Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including a graphics processing unit, a first computer that controls the graphics processing unit, an intermediate image storage unit that stores image data generated by the graphics processing unit, an image input unit that inputs a plurality of image data, an image switching unit that outputs a plurality of any image data among the plurality of image data input to the image input unit, an image combining unit that combines image data using the image data output from the image switching unit and the image data stored in the intermediate image storage unit, an image output unit that outputs the image data combined by the image combing unit, a second computer that controls the image switching unit and the image combining unit, and a connecting unit that connects the first computer and the second computer.

Abstract: An image property detection apparatus for processing a pair of images representing different respective views of a scene to generate a color property difference amount, comprises a difference detector configured to derive a difference amount dependent upon an average of the differences in color properties between the pair of images at each of a set of possible image colors, each weighted by the image content of at least one of the pair of images at that respective image color.

Abstract: An image adjustment apparatus for processing images output by two image capturing devices arranged with respect to one another so as to capture images representing different respective views of a scene comprises a noise combiner for combining a noise signal with one or both of a pair of corresponding images captured by the two image capturing devices; a difference detector for detecting differences in color properties between the pair of corresponding images output by the noise combiner; and a color property adjuster for adjusting color properties of images from at least one of the image capturing devices on the basis of the differences detected by the difference detector, so as to reduce the differences in color properties between corresponding images captured by the two image capturing devices.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including a graphics processing unit, a first computer that controls the graphics processing unit, an intermediate image storage unit that stores image data generated by the graphics processing unit, an image input unit that inputs a plurality of image data, an image switching unit that outputs a plurality of any image data among the plurality of image data input to the image input unit, an image combining unit that combines image data using the image data output from the image switching unit and the image data stored in the intermediate image storage unit, an image output unit that outputs the image data combined by the image combing unit, a second computer that controls the image switching unit and the image combining unit, and a connecting unit that connects the first computer and the second computer.

Abstract: An image property detection apparatus for processing a pair of images representing different respective views of a scene to generate a colour property difference amount, comprises a difference detector configured to derive a difference amount dependent upon an average of the differences in colour properties between the pair of images at each of a set of possible image colours, each weighted by the image content of at least one of the pair of images at that respective image colour.

Abstract: An image adjustment apparatus for processing images output by two image capturing devices arranged with respect to one another so as to capture images representing different respective views of a scene comprises a noise combiner for combining a noise signal with one or both of a pair of corresponding images captured by the two image capturing devices; a difference detector for detecting differences in colour properties between the pair of corresponding images output by the noise combiner; and a colour property adjuster for adjusting colour properties of images from at least one of the image capturing devices on the basis of the differences detected by the difference detector, so as to reduce the differences in colour properties between corresponding images captured by the two image capturing devices.

Abstract: A computer graphics generation system combines video images of a scene captured by a camera with one or more rendered computer generated objects. The system comprises a camera which is arranged to generate an image signal representative of a scene including a reference object of a predetermined shape, and an image processor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus causing a larger number of video signals than at least one video port possessed by a processor to be input to the processor through the video port, the information processing apparatus including: a multiplexed video frame creation section creating multiplexed video frames in such a manner that each of the multiplexed video frames has the video signals multiplexed therein for input to the processor through the video port and includes a sufficiently large number of pixels so that frame images represented individually by the video signals may be pasted onto each multiplexed video frame in non-overlapping relation to one another; and a multiplexing block multiplexing the video signals in such a manner that the frame images represented individually by the video signals are pasted in non-overlapping relation to one another onto each of the multiplexed video frames created by the multiplexed video frame creation section.

Abstract: A variety of special effect processing is performed on video frames retrieved from a disk device 30 in effect processing stages ES1, ES2, and so on. A work memory 112B is always interposed between processing at one stage and processing at the next stage. Further, a plurality of processing are performed in parallel at one effect processing stage. Frames having all of effect processing completed are stored in an input/output buffer 115 in no special order through layering processing ESL. The plurality of edited frames stored in the input/output buffer 115 are output in synchronization with an output clock (not shown) in realtime.

