Abstract: A more-natural-looking video is reproduced and a video data having a desired color tone is formed by preserving the tone of a video as an original in color conversion at a desired ratio. To this end, a criterion color register stores color information (hue, chroma and density) for determining whether input pixel data is eligible for conversion, a target color register stores color information indicative of a target color, and a preservation degree register stores a preservation degree that determines the degree of preservation in color conversion. A color determination section determines whether the input pixel data is eligible for conversion, and the determination result is output to a color converter section. The color converter section performs color conversion to eligible pixel data according to the information stored in the criterion color register, target color register and preservation degree register, with the result of the color conversion being output.

Abstract: A picture recording method for recording original picture data encodes the original picture so that the entirety of the original picture is displayed at its original resolution on a television monitor after being decoded. The method involves first scaling down an original picture image, then filling top, bottom, and left and right side regions around the scaled down picture image with pixels to attain a picture image that is of the same size and resolution as that of the original picture image. The scaled down and filled in image is then recorded by encoding and storing the picture data at the original resolution. The recorded picture data is then subsequently decoded for displaying all pixels of the original picture image at the original resolution on a television monitor.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for performing segmentation-based enhancements of a video image. The apparatus comprises: 1) an input buffer for storing video frames of an incoming video signal; 2) a segmentation controller capable of segmenting a first stored frame into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments comprising a plurality of pixels having at least one common property; 3) an image processor capable of calculating a probability function associated with at least one pixel in the first stored frame, the probability function indicating a probability that the at least one pixel belongs within a first selected one of the plurality of segments; and 4) an enhancement controller capable of enhancing a parameter of the at least one pixel as a function of the probability function of the at least one pixel.

Abstract: Image systems and methods adjust hue angles of one or more colors in an image. The adjusted image may be output to a printer for printing. An image quality control is provided to allow a user to select one or more specific colors whose rendition is unacceptable. Each color may be tested to see if that color is outside the range of colors which can be printed accurately or acceptably on the target printer. If the selected color is outside the range of printable colors, a variety of alternatives can be offered to arrive at the best possible rendition. Otherwise, a variety of hue shifts can be offered, where each hue shift alters the rendition of only those colors having hue angles that are near the offensive color.

Abstract: A digital camera has an integral flash and stores and displays a digital image. Under certain conditions, a flash photograph taken with the camera may result in a red-eye phenomenon due to a reflection within an eye of a subject of the photograph. The digital camera has a red-eye filter which analyzes the stored image for the red-eye phenomenon and modifies the stored image to eliminate the red-eye phenomenon by changing the red area to black. The modification of the image is enabled when a photograph is taken under conditions indicative of the red-eye phenomenon. The modification is subject to anti-falsing analysis which further examines the area around the red-eye area for indicia of the eye of the subject.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method and system for presenting color television signals. Television signal chrominance values for foreground elements are adjusted in response to television signal chrominance values for background elements, so as to minimize display artifacts while preserving the relative color contrast between foreground and background. (1) The invention modifies I and Q values of the foreground color to reduce the difference of the foreground I and Q with respect to the background I and Q. (2) The invention modifies Y, I and Q values of the foreground color to avoid colors known to display poorly for selected output devices. (3) The invention modifies Y values of the foreground color to maintain intended visual contrast between foreground and background colors. (4) The invention modifies Y, I and Q values of the foreground color to decrease cross-luminance separation artifacts at the border between foreground and background colors.

Abstract: A digital camera includes an LCH conversion circuit. The LCH conversion circuit detects an L component value, a C component value and an H component value from each of pixel signals forming an image signal of an object being photographed. A plurality of reference L component values, reference C component values and reference H component values are held on a reference value table. A plurality of target L component values, target C component values and target H component values are held on a target value table. An L control circuit, a C control circuit and an H control circuit correct the L component value, the C component value and the H component value of each pixel based upon the reference value table and the target value table. A plurality of target values held on the target value table is arbitrarily controlled by a key operation or the like by an operator.

