System and method for editing digitally represented still images
A method of selecting and editing a plurality of digitally represented still images in a computer environment is provided. The method includes the use of a graphical user interface having a display and a user interface selection device, and includes the steps of opening the data files of the images to be edited, displaying the images, and displaying a task pane including at least one editing task entry having a specified multiple-image editing task command. A group of all or some of the images is formed by the user selecting the images to be edited, and an editing task execution signal is received which is indicative of the user selecting the desired editing task entry on the task pane. In response to receipt of the editing task execution signal, the specified editing task command is performed on the group of selected still images.
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The present invention relates generally to editing digitally represented still images and, more particularly, to a system and method for performing one or more editing tasks on a group of still images without requiring the images to be selected and edited individually.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDigitally represented still images are commonly used in the computer environment as graphics for applications software and games and as digitally stored photographs that can be easily manipulated, printed and transmitted for commercial and entertainment purposes. Software packages are available for use in handling the data files in which such still images are stored. Such software packages include numerous editing capabilities including archiving the images, printing the images in various sizes and formats, and sending or uploading the images to other computers or users via the Internet or fax. Known photo editing software packages also include numerous other editing capabilities, including the ability to rotate an image, crop it, and correct its brightness, contrast, and tint. In addition, such software packages typically include the ability to cut portions out of one image and incorporate them into a collage, and to perform many other special effects.
In order to manipulate a still image digitally, a digital representation of the image is created, either by taking a digital photograph with a conventional digital camera, or by scanning an existing printed image or its film negative to generate a digital facsimile of the original. Once a digital representation of the image exists, it can be retrieved into the system memory of a computer and edited through the use of the photo editing software.
Conventionally, once a user has taken a group of photographs with a digital camera, he or she downloads the images to a computer either by connecting the camera directly to the computer through a serial port connection, or by transferring a flash memory card from the camera to a flash memory adapter of the computer, wherein the flash memory card contains the data files of the images. Alternately, a user will take pictures with a conventional film camera and obtain a copy of the pictures in digital format on a compact disc (“CD”) that can be read by a conventional CD drive on the user's computer.
Once the data files of the images are downloaded, they are opened in the photo editing software, and may be individually saved, manipulated, printed or sent to other users. However, because conventional photo editing software does not allow editing of the images as a group, a user must repeat any desired editing steps with each image in turn. This represents a drawback in the use of conventional photo editing software.
For example, if several of the images require rotation, the user must select each image individually within the photo editing software and rotate that image before selecting a different one of the images for rotation. As a result, the user must repeat the steps required to rotate the images several times until all of the images have been individually selected and edited. This process is slow and requires numerous repetitive user operations, impeding the ability of the user to quickly edit the group of images once they are downloaded.
Another example illustrative of the drawback arises when a user employs a scanner that produces a group of digitally represented still images that are all darker than desired. When a group of these images is opened in the photo editing software, the user must select each image and correct the brightness and contrast of the image before selecting a different one of the images and repeating the same editing operation. Often, the degree of brightness and contrast correction required is the same for all of the images in the group, and the steps employed to correct each image are identical to those employed with the other images. In addition, some of the images will also likely require rotation or some other type of editing, and these steps must be carried out separately for each image.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided for enabling a computer user to quickly and efficiently perform any of several different editing tasks on a group of pictures that have been downloaded or retrieved by the user. The present invention employs a system having a graphical user interface, a display, a keyboard, and a pointing device, and includes a method employing the acts of opening the data files of the images to be edited, displaying the images, and displaying a task pane including several different editing sub-task entries for carrying out specified editing sub-tasks. A group of all or some of the images is formed by the user selecting the images to be edited, and one of the editing sub-tasks is performed based on a selection by the user of the desired editing sub-task entry on the task pane.
By providing a system in accordance with the present invention, numerous advantages are realized. For example, by permitting a user to select a group of open still images for multiple-image or batch editing, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of user steps and time required to perform the editing operations on the selected images. As such, a user can quickly download and edit a group of still images from a digital camera or other source, obviating the need for time-consuming post-download manipulation and saving of each individual image.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGThe present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing, wherein:
An exemplary computing environment in which the invention may be implemented is illustrated schematically in
With reference to
A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk, magnetic disk, optical disk, ROM or RAM, including an operating system 50, one or more application programs 52, other program modules 53, and program data 55. A user may enter commands and information into the personal computer 20 through input devices such as a keyboard 54 and pointing device 56, both of which are commonly connected to the processing unit 22 through a keyboard/mouse interface 57 that is coupled to the system bus 26. Other input devices may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 22 through a serial port interface 58 that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor 60 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus 26 via an interface, such as a video adapter 62. In addition to the monitor, personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices such as speakers and printers.
