Automated image sizing and placement
View Patent ↗Versions of user-selected content images are automatically created, sized, and positioned within a template such that all versions are simultaneously displayed without overlapping in a defined acceptable image area of the template. Creating the content image versions may include creating a frame image for the content image. A predefined anchor point associated with the acceptable image area is used to control the location of the image versions within the image area.
1. A computer-implemented method for adding images to a template having an acceptable image area, the method comprising:
allowing a user to identify a plurality of images for addition to the template,
testing a plurality of different image arrangements of the images placed within the acceptable image area;
selecting from the plurality of different image arrangements an image arrangement that will display the images in a largest image size,
automatically creating versions of all identified images sized such that all versions can fit simultaneously without overlapping in the acceptable image area of the template according to the determined image arrangement, and
positioning the created versions of all identified images according to the determined image arrangement such that, when the template and the image versions are displayed, all of the image versions are displayed in the acceptable image area according to the determined image arrangement and no version overlaps another version.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein all image versions to be displayed in the acceptable image area are created at substantially the same size and aspect ratio.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the aspect ratio at which the versions are created is determined by the aspect ratio of one of the identified images.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the aspect ratio at which the versions are created is the aspect ratio of the first image identified by the user.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically creating versions further includes adding frame images.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein, if all identified images do not have the same aspect ratio, the step of automatically creating versions further includes the step of cropping at least some of the identified images such that all versions have the same aspect ratio.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the versions of all identified images are sized such that, when the versions are displayed simultaneously in the acceptable image area, no version touches another version.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the versions of all identified images are sized such that each version is separated from all other versions in the acceptable image area by at least a minimum separation distance.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the acceptable image area has a defined anchor point and wherein the positioning of all versions in the acceptable image area is determined by the location of the anchor point.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the anchor point was selected by a creator of the template during creation of the template.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising, if one or more additional images are identified by the user for addition to the acceptable image area, automatically creating new versions of all identified images sized such that all identified images can fit simultaneously in the acceptable area without overlapping and positioning the new versions such that all of the new versions are displayed in the acceptable image area.
12. One or more non-transitory computer readable medium(s) having computer-executable instructions for adding images to a template, the instructions comprising instructions for:
allowing a user to identify a plurality of images for addition to the template,
testing a plurality of different image arrangements of the images placed within the acceptable image area;
selecting from the plurality of different image arrangements an image arrangement that will display the images in a largest image size,
automatically creating versions of all identified images sized such that all versions can fit simultaneously without overlapping in the acceptable image area of the template according to the determined image arrangement, and
positioning the created versions of all identified images according to the determined image arrangement such that when the template and the image versions are displayed, all of the image versions are displayed in the acceptable image area according to the determined image arrangement and no version overlaps another version.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium(s) of claim 12 wherein all image versions to be displayed in the acceptable image area are created at substantially the same size and aspect ratio.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium(s) of claim 13 wherein the aspect ratio at which the versions are created is the aspect ratio of one of the selected images.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium(s) of claim 14 wherein the aspect ratio at which the versions are created is the aspect ratio of the first image identified by the user.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium(s) of claim 12 wherein the instructions for creating versions further include instructions for adding frame images.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium(s) of claim 12 wherein, if all identified images do not have the same aspect ratio, the instructions for automatically creating versions further include instructions for cropping at least some of the identified images such that all versions have the same aspect ratio.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium(s) of claim 12 wherein versions of all identified images are sized such that, when all versions are displayed simultaneously in the acceptable image area, no version touches another version.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium(s) of claim 18 wherein versions of all identified images are sized such that each version is separated from all other versions in the acceptable image area by at least a minimum separation distance.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium(s) of claim 12 wherein acceptable image area has a defined anchor point and wherein the positioning of all versions in the acceptable image area is determined by the position of the anchor point.
21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium(s) of claim 20 wherein the anchor point was selected by the creator of the template during the design template creation process.
22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium(s) of claim 12 further comprising instructions for, if one if one or more additional images are identified by the user for addition to the acceptable image area, automatically creating new versions of all identified images sized such that all identified images can fit simultaneously in the acceptable area without overlapping and positioning the created versions of all identified images relative to the acceptable image area such that, when the template and the image versions are displayed, all of the image versions are displayed in the acceptable image area and no version overlaps another version.
23. A system for adding images to a template having an acceptable image area, the system comprising:
one or more processors configured to receive a selection of a plurality of images and to test a plurality of different image arrangements of the selected images within the acceptable image area and to select from the plurality of different image arrangements an image arrangement that will display the images in a largest image size;
one or more processors configured to automatically create versions of all of the selected images sized such that all versions can fit simultaneously without overlapping in the acceptable image area of the template according to the selected image arrangement, and
one or more processors configured to automatically position the created image versions of the selected images according to the selected image arrangement such that, when the template and the created image versions are displayed, all of the created image versions are displayed in the acceptable image area according to the selected image arrangement and no image version overlaps another image version.
24. A system for adding images to a template having an acceptable image area, the system comprising:
one or more processors configured to receive a selection of a plurality of images and to test a plurality of different image arrangements of the selected images within the acceptable image area and to select from the plurality of different image arrangements an image arrangement that will display the images in a largest image size; and
one or more processors configured to automatically position the selected images according to the selected image arrangement such that, when the template and the created image versions are displayed, all of the created image versions are displayed in the acceptable image area according to the selected image arrangement and no image version overlaps another image version.