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 method has steps receiving a plurality of digital images at a network-connected computing appliance, sorting the plurality of images by one or more functions of software executing from a non-transitory physical medium on the computing appliance to determine a subset of images that are related according to data associated with individual ones of the digital images, and dedicating the determined subset of images to a single page of a photo album being prepared by the software.

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: 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: 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: 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 method has steps receiving a plurality of digital images at a network-connected computing appliance, sorting the plurality of images by one or more functions of software executing from a non-transitory physical medium on the computing appliance to determine a subset of images that are related according to data associated with individual ones of the digital images, and dedicating the determined subset of images to a single page of a photo album being prepared by the software.

Abstract: In a server-based system for creating and editing image-based 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 triggering automatic page save operations and includes the steps, (a) monitoring editing activity occurring in the project editor viewport, and (b) upon detection of a loss of a page from an editor viewport and or detection of a violation of a safety measure, automatically persisting the current page data to the server.

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 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 selecting a photo from a plurality of photos placed in the project by a project contributor for recommendation in a photo product. The method includes the steps (a) accessing the contributor's project photos stored in the database, (b) weighting data associated with each photo used in the project against one or more business rules, (c) selecting one or more photos based on the weighting results of step (b), and (d) recommending one or more photo products containing one or more photos selected at step (c) to the contributor at an appropriate time.

Abstract: In a server-based system for creating and editing image-based 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 triggering automatic page save operations and includes the steps, (a) monitoring editing activity occurring in the project editor viewport, and (b) upon detection of a loss of a page from an editor viewport and or detection of a violation of a safety measure, automatically persisting the current page data to the server.

Abstract: In a system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects including a server connected to a data network, the server having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) for contributing and for editing content, the GUI accessible by computer browser, an interactive image container integrated as an image or photo cropping tool in the GUI includes an image display window of a predefined geometric configuration disposed on a project page for containing and displaying an image that has been placed thereon, and an image handle associated with the image container, the image handle visible on highlight or selection of the image within the image container.

Abstract: In a system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects including 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, the GUI for contributing and editing content, a method for selecting a color from the display for application to content includes the steps (a) selecting or invoking a color reading tool, (b) moving the tool over the display monitor to read and preview colors using mouse movement, and (c) selecting a color read by the tool.

Abstract: A system for hosting multiple collaborators in real time, the collaborators contributing content and or edits to content in an image and or text-based project hosted on a data network through a Website accessible to the collaborators by computer browser includes a server connected to the data network, the server having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) for contributing content and for editing content, and a collaborator configuration interface available through the Website enabling a user to designate one or more other users as approved for collaboration on a given project. Users who are approved to collaborate have real time access to the image and or text-based project through their own versions of the network-based GUI.

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 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 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: In a networked system for creating and editing image and or text-based-based projects, the system including a graphics user interface (GUI) residing on and executable from a digital medium, the GUI hosted by a Web site accessible by computer browser and a network-connected data repository containing creative assets not limited to stickers, shapes, backgrounds, layouts, and frames, an asset recommendation system implemented in software integrated with the GUI for presenting certain assets to users operating the GUI by hierarchical order of importance and/or by relativity to current assets being used. The system has a receiving function for receiving server calls relative to user GUI activity, a weighting function for ranking creative assets based on input against one or more rules for ranking asset appeal, and a server function for serving the recommended assets into the GUI.

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.