Abstract: The relation between the edit resultant clip and the clip to be edited is managed with the hierarchical structure by managing means, so that the complicate editing works can be easily performed if the editing works are performed based on the information stored in the managing means.

Abstract: An editing system for producing a resultant clip from a plurality of clips. Information indicating relations between the clips is stored and managed in a database according to a hierarchical structure. The content of a first resultant clip can be updated at any time, and the system automatically updates all other resultant clips that are produced from the first resultant clip.

Abstract: An editing system for editing a plurality of clips recorded on a random-accessible recording medium includes a clip processing device having a plurality of clip processing layers to execute a predetermined process for the clips, and a hierarchy decision device having a plurality of objects corresponding to the clip processing layers. The hierarchy decision device serves to decide the hierarchy of each clip processing layer by a hierarchical structure which is formed by connecting the objects mutually. The clip processing device performs time management of each clip processing layer. Any processed clip obtained from a first clip processing layer is further processed by a second clip processing layer which is hierarchically above the first clip processing layer. The processed clip obtained from a hierarchically uppermost clip processing layer is outputted as a fat clip.

Abstract: The relation between the edit resultant clip and the clip to be edited is managed with the hierarchical structure by managing means, so that the complicate editing works can be easily performed if the editing works are performed based on the information stored in the managing means.

Abstract: The color of plural pixels making up a source video image is corrected by a computer 10, a hard disc device 20 and a picture processing device 30. The computer 10 functions as a parameter setting unit for setting plural parameters for designating the source color and the destination color and a computing unit for computing correction data for color correction from the source color to the destination color using the plural parameters set by the parameter setting unit. The hard disc device 20 stores the source video image and effects color correction in the picture processing device 30 for correcting the color of a pixel corresponding to the source color contained in the source video image to the destination color.

Abstract: The relation between the edit resultant clip and the clip to be edited is managed with the hierarchical structure by managing means, so that the complicate editing works can be easily performed if the editing works are performed based on the information stored in the managing means.

Abstract: A variety of special effect processing is performed on video frames retrieved from a disk device 30 in effect processing stages ES1, ES2, and so on. A work memory 112B is always interposed between processing at one stage and processing at the next stage. Further, a plurality of processing are performed in parallel at one effect processing stage. Frames having all of effect processing completed are stored in an input/output buffer 115 in no special order through layering processing ESL. The plurality of edited frames stored in the input/output buffer 115 are output in synchronization with an output clock (not shown) in realtime.

Abstract: The relation between the edit resultant clip and the clip to be edited is managed with the hierarchical structure by managing means, so that the complicate editing works can be easily performed if the editing works are performed based on the information stored in the managing means.

Abstract: In synthesizing a foreground picture and a background picture in accordance with a key signal, for example, by soft chroma key processing, a preview screen 102 as a picture as a result of processing by the key signal and a key parameter setting screen 101 for setting characteristics of the key signal are displayed. Characteristics of the key signal are changed on a three-dimensional space by information obtained through the key parameter setting screen 101, and the picture as a result of processing is changed on the preview screen 102. Thus, even when the range of key signal setting is adjusted on the three-dimensional color space, desired processing may be carried out by simple operation.

Abstract: In an image transformation system, an image formed by the inputted video signal is stored in a memory to be read out by the read address of a predetermined read address generating circuit, so that a predetermined image transformation is performed to the image, by merging the mirror processing upon the orthogonal coordinates and the mirror processing upon the polar coordinates. As a result, a transformation image that looks as if it is seen through a kaleidoscope can be obtained.

Abstract: An image data processing apparatus for adding a special effect to an input image data, which is provided with function data generating circuit for generating function data in accordance with positions of pixel data for each pixel data forming the image data, random number generating circuit for generating different random numbers for each pixel data, and output circuit for judging based on the function data and the random number data if the corresponding pixel data is valid data or invalid data, outputting the pixel data only when valid data.