The personal computer 20 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 64. The remote computer may be another personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the personal computer 20. The logical connections include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN). Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet.
When used in a LAN networking environment, the personal computer 20 is connected to the local network through a network interface or adapter 66. When used in a WAN networking environment, the personal computer 20 typically includes a modem 68 or other means for establishing communications over the wide area network, such as the Internet. The modem 68, which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus 26 via the serial port interface 58. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the personal computer 20, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communication link between the computers may be used.
The system and method of the present invention allow a user to quickly and efficiently perform any of several different editing tasks on a group of pictures that have been downloaded or retrieved by the user. Although the system and method are described as being implemented in an exemplary embodiment with the PICTURE IT!® software package by Microsoft, one skilled in the art would recognize that the system and method can be implemented with other photo editing software or independently of such software.
Once a group of still images has been downloaded in the conventional manner, the user indicates that the downloading step is complete by selecting a suitable menu entry displayed by the application during the download operation. Selection of the menu entry provides an execution command that automatically displays a main task pane 78 of an exemplary editing system constructed in accordance with the present invention, as shown in
In addition to providing automatic execution of the editing system of the present invention once the download of plural images is complete, a button entry or menu entry may also be provided in the PICTURE IT!® software application that initiates the system of the invention any time two or more images are open in the filmstrip. Alternately, a message box can be generated and displayed when two or more images are open, providing the user an option to initiate the system.
The main task pane 78 generally includes several selectable entries having executable commands for performing various steps. For example, but not by way of limitation, the main task pane includes a “Select All” entry 80 having an execution command for selecting all of the images open in the application for editing as a group, a “Rotate” entry 82 having an execution command for rotating the data files of any open still images selected by the user, a drop-down-list box 84 associated with the “Rotate” entry, a “Crop” entry 86 having an execution command displaying a sub-task pane that permits the user to crop any open still images selected by the user, a “Fix Brightness/Contrast” entry 88 having an execution command for carrying out an automated analysis and adjustment of the brightness and contrast of any open still images selected by the user, a “Correct Tint” entry 90 having an execution command for displaying a sub-task pane that permits the user to manipulate the tint of any open still images selected by the user, a “Save” entry 92 having an execution command for displaying a sub-task pane that permits the user to save any open still images selected by the user, a “Send” entry 94 having an execution command for displaying a sub-task pane that permits the user to send via e-mail any open still images selected by the user, and a “Print” entry 96 having an execution command for displaying a sub-task pane that permits the user to print any open still images selected by the user.
In addition, an “Index Print” entry 98 can be provided that includes an execution command for printing an index of any open still images selected by the user. An “Undo” entry 100 is also provided on the main task pane, and includes an execution command for undoing a preceding rotation, crop or brightness/contrast correction operation. A “Cancel” entry 102 displayed at the bottom of the main pane has an execution command for canceling all of the editing operations carried out by the system on the open still images currently selected by the user, exiting the system, and returning to the PICTURE IT!® application window shown in
With continued reference to
If fewer than all of the images are to be edited, an alternate method is employed to select the images to be grouped. For example, if only the first and third images open in the picture pane require rotation, it is desired to select only these two images for editing as a group. This selection is made at 111 by depressing a control key on the keyboard, e.g. the “CTRL” or “SHFT” key, while at the same time moving the pointing device over each of the first and third images and clicking a button on the device or otherwise indicating each selection. Alternately, if the images to be grouped are located adjacent one another in the picture pane, the user can select them for editing as a group by dragging a selection box around the images using the pointing device.
When the selection at 111 is executed at 105, a border is displayed at 107 around the selected images. An exemplary border 109 is illustrated in
Returning to
In order to describe the steps employed by the system to carry out an editing operation on a group of selected images, the particular editing operations illustrated in the exemplary main task pane of
If a user selects the “Rotate” entry 82 after a group of open images displayed in the picture pane 72 have been selected, a rotation operation is executed on the selected images, as shown in
The fix brightness/contrast editing operation is similar to the rotate operation in that both are performed on all of the selected images without any further action required of the user subsequent to selection of the entries on the main task pane. The correction made to each of the images when the entry 88 is selected is carried out automatically by the system in accordance with a conventional brightness/contrast correction algorithm that is incorporated in the system. Alternately, it would be possible to provide an algorithm that employs user-defined parameters, or to permit a user to make the correction manually.
