Content modification device and method

1. A content modification system for modifying computer-generated content, the system comprising:

a rendering unit operable to render an image for display in dependence upon content to be rendered;

an information output unit operable to output viewpoint data for the rendered image, the viewpoint data comprising information enabling the viewpoint to be reconstructed at a later time;

a viewpoint reconstruction unit operable to generate an image to be displayed using the outputted viewpoint data;

an image modifying unit operable to modify the generated image; and

a content modifying unit operable to modify the content to be rendered in dependence upon the modifications to the generated image,

wherein the content modifying unit is operable to apply a colour grading and/or tone mapping effect to the content to be rendered.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the viewpoint data comprises information describing lighting conditions within a virtual scene described by the content to be rendered.

3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein the information describing lighting conditions is represented by data that comprises information about a plurality of related viewpoints.

4. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the rendering unit is located in an entertainment device, and the viewpoint reconstruction unit is located in a separate processing device.

5. A system according to claim 4 , wherein the entertainment device and the processing device are operable to display content in parallel.

6. A system according to claim 4 , wherein modifications to the content are input using the processing device and are implemented by the entertainment device.

7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the content modifying unit is operable to change the location and/or light output characteristics of objects within a virtual scene described by the content to be rendered.

8. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the viewpoint data comprises a screenshot of the rendered view.

9. A system according to claim 1 , wherein virtual cameras each defining a viewpoint are arranged within a virtual scene described by content to be rendered.

10. A system according to claim 9 , wherein the virtual cameras are arranged to represent the most common viewpoints within the virtual scene.

11. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the modification of the content to be rendered is dependent on a viewpoint for which the content is to be rendered.

12. A content modification method for modifying computer-generated content, the method comprising:

rendering an image for display in dependence upon content to be rendered;

outputting viewpoint data for the rendered image, the viewpoint data comprising information enabling the viewpoint to be reconstructed at a later time;

generating an image to be displayed using the outputted viewpoint data;

modifying the generated image; and

modifying the content to be rendered in dependence upon the modifications to the generated image,

wherein the modifying the content includes applying a colour grading and/or tone mapping effect to the content to be rendered.

13. A machine-readable non-transitory storage medium which stores computer software, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a content modification method for modifying computer-generated content by carrying out actions, comprising:

rendering an image for display in dependence upon content to be rendered;

outputting viewpoint data for the rendered image, the viewpoint data comprising information enabling the viewpoint to be reconstructed at a later time;

generating an image to be displayed using the outputted viewpoint data;

modifying the generated image; and

modifying the content to be rendered in dependence upon the modifications to the generated image,

wherein the modifying the content includes applying a colour grading and/or tone mapping effect to the content to be rendered.