Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and using composite images are provided. An online design customization tool receives user-supplied text and automatically combines the text with a user-selected image to create horizontal and vertical composite images. The aspect ratios of the composite images are compared to the aspect ratio of an image container in an electronic product design template to determine which composite image version is appropriate. The appropriate composite image is automatically incorporated into the electronic product design template and displayed the user.

Abstract: A flexible web page template and template building tool which generates templates that grow and shrink according to an amount of user content.

Abstract: A flexible web page template and template building tool which generates templates that grow and shrink according to an amount of user content.

Abstract: A system of arranging images provides for automated scaling, positioning and organizing of a plurality of images on an image display, which may be transferred to a printed or electronic product design. A plurality of images are analyzed to produce image data. Display parameters determine permissible arrangement of the images. Based on the image data and the display parameters, an arrangement on the image display for each of the plurality of images is defined. The arrangement may be further defined to maximize at least one dimension of the images.

Abstract: Computer-implemented product design creation system and method for quickly developing a product design having desirable component elements. Multiple candidate product designs are simultaneously displayed for review. Controls are provided allowing a reviewer to enter a preference level for individual component elements of each of the displayed designs. A new set of candidate designs is created based on the entered preference levels. The new candidate designs are displayed for further review and further preference level selection.

Abstract: Methods and computer programs for automatically creating a text layout in an electronic design for a product to be printed. A number of defined text elements are available for user text entries. The product layout is based a user-selected image, if any, and on the text elements having user-supplied text content. Text elements without text content are disregarded. Positioning of user text entries is determined based on the size of the text entries, defined text element spacing distances, and defined positioning rules. Creating a layout incorporating user-supplied text entries and/or image may include cropping or resizing of other design elements in the product design and wrapping of relatively long text entries onto multiple lines.

Abstract: A system of arranging images provides for automated scaling, positioning and organizing of a plurality of images on an image display, which may be transferred to a printed or electronic product design. A plurality of images are analyzed to produce image data. Display parameters determine permissible arrangement of the images. Based on the image data and the display parameters, an arrangement on the image display for each of the plurality of images is defined. The arrangement may be further defined to maximize at least one dimension of the images.

Abstract: An automated method for identifying images in an image database based on scores assigned to a plurality of input keywords. Each input keyword is assigned a keyword score based on the number of images in the database that are associated with that keyword. Each image in the database is then assigned an image similarity score based on the keyword scores of the input keywords associated with that image. If a user selects an image in the image database and requests to see similar images, the keywords associated with the selected image are used as input keywords. Images in the database with image similarity scores indicating greatest similarity are provided to the user.

Abstract: A method of arranging images provides for automated scaling, positioning and organizing of a plurality of images on an image display, which may be transferred to a printed or electronic product design. A plurality of images are analyzed to produce image data. Display parameters determine permissible arrangement of the images. Based on the image data and the display parameters, an arrangement on the image display for each of the plurality of images is defined. The arrangement may be further defined to maximize at least one dimension of the images.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for automatically creating a second customized product design incorporating information from a first customized product design. Information from a first custom product design is automatically combined with additional automatically selected content to create a new custom product to be promoted to the customer. When possible, information known about the customer, such as the customer's geographic location or business interests, is used to select the additional content for incorporation into the design.

Abstract: Methods and computer programs for automatically creating a text layout in a markup language design for a product to be printed. A number of defined text elements are available for user text. The layout is based on the text elements having user text content. Text elements without text content are disregarded. Positioning of the text elements is determined based on the height of the text elements, defined text element spacing distances, and a defined positioning order. Creating a layout may include positioning design elements relative to the text elements. Font sizes and spacing distances are automatically reduced if necessary to create a suitable layout.

Abstract: An original design image is processed to create a modified design image for blending with an image of a product to create a combined image representing the result of printing the design image onto the product. To create a modified design image, both the alpha value and color of pixels in the original design image are modified. The modified alpha value and the modified color of a pixel are determined as a function of the amount of gray in the original color of the pixel. The modified pixel color is calculated by subtracting the level of gray in the original pixel color from each of the three original component color values and increasing any remaining color component values as a function of the modified alpha value of the pixel.

Abstract: Automated electronic document design systems and methods for appropriately sizing and positioning uploaded user images into predefined image areas in a product design being created in a Web environment. For an image that is not to be cropped when incorporated into the design, the image is sized to fit within the selected image area and positioned in the image area according to a predefined anchor location. The aspect ratio of the original image is maintained. For an image that is available for cropping when incorporated into the design, the image is sized and cropped to create a version of the image that fills the image container.

Abstract: A flexible web page template and template building tool which generates templates that grow and shrink according to an amount of user content.

Abstract: An auto-expanding navigation area for a web page is presented which allows a user to select a number of buttons to be displayed in the navigation area and which automatically identically sizes and displays the selected number of buttons in the navigation area and automatically expands or reduces the navigation area based on the number of buttons.

Abstract: Computer-implemented product design creation system and method for quickly developing a product design having desirable component elements. Multiple candidate product designs are simultaneously displayed for review. Controls are provided allowing a reviewer to enter a preference level for individual component elements of each of the displayed designs. A new set of candidate designs is created based on the entered preference levels. The new candidate designs are displayed for further review and further preference level selection.

Abstract: Computer-implemented product design creation system and method for quickly developing a product design having desirable component elements. Multiple candidate product designs are simultaneously displayed for review. Controls are provided allowing a reviewer to enter a preference level for individual component elements of each of the displayed designs. A new set of candidate designs is created based on the entered preference levels. The new candidate designs are displayed for further review and further preference level selection.

Abstract: Flexible web page template building systems, methods and applications using an auto-expanding user-editable content container(s) are presented. A web page template displayable on a user display is configured with at least one auto-expanding user-editable content container that includes a predefined top portion, a pre-defined bottom portion, and a repeatable middle portion, The auto-expanding user-editable content container is configured to monitor the size of user-provided content in the content container relative to the size of the content container upon entry or removal of content and automatically adjust the size of the content container to fit the user-provided content by dynamically inserting or removing instance(s) of the middle portion of the content container to vertically expand or contract the size of the content container to fit the user-provided content.

Abstract: Versions of user-selected content images are automatically created, sized, and positioned within a template such that all versions are simultaneously displayed without overlapping in a defined acceptable image area of the template. Creating the content image versions may include creating a frame image for the content image. A predefined anchor point associated with the acceptable image area is used to control the location of the image versions within the image area.

Abstract: Automated electronic document design systems and methods for appropriately sizing and positioning uploaded user images into predefined image areas in a product design being created in a Web environment. For an image that is not to be cropped when incorporated into the design, the image is sized to fit within the selected image area and positioned in the image area according to a predefined anchor location. The aspect ratio of the original image is maintained. For an image that is available for cropping when incorporated into the design, the image is sized and cropped to create a version of the image that fills the image container.