Abstract: A method and system for removal of flash artifacts from a digital image containing pixels therein, including using a database of reference flash-corrupted images for identifying corrupted pixels within the digital image that have been corrupted by a flash, and modifying the color values of each corrupted pixel of the digital image, to correct the corrupted pixel color values.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating at least a selected area in a picture is disclosed herein. The picture and the selected area are displayed on a video display means, and the user can optionally adjust the position and size of the selected area. The apparatus including the following devices. A first converting device that is used to generate a digital signal and a pointer defining signal according to a computer video signal. The picture is transferred from the computer video signal, and the selected area is defined in the pointer defining signal. A first adapting device that is utilized to adapt the format of the computer video signal to suit a digital display format corresponding to the pointer defining signal. A storage device determines said display timing of all the pixels of the picture. A pointer generating device generates a plurality of edge of the selected area according to the pointer defining signal.

Abstract: An analog/digital color video apparatus for adjusting attributes of a color image contained in an analog video signal and a digital video signal and visually displaying an attribute-adjusted color image on a display is provided. When an attribute of an analog video signal having a relatively lower definition is adjusted, the analog/digital color video apparatus converts the analog video signal into a digital signal and adjusts the attribute of the digitized video signal. When an attribute of the digital video signal having a relatively higher definition is adjusted, an attribute of a color image contained in the digital video signal is adjusted without a supplementary signal conversion process such as A/D conversion and D/A conversion. Thus, the analog/digital TV prevents quantization noise which can be occurred in the process of adjusting attributes of the color image.

Abstract: An image converting apparatus for converting an image of an input video signal into an image with a metallic luster and representing the metallic luster with parameters designated corresponding to the input image. The apparatus is based on the concept that a model of reflected light can represented with a model of reflected light of diffusion reflection and mirror-surface reflection and that even though the resultant model of reflected light is three-dimensional data, assuming that the brightness of an input video signal linearly varies, the model can be represented with brightness data. A color correction circuit 5 has a look-up table with which calculations for generating an image with a metallic luster are performed with the brightness data and the designated parameters. A matrix calculating circuit extracts a luminous signal component from the input video signal. A pre-modifying circuit adjusts the amplitude.

Abstract: A color filter device of a digital camera which comprises a luminance processor, a color processor, a control unit, and a color memory for storing color data. The color memory is controlled by the control unit so as to provide user-selected color data when the control unit terminates an output of the color processor to perform a color filtering, so that the user-selected color data is combined with luminance data output by the luminance processor.

Abstract: Image-distorting artifacts are added to selected areas of a color image. A first artifact change is made to a luminance component of a selected area, and at least one other artifact change is made to chrominance components of the selected area. The artifact changes are perceptively balanced such that the artifacts are not perceptible when the image is displayed on a monitor. For example, changes in saturation are selected to balance changes in intensity of luminance. However, when the image is filtered such that one of the artifacts is modified, the remaining artifact becomes visible. Such filtering might be performed by an RGB-to-NTSC converter. Thus, if the RGB-to-NTSC converter is used between an RGB output of DVD-ROM electronics and a computer monitor (in an attempt to make an unauthorized copy), the video signal leaving the RGB-to-NTSC converter will contain perceptible artifacts and, therefore, images of reduced viewability.

Abstract: A system and methods that provide a simple, but effective, technique for generating aliased and anti-aliased fonts while minimizing both processor and memory requirements are described. For each character of a font, a source pixel representation of the character is generated and stored in memory. Preferrably, the pixels of each anti-aliased character are divided among at least three non-overlapping regions which provide a color/intensity transition between the character and the background to produce an anti-aliased effect. Three of the regions are identified as the foreground region, middle region and background region. To generate a character of the font on a display the source pixel representation of the character described by the three regions is referenced from memory. If the character is to be aliased the middle and background regions are coded to the background color and the foreground region is coded to the foreground color of the character.

Abstract: An image encoding and decoding apparatus and method for providing a reference picture signal for display on a display device. Such reference picture signal may indicate a brightness change or a change in color. By observing the displayed reference picture signal, an operator can adjust one or more parameters of the display device to a desired level or levels, As a result, a picture signal may be displayed on the display device with a relatively high picture quality.

Abstract: In a method of obtaining a color correcting condition for a color image on an image frame, plural color component image signals are obtained for each pixel of the color image of the frame, and the frame is divided into plural blocks each of which is composed of plural pixels. A block color density value statistic is obtained for each block from the plural color component signals of the plural pixels of each block, wherein the statistic indicates a relationship between a density value and a number of pixels indicating the density value. A chroma level of each block is evaluated based on the block color density value statistic; a frame color density value statistic is obtained from the plural color component signals of the plural pixels of the plural blocks of the frame by reducing an influence of a block evaluated as a high chroma block; and the color correcting condition for the color image is determined based on the frame color density statistic.