If a user selects the “Crop” entry 86 on the main task pane after a group of open images displayed in the picture pane have been selected, the crop operation is executed on the selected images. Preferably, the operation includes hiding all of the selected images in the group except the first, taken in the order the images are displayed on the filmstrip, and displaying a sub-task pane 106, shown in
The sub-task pane 106 includes one or more option entries 108 having editing sub-task commands, a “Cancel” entry 110 having an execution command for canceling the cropping task without saving any crops made to images in the selected group, a “Next” entry 112 having an execution command for displaying the next selected image in the group in the picture pane for cropping, and a “” entry 114 for displaying the previous selected image in the group in the picture pane.
The illustrated option entry 108 is a table list box including a number of possible crop shapes that can be selected by the user for use on the displayed selected image. As shown in
If after manipulating the image the user wants to cancel the cropping operation, at step 147, the “Cancel” entry on the sub-task pane is selected at 149, and the operation is canceled, returning the user to the main task pane, and displaying all of the selected images at 151. However, as shown in
If at step 153 all of the images have been individually displayed for cropping, the user must decide if they are done with the crop sub-task at step 155. If desired, the user can cancel the cropping operation at 147. Otherwise, the program presents a “Done” entry in place of the “Next” entry, and the user indicates completion of the operation by selecting the entry at 169 so that the editing steps performed are saved, and the user is returned to the main task pane. If further crops are to be performed on one or more of the selected images, the user can simply back through the images until an image to be cropped is displayed.
The tint correction operation is preferably implemented in a manner similar to the crop operation. Thus, with reference to
In an exemplary implementation of the system, the user is given an option to either select an area of the displayed image that is supposed to be white by moving the pointing device over the entry and clicking a button on the device, or otherwise indicating the selection. This selection executes an automatic tint correction operation on the displayed image based on a conventional algorithm, leaving nothing further for the user to customize. Alternately, the entry 118 can be selected which permits the user to alter the tint of the displayed selected image to achieve any desired effect. The entry 118 includes a color ring 115 around which the color spectrum is displayed, a slide bar 117, and a range list box 119 that permit the tint of the displayed image to be altered. In addition, a “Reset” entry 126 is displayed on the tint sub-task pane 116, and has an execution command for undoing the current tint correction applied by the selection of entry 118 so that another attempt can be initiated by the user.
Once the user is satisfied with the tint correction performed on the image displayed in the picture pane, he or she indicates that the tint correction operation is complete by selecting one of the entries 122, 124 to display another of the images in the picture pane in much the same way as is done in connection with the cropping operation. Once all of the images have been displayed in the picture pane for tint correction, a “Done” entry is displayed on the sub-task pane 116 for executing a save of the changes to the images and returning to the main task pane.
In accordance with an alternate implementation of the system, the tint correction is automated in a manner similar to the brightness/contrast correction such that the user would simply select the “Correct Tint” entry 90 on the main task pane 78 after a group of open images displayed in the picture pane had been selected. Thereafter, the tint of the selected images would be corrected automatically in accordance with a conventional algorithm provided in the implementation of the system. As such, no user interaction would be required, and the images could be corrected while displayed collectively as thumbnails.
Returning again to
As shown in
If cancellation is not desired at 183, then the user must decide at 189 whether to save the images in the manner selected. If so, the user selects the “Save” entry on the sub-task pane at 191, and the images are saved in the desired location and in the desired format at 195 after being assigned the selected base name at 193. If not, the user is returned to step 175.
Preferably, a numerical extension is added to the base name of each image at 193, distinguishing the image from the others selected. The extensions are preferably assigned in numerical order corresponding to the order of the images as displayed in the filmstrip pane 70. However, any other convention could be adopted. Alternately, the images could be saved to each file's original name, if desired. Once the save operation is completed by the system at 195, the user is returned to the main task pane 78.
With reference to
One advantage of providing bundling of the selected images includes the limitation imposed by some Internet service providers that an e-mail include no more than a single attachment. By bundling the group of images in a single executable file, the entire group of images can be attached to a single e-mail, simplifying the process of sending images via e-mail.
As shown in
If, rather than canceling the send operation the user decides at 217 that the operation is to be completed, he or she selects the “Done” entry at 219. If the “Send Now” radio button is currently selected at this step, then the images are batched at 225 as a single executable file and displayed at an attachment within an e-mail application available to the operating system. Thereafter, the user is returned to the main task pane at 227. If the “Save” radio button of the sub-task pane is currently selected, then at 223 the images are batched and saved as a single executable file to be sent later, and the user is returned to the main task pane.
Referring again to
The sub-task pane 158 is a printer select sub-task pane including a drop down list box 160 which enables the user to select the type of printer on which the images are to be printed. Once the user is satisfied with the correct printer has been selected, he or she selects a “Next” entry 162 which includes an execution command for retrieving and displaying the next sub-task pane in the batch print operation. Alternately, the user can cancel the batch print operation by selecting a “Cancel” entry 166, taking the user back to the main task pane.
