel density and reference height to account for the varying subject heights and zoom factors to generate a group composite image that accurately represents the subjects of the group relative to one another.

Abstract: A marking system for decorating one or more workpieces includes a plurality of marking stations that can mark product images on blank workpieces to produce product workpieces, at least some of which have different sizes, shapes, materials, or a combination thereof, a control system that can select one of the plurality of marking stations and send product image data to the selected one of the plurality of marking stations, and a robotic manipulator that can transport a blank workpiece to the selected marking station under the control of the robotic manipulator. The selected marking station can mark the product image the blank workpiece based on the product image data which produces a product workpiece. The robotic manipulator can remove the product workpiece from the selected one of the plurality of marking stations.

Abstract: A method for matching and tracking workpieces in laser etching operation includes generating by the computer a label image that uniquely identifies the workpiece, moving a laser head to the workpiece, setting the laser head to a first power level by a power controller, etching the product image on the workpiece using a laser beam emitted from the laser head, wherein the laser beam is modulated at the first power level in accordance with a product image in a pixel wise fashion across the workpiece, moving the laser head to the label by the transport mechanism, setting the laser head to a second power level by the power controller, etching the label image on the workpiece using a laser beam emitted from the laser head, wherein the laser beam is modulated at the second power level in accordance with the label image in a pixel wise fashion across the label.

Abstract: A photo design smart assistant system for reducing similar photos for display and product design includes a similarity distance computation module that can calculate hash values of images and to calculate similarity distances between the images using at least the hash values, a burst grouping module that can automatically group the images into a burst based at least in part on the similarity distances of the images, wherein at least one image is automatically selected from the burst of images, an intelligent design creation engine that can automatically create a photo product design using the selected image from the burst, and a printing and finishing facility that can automatically make a physical photo product based on the photo product design.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for recognizing facial expressions by applying feature learning and feature engineering to face images. The method includes conducting feature learning on a face image comprising feeding the face image into a first convolution neural network to obtain a first decision, conducting feature engineering on a face image, comprising the steps of automatically detecting facial landmarks in the face image, transforming the facial features into a two-dimensional matrix, and feeding the two-dimensional matrix into a second convolution neural network to obtain a second decision, computing a hybrid decision based on the first decision and the second decision, and recognizing a facial expression in the face image in accordance to the hybrid decision.

Abstract: A system for assembling a group composite image from individual subject images is described. Often subjects of a group vary in height. Additionally, as each subject is photographed individually, different zoom factors can be applied by a camera that affects a pixel density of the image captured. The system includes a fiducial marking device that emits collimated light to form one or more fiducial markers on a subject while an image is captured by the camera. Based on a location of the fiducial markers in the image, a pixel density of the image and a reference height of the subject can be determined. The individual subject image can be scaled based on the pixel density and reference height to account for the varying subject heights and zoom factors to generate a group composite image that accurately represents the subjects of the group relative to one another.

Abstract: A method of illuminating a subject during photography is disclosed. The method includes illuminating a background lighting system during a first image capture, illuminating a subject lighting system during a second image capture, and illuminating the background lighting system during a third image capture. The time from the first image capture to the third image capture is less than about 100 milliseconds. Also disclosed is a method for generating a composite mask of a subject, including receiving the three images, determining any movements of the subject between the first and third images, estimating an intermediate position of the subject during the second image, and generating a composite mask at the estimated intermediate position.

Abstract: A method for matching and tracking workpieces in laser etching operation includes generating by the computer a label image that uniquely identifies the workpiece, moving a laser head to the workpiece, setting the laser head to a first power level by a power controller, etching the product image on the workpiece using a laser beam emitted from the laser head, wherein the laser beam is modulated at the first power level in accordance with a product image in a pixel wise fashion across the workpiece, moving the laser head to the label by the transport mechanism, setting the laser head to a second power level by the power controller, etching the label image on the workpiece using a laser beam emitted from the laser head, wherein the laser beam is modulated at the second power level in accordance with the label image in a pixel wise fashion across the label.

