Combining clips of image data

1 . A computer implemented method of combining clips of image frames in which elements from selected input frames are combined to produce an output sequence derived from a plurality of clips, comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of spatially overlaid clips as layers in a three dimensional space;

responding to user commands that specify how elements from a plurality of said displayed clips are to be composited spatially and storing said user defined compositing data;

presenting a plurality of temporally displaced clips as a time line having clip segments joined by transitions;

modifying attributes of said presented transitions in response to user generated edit data; and

rendering said selected input frame data in combination with said compositing data and said editing data to produce viewable output data.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said clips are derived from scanning cinematographic film, from video tape or from a machine-readable source.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said user commands are received from user operable input devices.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein selected input frame data, editing tablet and compositing data are rendered in combination with other components defined as software operators.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein said software operators include chroma-keying processes, paint modules, particle generators or text editors.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of said temporally displaced clips presented in the time line comprise a composited clip defined by the user-defined compositing data.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of temporally displaced clips are displayed in a single edit style in a linear fashion.

8 . An apparatus for combining clips of image frames in which elements from selected input frames are combined to produce an output sequence derived from a plurality of clips, comprising:

display means for displaying a plurality of spatially overlaid clips as layers in a three-dimensional space;

responding means for responding to user commands that specify how elements from a plurality of displayed clips are to be composited spatially to produce compositing data;

presenting means for presenting a plurality of temporally displaced clips as a time-line having clip segments joined by transitions;

modifying means for modifying attributes of said presented transitions in response to user generated edit data; and

rendering means for rendering said selected input frame data in combination with said compositing data and said editing data to produce viewable output data.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising means for deriving said clips using means for scanning cinematographic film, means for playing video tape, or means for reading machine-readable data.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising user operable input devices, wherein said user commands are received via said input devices.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said rendering means comprises means for rendering selected input frame data and compositing data in combination with other components defined as software operators.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said rendering means is configured to operate in response to chroma-keying processes, paint modules, paint generators, or text editors.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein one or more of said temporally displaced clips presented in the time line comprise a composited clip defined by the user-defined compositing data.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of temporally displaced clips are displayed in a single edit style in a linear fashion.

15 . An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for combining clips of image frames, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of spatially overlaid clips as layers in a three-dimensional space;

responding to user input commands that specify how elements from a plurality of said displayed clips are to be composited spatially and storing said user define compositing data;

presenting a plurality of temporally displaced clips as a time-line having clip segments joined by transitions;

modifying attributes of said presented transitions in response to user generated edit data and storing said edit data; and

rendering said selected input frame data in combination with said compositing data and said editing data to produce viewable output data.

16 . The article of manufacture according to claim 15 , wherein said clips are derived from scanning cinematographic film, from video tape or from a machine-readable source.

17 . The article of manufacture according to claim 15 , wherein said user commands are received from user operable input devices.

18 . The article of manufacture according to claim 15 , wherein selected input frame data, editing tablet, and compositing data are rendered in combination with other components defined as software operators.

19 . The article of manufacture according to claim 18 , wherein said software operators include chroma-keying processes, paint modules, particle generators, or text editors.

20 . The article of manufacture according to claim 15 , wherein one or more of said temporally displaced clips presented in the time line comprise a composited clip defined by the user-defined compositing data.

21 . The article of manufacture according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of temporally displaced clips are displayed in a single edit style in a linear fashion.