Application of Dimensional Printing Effects to Items Created in a Collage-Based Editor
In a photo collage editor implemented in software residing on and executable from a digital medium, a method for configuring a project for three dimensional printing includes the steps (a) displaying in the editor, a page canvas for editing, (b) selecting or highlighting an image or item on the page canvas, (c) invoking a dimensional print effect configuration interface by selecting an interactive button on a toolbar displayed automatically as a result of step (b) or by implementing keyboard shortcut to execute the interface, and (d) selecting an option for applying one or more three dimensional effects from the interface.
1 . In a photo collage editor implemented in software residing on and executable from a digital medium, a method for configuring a project for three dimensional printing comprising the steps:
(a) displaying in the editor, a page canvas for editing;
(b) selecting or highlighting an image or item on the page canvas;
(c) invoking a dimensional print effect configuration interface by selecting an interactive button on a toolbar displayed automatically as a result of step (b) or by implementing keyboard shortcut to execute the interface; and
(d) selecting an option for applying one or more three dimensional effects from the interface.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the editor is accessible in the form of a graphics user interface (GUI) through a Website on the Internet.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein in step (a), the page is displayed in a view port in the editor.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein in step (b), there are one or more photos with or without text captioning.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein in step (b) there are one or more items including one or more text boxes with text, one or more frames or borders, and one or more stickers.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein in step (c), the configuration interface is executed through a styles menu, dimensional print effect being an option.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein in step (c), the configuration interface is a standalone application.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the application of three-dimensional printing is automated and is transparent to the user.
9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the application of three-dimensional printing is at least in part manual and user initiated.
10 . The method of claim 1 further including a step (e) for invoking an algorithm that reads the photo color histogram and/or other photo data and creates several thumbnail images of the image or item under edit, each thumbnail image for preview whereby each thumbnail exhibits a different stock dimensional print effect as it would otherwise look.
11 . A method for automatic generation of a three dimensional print effect for an item in an image editor comprising the steps:
(a) analyzing data relative to the item;
(b) consulting one or more rules relative to the analysis of step (a);
(c) determining from the consultation of step (b) which areas of the item should be raised and to what depth; and
(d) generating a depth map for the item, the depth map instructing a printer which portions of the item to raise and by what additional depth to achieve the three dimensional print effect.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the editor is accessible in the form of a graphics user interface (GUI) through a Website on the Internet.
13 . The method of claim 11 wherein in step (a), the data analyzed is a color histogram or other color data.
14 . The method of claim 11 wherein in step (b), the rules are generic to the item type selected for application of three dimensional ink effect.
15 . The method of claim 11 wherein in step (b), some rules describe a default application of three dimensional effect to all of a same type of item.
16 . The method of claim 11 wherein in step (c), the depth values of the raised pixels are persisted along with the pixel data.
17 . The method of claim 11 wherein in step (d), the depth map is sent to a printer hosted on the internet.