Abstract: A video image composition system and method in which the artist can move an insert cut out of a foreground image relative to a background image while continuously observing on the monitor the instantaneous artistic effects of the varying composition, without any need to make an initial decision on exactly where to pin the insert. A soft-edged control image operates on the foreground image to cut the insert. By using a pen and a tablet, the artist moves the control and foreground images as a unit relative to the background image while being able at all times to view the monitor display of the dynamically changing, full composited image. The artist can thus rapidly assess a great number of different composited images before deciding where and how to pin the insert for the final composited image. An additional control image allows the artist to select from the background image a foreground object which always will be in front of the insert from the foreground image.

Abstract: An electronic graphic system for use in the painting of an image comprises a control store which stores control data representing a distribution of interpolation coefficients. The control data is created in a drawing process in which existing control data in the store is compared with new control data and is replaced with the new data when the new data has a value higher than that of the existing data. A combiner, in response to the stored control data, combines initial image data from an framestore with user selected color data from a store for display on a monitor. Also, the combiner can be reconfigured such that the combined data is written to the framestore replacing the initial image data therin. The system thus separates drawing operations from image modification operations, thereby providing a flexible means by which a simple binary line drawing algorithm can be used to paint into a color image.

Abstract: An electronic graphic system (1) comprises a memory (2) for storing data representing an image and a user operable stylus and touch tablet combination (4) by which the user can select a notional painting implement a color with which to paint and can create data defining positions in the image at which painting is to occur. An address generator (5) is arranged to generate address data identifying addresses in the memory (2) corresponding to the user created position data. The stylus and touch tablet (4) is pressure sensitive and generates a parameter depending on the pressure applied via the stylus by the user. The address generator (5) generates address data at intervals dependent on the instantaneous value of the pressure related parameter. In one embodiment the interval is a distance between identified addresses in the memory (2) and in another embodiment the interval is a period of time. In this way the system simulates an implement having a paint flow rate which is pressure related.

Abstract: A video image creation system provides intensity or color data from one or more stores. The image is created under manual control which effectively defines the coordinates of the artists implement at any given time.A processor receives the incoming image data and previously derived data from a frame store and modifies this data in dependance on a parameter available from another store. The created image can be viewed on a monitor.The parameter controls the contribution made from any adjacent, previously created, parts of the image and can be such as to simulate different pencil or brush shapes or types of paint for example. Additional facilities such as pressure sensitivity and blurring can be provided.

Abstract: An electronic graphic system for modifying image pixels includes a framestore 21 and a pipeline brush processor 22. Image pixels are read out of the framestore 21 in batches and applied to an input of the brush processor 22. Other data representing colour shape and pressure of a line drawn by a user on a touch tablet 17 by way of a stylus 18 is also input to the processor 22. As the pixels pass through the processor 22 they are modified by the other data. Batches of modified pixels are written back to the framestore 21. The reading and writing of pixels from the framestore 21 is interleaved with the reading of pixels for display as an image on a monitor 16. The system also includes an arrangement for interpolating stylus pressure to remove visible discontinuities or other changes in the drawn image resulting from significant changes in stylus pressure.

Abstract: Video image creation in which a raster-scan monitor displays an image comprising realistic, inherently non-aliased strokes created by combining proportions of the values of: (i) pixels defining a simulated brush moving along the image as an artist moves a pen on a tablet in continuous strokes; and (ii) the values of the pixels in the image that are under the brush at the time. The pixel values resulting from such combining replace the corresponding pixel values in the image so that, after an initial portion of a stroke, the pixel values in the image which are under the brush and therefore will be combined with the brush values comprise pixel values which are the cumulative result of a number of previous such combining operations. Manual pressure on the pen controls the proportions used in such combining operations. As the artist presses harder on the pen, the effect seen on the monitor is that more "paint" is applied.

Abstract: A character generator provides video signals representing desired characters which may be held in a store capable of rapid access. The character information is processed in a manipulator to provide a change in shape, size or orientation for example. Field stores receive this manipulated information via switches as well as reference information from a generator. Read out from the respective field stores is arranged to occur when information is not being received by that store. After read out, the information is replaced by reference information, prior to the receipt of further manipulated character information. The reference information may be configured so as to include a portion of previously derived image data.

