Smart creation of photobooks
A method for proactively creating a photobook includes identifying a group of images by a computer system and automatically creating a design for a photobook by the computer system without receiving a user's request for designing a photobook if the number of images in the group is determined to be within a predetermined range. Pages of the photobook incorporate a plurality of images in the group. The method further includes presenting the design of the photobook to a user for preview and receiving an order from the user for a physical manifestation of the photobook based on the design.
1. A computer-implemented method for producing a photo album having a first page and a second page, comprising:
sorting a plurality of images according to a primary predetermined criterion to produce a list of sorted images by a computer system, wherein the plurality of images are to be incorporated into the photo album;
automatically separating, by the computer system, the sorted images into a first page group and a second page group using one or more secondary criteria, wherein the one or more secondary criteria are at least in part based on color content associated with the sorted images;
determining popular colors in the two or more of the sorted images;
determining if popular colors in the two or more of the sorted images are within a predetermined distance in a color space;
placing two or more of the sorted images in the first page group if popular colors in the two or more of the sorted images are within the predetermined distance in the color space, wherein the first page group of one or more images is to be placed in the first page of the photo album, wherein the second page group of one or more images is to be placed in the second page of the photo album;
automatically selecting a first page layout from a library of page layouts, wherein the first page layout is configured to receive a number of one or more images that match the number of one or more images in the first page group;
automatically selecting a second page layout from the library of page layouts, wherein the second page layout is configured to receive a number of one or more images that match the number of one or more images in the second page group;
automatically placing the one or more images in the first page group into the first page layout; and
automatically placing the one or more images in the second page group into the second page layout to produce the second page in the photo album.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the primary predetermined criterion is based on capture times of the plurality of images, wherein the sorted images are sequenced chronologically according to the capture times of the plurality of images.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein two or more of the sorted images are placed on facing pages or adjacent pages if popular colors in the two or more of the sorted images are within the predetermined distance in the color space.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the popular color of a sorted image is defined by a color region in the color space, wherein the sorted image includes at least a predetermined percentage of pixels having their associated pixel values in the color region.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more secondary criteria are at least in part based on capture times of the images.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein two or more of the sorted images are placed in the first page group if the one or more of the sorted images are within a predetermined interval of image capture time.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein two or more of the sorted images are placed on facing pages or adjacent pages if image capture times in the two or more of the sorted images are within a predetermined interval of image capture time.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more secondary criteria are at least in part based on image-capture locations associated with the images.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein two or more of the sorted images are placed in the first page group if the two or more of the sorted images are within a predetermined proximity in image-capture location.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein two or more of the sorted images are placed on facing pages or adjacent pages if the two or more of the sorted images are within a predetermined proximity in image-capture location.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more secondary criteria are at least in part based on metadata associated with the images.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more secondary criteria are at least in part based on image file header, tags, keywords, remarks, or titles associated with the images.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first page and the second page are positioned as facing pages or adjacent pages in the photo album.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the library of page layouts each configured to receive images in a portrait format or a landscape format, wherein the first page layout have formats matching those of the one or more images in the first page group.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing text information associated with an image in the first page group;
automatically placing the image in the first page layout; and
automatically placing the text information in association with the image in the first page layout.
16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
allowing a user to preview and edit the photo album.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the plurality of images over a computer network from a user.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending the photo album over a computer network to allow the photo album to be viewed by a user.
19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
manufacturing a hardcopy photobook based on the photo album.