If several images are to be printed per page, and a printer has been selected, the operation displays a template sub-task pane 168, as shown in
The insert method sub-task pane 178 is illustrated in
If the “Next” entry 184 of the insert method sub-task is selected, the operation proceeds by displaying one or more additional sub-task panes 190, shown in
With reference to the flow chart of
With reference to
Selection of the “Next” entry at 265 executes display of the fourth sub-task pane at 267, where the user can either select the “Fit” or “Fill” radio button at 269. If desired, at step 271 the user can return to the previous sub-task pane by selecting the “” entry at 273. Otherwise, the user selects the “Next” entry at 275, executing the display of the fifth sub-task pane at 277.
In the fifth sub-task pane, at step 279, the user selects the number of copies of the batch of images to be printed. In step 281, the user selects the desired quality. Again, if desired, the user can cancel the operation at 291 or return to the previous sub-task pane at 285 by selecting the “” entry. Otherwise, if done at step 283, the user selects the “Print” entry at 287 and the images are printed at 289, automatically rotating the images to fit the aspect ratio of the template holes into which the images are dropped, and returning the user to the main task pane.
If, subsequent to initiation of the system, the user selects only one of the open images displayed in the picture pane, the editing operations carried out on the one picture can either be carried out by using the various sub-task panes described above, or by employing panes from the photo editing software application with which the system is implemented. However, the use of conventional editing techniques on a single selected image do not take advantage of the features of the present invention.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing, it is noted that substitutions may be made and equivalents employed herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. For example, although the invention has been described with reference to several specific editing operations that can be carried out in accordance with the present invention, the invention is not limited to just these operations. Rather, it can be employed with any desired editing operation that a user might want to carry out on plural digitally represented images.
Claims
1. A method of editing digitally represented still images, comprising the steps of:
- retrieving a plurality of still images as separate data files;
- opening at least two of the data files;
- displaying the still images of the open data files;
- forming a group of the data files of at least two of the displayed images in response to selection of the selected still images; and
- editing the group of data files in response to the selection of an editing task selection.
2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the still images of the edited batch of data files.
3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying a “multiple-image edit” task pane from which the editing task is selected, the “multiple-image edit” task pane being displayed during the step of selecting at least two of the displayed still images.
4. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of displaying a picture pane within which the plurality of open still images are displayed and selected, the picture pane being displayed during display of the “multiple-image edit” task pane.
5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the editing step is selected from the group of editing steps consisting of rotating the selected still images, cropping the selected still images, correcting the tint of the selected still images, correcting the brightness of the selected still images, correcting the contrast of the selected still images, sending the selected still images, saving the selected still images, and printing the selected still images.
6. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.
7. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method of selecting and editing a plurality of digitally represented still images, wherein each still image is a separate data file, the method comprising the steps of:
- opening the data files of the plurality of still images;
- displaying the plurality of still images;
- displaying a task pane including at least one editing task entry having a specified multiple-image editing task command;
- receiving a group-select execution signal indicative of the user selecting at least two of the still images for editing as a group;
- in response to the group-select signal, forming a group of the selected still images;
- receiving a task execution signal indicative of the user selecting the multiple-image editing task entry; and
- in response to the execution signal, performing the specified editing task command on the group of selected still images.
8. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of displaying the edited group of still images.
9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the task pane includes a “select all” entry having a selection command for selecting all of the open images for editing as a group, the group-select execution signal being indicative of the user selecting the “select all” entry.
10. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of performing the specified editing task command includes displaying one of the selected still images in the picture pane, and displaying a sub-task pane including at least one option entry having an editing sub-task command.
11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the step of performing the specified editing task command includes receiving a sub-task execution signal indicative of the user selecting the at least one option entry, and in response to the execution signal, performing the editing sub-task command on the selected image displayed in the picture pane.
12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the sub-task pane includes a “Next” entry having a next selected image command for displaying a different one of the selected images in the picture pane, and the step of performing the specified editing task command includes the steps of receiving a signal indicative of the user selecting the “Next” entry, and in response to the signal, performing the next selected image command to display a different one of the selected images in the picture pane for editing.
13. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the group-select execution signal is indicative of a user sequentially selecting at least two of the open still images while simultaneously selecting a control key.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 29, 2005
Applicant: Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, WA)
Inventors: Kristin Acker (Seattle, WA), Xiaoli Yang (Bellevue, WA), Sheldon Fisher (Issaquah, WA)
Application Number: 11/078,712