Abstract: An electronic graphic system is suitable for use in modifying data defining an initial high resolution image. In the system data relating to a user defined low resolution control image controls the combining of other image data with data defining a low resolution representation of the initial image. In this way the system produces data representing a low resolution combined image which is continously displayed on a display monitor. Once desired modifications have been achieved by the user to the image displayed on the display monitor, the low resolution control image data is converted into a high resolution representation. The high resolution control image is used to control the combining of the other image data with the initial high resolution image data to produce data defining a modified high resolution image. The other image data may be a user defined color or another image, for example.

Abstract: An electronic image composition system in which in a preview mode of operation an image or image portion is manipulated and displayed substantially in real-time. In a compositing mode the image is finally composed (or stuck) into a background image. During the previewing stage, only a selected number of pixels representing the image are transformed and the remainder are derived from said transformed pixels by filtering or, preferably, replication.

Abstract: A character generating system is disclosed having a source of batches of video keying signals representing different characters combined with further keying signals representing a background for the respective character. The video keying signals are confined to one value range and said further keying signals are confined to a different value range. The system effects spatial transformation of the combined signals and responds to the values of the spatially transformed combined signals to derive shape signals corresponding to the further keying signals and to derive shade signals corresponding to the video keying signals. In response to the shape and shade signals different video signals are provided respectively representing the character and the background both spatially transformed as the combined signals were spatially transformed.

Abstract: A rotation system includes an input buffer 14 allowing two lines of video information to be processed in interpolator 15 prior to receipt by a framestore 16. The desired rotational angle is selected by selector 17 and the angle information is used within calculator 18 to determine the modified framestore address sequence to be accessed to receive the interpolated data and the interpolation values used within processor 15. The rotated information stored is available for read out under the control of generator 19 to be displayed on monitor 53.

Abstract: The image composition system includes framestores 30, 31 for receiving information from first and second picture sources. A processor 33 provides the composed image by using information from these sources. The processor is controlled by picture shape information made available from a third framestore 32. This shape information may be provided by a camera 26 receiving an image of a silhouette for example or the shape can be manually generated via a touch tablet 38. The instantaneous value of the shape controls the blending of the pictures such that portions of the picture can be taken from a scene and inserted without noticeable degredation. Manipulation of the position, orientation or size of the inserted picture portion for example can also be effected.

Abstract: A stylus device for use in a videographic apparatus, includes a housing with a projecting stylus. In operation, pressure changes cause movement of the resiliently mounted stylus. This carries a magnet which co-operates with a Hall Effect transducer such that the pressure variation is converted into signal changes by the transducer. A moveable carrier allows the transducer to be moved to adjust the preload pressure in the stylus together with the preload out-put of the transducer.

Abstract: The disclosed system and method allow an artist to blend a desired color from available source (i.e., menu) colors and use the resulting blend color at the desired part of the picture and/or store the blend color for future use as a source color. A palette mixing area and a menu of colors can be displayed on a video screen. A signal defining a selected source color is generated when the artist touches with a stylus an area on a touch tablet which corresponds to the screen display of the selected color. When the stylus then touches the part of the touch tablet corresponding to a selected part of the palette mixing area on the screen, the screen shows at that selected area a blend of any color preexisting there and the selected color. A signal defining the blend color can be stored for future use as a source color. The proportions of the two colors in a blend can be controlled by stylus pressure, number of overstrokes and/or stylus dwell time.

Abstract: A video processing system including a number of frame stores with common highways. A number of input ports together with a computer have access to the input highway via buffers and the output ports together with the computer have access to the output highway via buffers. Each port together with the computer is allocated sequential time slots of short duration by a time slot control. Thus to an operator it will seem that he has continuous access to the system. Image planes greater than normal frame size can be handled by the address control. Additional data paths and processing hardware may be provided to enhance the system capabilities.