Automated template layout method

1. A computer implemented method for producing an image product, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of digital images, each digital image having pixels;

providing a digital template having a plurality of digital template openings;

each digital template opening associated with one of a plurality of seasons for disposing one of the digital images therein, the digital template including at least two digital template openings each having an associated season, and wherein at least said one of the digital images is associated with one of the plurality of seasons;

automatically analyzing the pixels of the one or more digital images to determine which one of the plurality of seasons is depicted by each of the one or more digital images;

for each digital template opening, automatically disposing a digital image therein having associated therewith a same season as the season associated with that digital template opening;

producing the template having the digital images disposed in the one or more digital template openings therein

storing each of the one or more digital images in a seasonal group corresponding to a determined season for each of the one or more digital images;

ranking the digital images in each seasonal group in order of a determined quality of each of the digital images in the seasonal group; and

preferentially selecting digital images having a higher rank for display the images in the template openings.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of storing a date and location corresponding to each of the one or more digital images.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a template having a plurality of digital template openings all associated with a single season.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of producing the templates includes a step selected from steps consisting of printing, storing, displaying, selling, and transporting the digital template having the one or more digital images disposed therein.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a template includes the step of providing a template that includes digital template openings associated with seasons selected from the group consisting of winter, spring, summer, autumn (fall), dry season, harmattan season, rainy (wet) season, monsoon season, and holiday seasons.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the holiday seasons are selected from the group consisting of a birthday, an anniversary, Valentine's Day, National Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically analyzing the pixels further includes the step of providing an association set including items selected from the group consisting of objects, colors, textures, and shapes, wherein each of said objects, colors, textures, or shapes has one of the plurality of seasons associated therewith.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of automatically analyzing the pixels includes the step of finding in each of the one or more digital images an item from the association set and assigning each of the one or more digital images to a season corresponding to the item from the association set.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a plurality of items in the association set are found in a single digital image.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of automatically analyzing includes the step of providing a weighted value to each found item.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the weighted value indicates a likelihood that each found item matches the item in the association set.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the weighted value indicates a prevalence of each found item in its associated season.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein an item is associated with more than one season.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a digital template includes the step of providing a digital calendar template.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of associating a month of the calendar with one of the plurality of seasons and wherein the template having the digital images disposed therein includes a digital image associated with a season associated with the month.

16. A computer implemented method for producing an image product, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of digital images each digital image having pixels;

analyzing the pixels of the one or more digital images for determining one of a plurality of seasons depicted by each of the one or more digital images;

providing a digital template having a plurality of digital template openings each associated with one of the plurality of seasons, each for disposing one of the one or more digital images therein, the digital template including at least two digital template openings each having an associated season and wherein at least one of the digital images is associated with one of the plurality of seasons;

for each digital template opening, selecting a digital image depicting a same season as that associated with said each digital template opening;

producing the image product comprising the digital template having the digital images disposed in the digital template openings therein

storing each of the one or more digital images in a seasonal group corresponding to a determined season for each of the one or more digital images;

ranking the digital images in each seasonal group in order of a determined quality of each of the digital images in the seasonal group; and

preferentially selecting digital images having a higher rank for display the images in the template openings.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of sorting the one or more digital images into one or more seasonal groups corresponding to the determined seasons of each of the digital images.