Abstract: To better realize the great potential of amateur digital photography, the present invention introduces an integrated system for the acquisition, organization, manipulation, and publication of digital images by amateur digital photography enthusiasts. The system of the present invention first acquires images from a number of different image sources. Images acquired in the same image importing session are marked as coming from the same conceptual film roll. Next, a user is empowered to organize and manipulate the acquired images. The images may be organized by tagging the images with informative keywords and grouping images together into conceptual photo albums. Furthermore, the images may be manipulated by rotating, cropping, and removing red-eye. Finally, the system of the present invention provides simple intuitive image publish systems.

Abstract: To better realize the great potential of amateur digital photography, the present invention introduces an integrated system for the acquisition, organization, manipulation, and publication of digital images by amateur digital photography enthusiasts. The system of the present invention first acquires images from a number of different image sources. Images acquired in the same image importing session are marked as coming from the same conceptual film roll. Next, a user is empowered to organize and manipulate the acquired images. The images may be organized by tagging the images with informative keywords and grouping images together into conceptual photo albums. Furthermore, the images may be manipulated by rotating, cropping, and removing red-eye. Finally, the system of the present invention provides simple intuitive image publish systems.

Abstract: To allow users to compensate for different and dynamically changing lighting conditions, the present invention introduces a graphical user interface shading system. The graphical user interface shading system provides a very simple intuitive interface to the user. In one embodiment, the user is presented with an adjustable user interface widget such as a slider that allows the user to select any shading setting along a shading continuum. The graphical user interface shading system reacts to the users control by adjusting a number of different graphical user interface elements in response to the new shading setting. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface shading system adjusts singled colored areas with a linear interpolation, text with a font color selection, icons with an icon bitmap selection, textured areas with a texture blend, and decals with a decal blend.

Abstract: To allow users to compensate for different and dynamically changing lighting conditions, the present invention introduces a graphical user interface shading system. The graphical user interface shading system provides a very simple intuitive interface to the user. In one embodiment, the user is presented with an adjustable user interface widget such as a slider that allows the user to select any shading setting along a shading continuum. The graphical user interface shading system reacts to the users control by adjusting a number of different graphical user interface elements in response to the new shading setting. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface shading system adjusts singled colored areas with a linear interpolation, text with a font color selection, icons with an icon bitmap selection, textured areas with a texture blend, and decals with a decal blend.

Abstract: A method and system for providing menu tools directly from an operating system includes a computer system having a user interface including a display, a cursor, and a cursor control device, and an operating system. Menu tools are provided to one or more application windows. A menu item associated with a menu tool represents an available operating system function and an interactive icon associated with the menu item may be placed in a toolbar region in one of the application windows for access to the function. A special operating mode is activated for selecting menu items for use in the toolbar and making the function associated with the menu item available to the application by moving the menu item to the toolbar region. The menu item is represented as an interactive icon once the special operating mode is activated. The operating system function associated with the menu item is made available to the application window directly from the operating system by interaction with the icon.

Abstract: To allow users to compensate for different and dynamically changing lighting conditions, the present invention introduces a graphical user interface shading system. The graphical user interface shading system provides a very simple intuitive interface to the user. In one embodiment, the user is presented with an adjustable user interface widget such as a slider that allows the user to select any shading setting along a shading continuum. The graphical user interface shading system reacts to the users control by adjusting a number of different graphical user interface elements in response to the new shading setting. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface shading system adjusts singled colored areas with a linear interpolation, text with a font color selection, icons with an icon bitmap selection, textured areas with a texture blend, and decals with a decal blend.

Abstract: A method and system for providing menu tools directly from an operating system includes a computer system having a user interface including a display, a cursor, and a cursor control device, and an operating system. Menu tools are provided to one or more application windows. A menu item associated with a menu tool represents an available operating system function and an interactive icon associated with the menu item may be placed in a toolbar region in one of the application windows for access to the function. A special operating mode is activated for selecting menu items for use in the toolbar and making the function associated with the menu item available to the application by moving the menu item to the toolbar region. The menu item is represented as an interactive icon once the special operating mode is activated. The operating system function associated with the menu item is made available to the application window directly from the operating system by interaction with the icon.