Abstract: A print configuration engine implemented in software residing on and executable from a digital medium, the print engine integrated with a graphics user interface (GUI) for creating and editing photo-based projects over a data network, the print engine including a communications link to a compatible print server and printer connected to the data network, a print queue for queuing printing tasks, and an image tiling module. The print engine automatically senses if the pixel size of an image is greater than a pre-defined image size threshold for high resolution printing and if so tiles the image and saves the individual image tiles to memory for later reconstitution.

Abstract: A method and system for routing electronic print orders among a grouping of two or more print vendors over a data network includes acquiring print vendor information from the grouping of two or more print vendors for printing and shipping relative to one or more products resulting from completion of the one or more electronic print orders; utilizing an algorithm having one or more weighing functions to analyze said printer information to calculate print vendor scores characterizing each print vendor, and comparing the print vendor scores to identify the most preferable print vendor based on the print vendor information, wherein the print vendor information comprises current cost estimates and delivery time estimates; and a third function for dynamically routing one or more of the electronic print orders according to the results of scoring performed by the second function.

Abstract: In an online collage-based editor, a method for determining an effective aspect ratio for a selected project orientation that includes a group of two or more available page sizes having different aspect ratios and displaying a project page at a derived aspect ratio in the GUI during editing includes the steps (a) determining for each page size in the group, the viewable area of each page, (b) recording the aspect ratios of the viewable areas of step (a), (c) using a mathematical function, describing a total amount of error present amongst the available aspect ratios of step (b) for a given aspect ratio, (d) using a mathematical program, process, or automated calculation tool, finding the effective aspect ratio that minimizes the function and hence the error value of step (c), and (e) displaying the project page at the selected effective aspect ratio.

Abstract: A system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects includes a server connected to a data network, the server having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) accessible by computer browser, at least one data repository residing on the network, the repository accessible to the server, the repository containing images, and product-related graphics, a print configuration engine implemented in software residing on and executable from the digital medium or another accessible medium, the print configuration engine for rendering image and or text-based products for printing, and at least one bi-directional communication channel established between a computing appliance running a version of the GUI while connected to the network and a server managing the data repository.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a server for creating photo-based projects is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for background uploading of media files are presented. Background uploading improves efficiency and user-experience in creating media-based projects online. In one embodiment, a user selects original media files at a user-device for an upload. The user-device at first resizes the original files to resized files and uploads them to a server along with meta-data, and at second the original files start uploading in the background computer process. The user is provided the resized images to create a project. The server converts each resized media file into compressed media files, and provides the compressed files to the user to continue or finish building the project, during which the user-device renders to the user an illusionary impression of a completed upload of the original files when the original files are still uploading. Finally, the user-device completes the upload of the original files to the server.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a server for creating photo-based projects is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for background uploading of media files are presented. Background uploading improves efficiency and user-experience in creating media-based projects online. In one embodiment, a user selects original media files at a user-device for an upload. The user-device at first resizes the original files to resized files and uploads them to a server along with meta-data, and at second the original files start uploading in the background computer process. The user is provided the resized images to create a project. The server converts each resized media file into compressed media files, and provides the compressed files to the user to continue or finish building the project, during which the user-device renders to the user an illusionary impression of a completed upload of the original files when the original files are still uploading. Finally, the user-device completes the upload of the original files to the server.

Abstract: The invention allows an online print engine to enhance a printing quality and a user experience of an online printing system. The invention may be used for photo books, photo cards, photo calendars, and in other online print situations. One embodiment is a print engine residing on and executable from a digital medium, the print engine integrated with a graphical user interface (GUI) for creating and editing photo-based projects over a data network, the print engine including a communications link to a print server and a printer connected to the data network, a print queue for queuing printing tasks, and an effects filter size-reduction module. The print engine automatically senses via the effects filter size-reduction module if the area of a filter is greater than a pre-defined threshold, and if so produces a smaller filter embedded into a bitmap image, after which the bitmap image is scaled back up to the filters original size.

Abstract: In a server-based system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects, the system having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) accessible by computer browser, a method is provided for scaling a project page using relative units including the steps (a) establishing a 0 point at the center of the project page, (b) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a negative limit value for width equal to one half of total width value, (c) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a negative limit value for height equal to one half of the total height, (d) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a positive limit value for width equal to one half of total width, and (e) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a positive limit value for height equal to one half of the total height.

Abstract: A system for creating image and or text-based projects includes a server connected to a network, the server having access to least one processor and a data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium, and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing a first function for establishing a client server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network, a second function for initiating and maintaining an active data session between one or more users involved in project creation and or in project editing through a graphics user interface (GUI), a third function for establishing a cache memory on the at least one operated computing appliance, the cache dedicated for caching user and server-side data, a fourth function for caching user actions in the cache memory, and a fifth function for persisting the cached data to the server.

Abstract: A system for creating and editing image-based projects includes a server connected to a network, the server having access to least one processor and a data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium, and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing for establishing a client server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network, initiating and maintaining an active data session between one or more users involved in project creation and or in project editing through a graphics user interface (GUI);, analyzing in at least three dimensional values, all of the colors of an asset presented in the image-based project, creating a histogram of the asset based on the analysis by the third function, blending the histogram by adding new color contributions to augment the original colors in relevancy, and storing the blended histogram with the asset.

Abstract: A system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects includes a server and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing a first function for establishing a client-server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network, a second function for initiating and maintaining an active data session between one or more users involved in project creation and or in project editing through a graphics user interface (GUI), a third function for reducing the size of a rendered project layout by a pre-specified factor of multiplication, a fourth function for overlaying the layout with a mask containing modifications to mimic higher-resolution, visual print output, and a fifth function for displaying the masked layout for the end device or devices.