Abstract: An automated communication design analysis and construction system includes that includes one or more intelligent communication design servers, comprising: a normalization module that converts communication content files for different recipients to normalized intermediate format files; an objects identification and quantification module that identifies text objects and image objects in the normalized intermediate format files; a cross-recipient group analysis module configured to identify static global objects that are invariant between recipients, data variables, and variable global objects that vary between recipients in the normalized intermediate format files; and an intelligent communication content learning and constructing engine that can construct standard communication design files based on the static global objects, the data variables, and the variable global objects. A data storage stores the communication content files and the standard communication design files.

Abstract: A photo product design customization system for customizing a photo product design with minimal and intuitive user inputs includes a product design module that displays a photo product design in a main design panel, a user input detection unit that can detect a first directional movement from a first dynamic object in a product type selection panel to the main design panel, or a second directional movement from a second dynamic object in a product style selection panel to the main design panel, or a third directional movement from a third dynamic object in a product style selection panel to the main design panel, and an intelligent product design creation engine that can automatically change the photo product design in the main design panel in response to detection of the first, the second, or the third directional movement.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for recognizing facial expressions by applying feature learning and feature engineering to face images. The method includes conducting feature learning on a face image comprising feeding the face image into a first convolution neural network to obtain a first decision, conducting feature engineering on a face image, comprising the steps of automatically detecting facial landmarks in the face image, transforming the facial features into a two-dimensional matrix, and feeding the two-dimensional matrix into a second convolution neural network to obtain a second decision, computing a hybrid decision based on the first decision and the second decision, and recognizing a facial expression in the face image in accordance to the hybrid decision.

Abstract: A computer system selects a kernel and kernel parameters for a first Support Vector Machine (SVM) model, testing the SVM model on a feature matrix T of n feature vectors of length m to produce false positive (FP) data set and false negative (FN) data set by a computer processor, wherein n and m are integer numbers, copies the feature matrix T to produce a feature matrix T_best, and checking if a ratio (T_best sample number)/(SVM support vector number) is above a threshold for the SVM model on T_best. If the ratio is above the threshold, SVM predictions are performed using the SVM model on the feature matrix T_best. The first SVM model can be used classify the faces or the objects in the images. An image-product design can be created based on the faces or the objects in the images classified by the first SVM model using the feature matrix T_best.

Abstract: A system for performing background and floor replacement in full-length subject images is described. A set of three or more images of a subject can be captured under different illumination conditions. For example, at least one of the images is captured while a foot portion of the subject and surrounding floor, including a floor mat on which the subject is positioned, are illuminated by a floor lighting device. The floor mat has a Lambertian surface to reflect light in a particular manner such that a maximum contrast between the floor and the subject is captured in the image. Varying contrast between the background, floor, and subject among the images of the set can be leveraged by an image processing system to generate a background mask and a floor mask that are combined and seamlessly transitioned to yield a compiled mask for use in background and floor replacement.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for creating a photo product design with minimal user inputs includes generating a first portion of a photo product design by a product design module in response to user input, determining one or more layout parameters from the user input to the first portion of the photo product design by a user design learning module, automatically creating a second portion of the photo product design by an intelligent product creation engine at least in part in response to the one or more layout parameters, and automatically making a physical photo product based on at least the first portion and the second portion of the photo product design.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically detecting events and creating photo-product designs based on the events in a photo-product design system includes automatically identifying an event by an event detection module based on daily numbers of captured photos over a plurality of days, automatically selecting a photo-product type by an intelligent product design creation engine in the photo-product design system, calculating a daily weight for a photo product design in the photo-product type based on the daily numbers of captured photos, automatically determining a number of product photos allocated to each day based on associated daily weight, automatically selecting product photos from the captured photos each day at the event according to the number of product photos allocated to each day, and automatically creating a photo-product design for the event using the selected product photos.

Abstract: A repositionable display panel includes a rigid image plate that includes a front surface configured to receive a colorant to form an image thereon and a back surface opposite to the first surface. The rigid image plate is defined by an image plate thickness and image plate widths. A spacer block is defined by a spacer block thickness and spacer block widths smaller than the image plate widths. A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer between the back surface of the rigid image plate and the spacer block bonds the rigid image plate and the spacer block together.