Abstract: Physiological primary colors, which correspond to tristimulus values of each of picture elements of an image on a hard copy, are obtained. A parameter, which represents the degree of incomplete chromatic adaptation, is determined in accordance with a correlated color temperature of a white point of a CRT display device, on which the image is to be displayed. Temporary tristimulus values, which are to be reproduced on the CRT display device, are derived in accordance with the parameter. From the temporary tristimulus values, perception values relating to lightness, color vividness and hue, such as metric lightness, metric chroma, and a metric hue angle in the LAB-color space are calculated by taking the white point of the CRT display device as a viewing illuminance. The tristimulus values of the image are then transformed into the tristimulus values on the display device, and a soft copy image is formed on the display device in accordance with the transformed tristimulus values.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for reducing the number of matrix operations when converting digitized RGB color space signals to digitized YCbCr color space signals, at least two color difference signals, each being in terms of any two of the digitized RGB color space signals, are generated before performing first, second, third and fourth matrix multiplication operations of the color difference signals. The first and second matrix multiplication operations have first and second results to be used in conversion for the digitized Y color space signal. The third matrix multiplication operation has a third result to be used in conversion for the digitized Cb color space signal. The fourth matrix multiplication operation has a fourth result to be used in conversion for the digitized Cr color space signal.

Abstract: A device and method for performing a coloring set operation for a specific region on a screen of a video signal process device which designates the specific region on a liquid crystal monitor and displays the specific region with a specific color onto the screen. The method includes determining whether the specific region is designated by a user in response to an input corresponding to a coloring mode and a specific region select mode; setting a luminance signal level of the specific region, if the specific region is designated and maintaining a color phase in a default state; if a color up/down input is entered, performing an up/down operation for the color phase by a predetermined angle to set the color phase; and completing the coloring set operation in response to an input corresponding to a coloring completion mode.

Abstract: A subject color and a non-subject color of color change operation are specified and then a first color vector representing the subject color and a second color vector representing the non-subject color are obtained. A substitute color for replacing a component of the subject color is further specified, and a color vector representing the substitute color is obtained. A third color vector independent of the first and second color vectors is further determined. A color of each pixel in an original color image is expressed by linear combination of the first through third color vectors, thereby obtaining first through third coefficients for the first through the third color vectors. If the first coefficient is positive, the first color vector is replaced by the substitute color vector. The pixel color after the color change operation is then determined by producing a composite vector using the first through the third coefficients.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to reconstruct or acquire the shape of an object without rotating it. A TV camera with a fish-eye lens is used to conduct the image-sensing of a vehicle as a moving object over a certain section of its path of travel and a background image is subtracted from each captured image to obtain a silhouette of the vehicle. The loci of movement of the vehicle's tires in each image are calculated and used to calculate the positions of the viewpoint of the TV camera and the vehicle relative to each other in each image. The shape of the vehicle is reconstructed by projecting the silhouette for each captured image into a projection space while holding the viewpoint of the TV camera and the vehicle at the calculated relative positions.

Abstract: A multicolor printing method employing a color printer capable of printing non-overlapping red, green, blue and black colorants, includes the steps of: providing a digital color image having n-bit/color pixels; dividing the digital image into a plurality of pixel blocks; identifying pure red, green, blue, black and white pixels in each block and assigning such pixels to be printed with the corresponding colorant or white (no colorant); calculating percent red, green, blue, black and white for remaining pixels in each block; using the calculated percentages, assigning remaining pixels in each block to be printed with pure colorant or white according to a predetermined filling procedure; and printing the image using the assigned colorants.

Abstract: An automatic color adjustment apparatus for use in an imaging device for adjusting the color of a subject such as skin or leave, which is well retained in human memory, to be as natural as possible. The color adjustment apparatus has a weighting coefficient setting device for setting a weighting coefficient according to the difference between the input chromaticity value and the preselected reference chromaticity value set by a chromaticity value setting device. The preselected reference chromaticity value is selected, with respect to a particular subject, such as skin, to be equal to the most natural color of that subject in a chromaticity plane defined by hue and saturation characteristics. The color-adjusted output signal is produced from a calculator which calculates an internal division operation applied to the preselected reference chromaticity value and the input chromaticity signal using the weighting coefficient.