The invention relates to a system for the generation of a graphical representation of an object, comprising recording means for the generation of a digital image of the object, comprising a central processing unit for the combination of the image with one or more selected, previously-recorded images, and comprising output means for the saving of the combined image of the object on a suitable carrier. The invention further relates to a carrier provided with a digital image and to a method for digitising an image.

The invention finds particular applicability in the world of entertainment and amu¬ sement, where, for example, in theme parks or on fun fairs, visitors are offered the possibility of having a photograph of themselves made, within which photograph the visitor would seem to be surrounded by known persons or animals, or sees himself against a chosen background originating in the theme park or the fun fair itself. However, the invention can be more broadly applied and is certainly not limited to the world of amusement. In a more general sense, the invention is applicable in computer animation and other forms of computer graphics.

Existing computer animation systems are only capable of digitising a selected picture object, and of combining it with other images, in a manner whereby the picture object always falls either behind or in front of the overlapping portions of the other images. It is not possible with existing systems to absorb a picture object completely into other images in the sense that the picture object is placed literally between the other images. Because of this, the existing computer animation systems leave a lot to be desired when it comes to realism and attractiveness.

It is an aim of the current invention to provide a system of the aforementioned type, with which system, on the contrary, it is indeed possible to provide a three-dimensional ordering of the picture object with picture objects from one or more other images.

96/08792 PC17NL95/00309

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To that end, a system of the aforementioned type, in accordance with the invention, is characterised in that the central processing unit is provided with processing means for the identification of the object, whereby the pixels thereof are allocated a unique common identity code, and for the addition of one or more transparency codes to the obj ect or distinguishable portions of the obj ect.

After having been identified in conformity with the invention, the pixels of the object carry a unique, common identity code in the form of, for example, a binary number, so that it is always known which pixels are associated with the picture object, and the picture object can hence be selected, activated, dragged, rotated or otherwise manipulated, in its entirety, on, for example, a computer monitor. The transparency code provides a measure for the transparency of a particular pixel. If a pixel is completely transparent then a picture object which overlaps with it will be fully visible at that point. If, on the contrary, the pixel is completely opaque, then all overlapping pixels behind it will disappear. Intermediate situations can exist between these two extremes, whereby the picture object can be seen through an overlapping object to a lesser or greater extent, or vice versa. According to the invention, however, different portions of the picture object can have different transparency codes associated with them, so that some portions will disappear behind an overlapping object while other portions will not. In combination with the uniform identity code of the pixels, this makes a complete three- dimensional ordering of the various picture objects with respect to each other possible.

In order to facilitate compositions of the digitised graphical representation with one or more previously-recorded images, the invention further provides a carrier provided with a digital image of at least one object whose pixels are furnished with a colour code, whereby the object's pixels are moreover furnished with a common identity code and with a transparency code which may or may not be common.

Said carrier can be a magnetic, magneto-optical or optical medium, such as, for example, a diskette, a CD-ROM or hard disk for the associated unit in the processing

unit, but it can also be, for example, a volatile or non-volatile semiconductor memory, in particular the system memory or video memory of the central processing unit.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a carrier is applied on which the image is stored in such a manner that the colour code, the identity code and the transparency code for each pixel form a binary code in unison with a width of 32 bits. By assuming a word width of 32 bits in this manner, an optimal link is formed with the modern personal computer equipment, which is largely based on a 32-bits architecture. Assuming a popular colour coding of three-times 8 bits for the three primary colours red, green and blue, 8 bits remain for the transparency code and the identity code so that 2 to 128 transparency levels can be associated with 128 to 2 different uniquely identified picture objects, respectively.

In order to realise real-time video animation's, however, in accordance with the invention the assumption is preferably made of a carrier upon which the image is recorded in such a manner that the colour code, the identity code and the transparency code for each pixel together, form a binary code with a width of an integral multiple of 32 bits. Using such a coding scheme, the number of picture objects that can be separately identified is to all intents and purposes unlimited, and using specially- developed hardware equipment, a sufficiently high processing speed can be achieved in spite of the rather large word- widths which are then encountered.

For the generation of the digital output image of the object, and indeed also for the generation of the digitally stored, previously recorded other-images with which the digital image of the object can be combined, the invention further pertains to a method for the generation of a digitised image of an object, whereby a digital recording of the object is made whereby the pixels thereof are furnished with a colour code, which to that end is characterised in that the digital image of the object is selected, and in that the pixels thereof are supplemented with a common identity code, and a transparency code, which may or may not be common.

In the case where the object is recorded in the form of a video animation, by means of the system according to the invention, in a particular embodiment of the method thereby, a digital graphical representation of the object is made from several angles, subsequent to which the processing unit is capable of calculating the intermediate points by means of image-interpolation.

The invention shall now be further elucidated on the basis of a detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof and a drawing which depicts said system according to the invention schematically and without regard to scale. It is to be noted thereby that, for the sake of clarity, some dimensions in the drawing are considerably exaggerated.

In a theme park, the assumption is made, in respect of the system of the invention, of a purposely-developed room within which a chair or a column are suitably located, upon or against which, a visitor takes his place. The chair or column are, just as the background, embodied in a special colour which can be subsequently filtered out of the final picture using known image processing techniques.

With the aid of recording means, in the form of, for example, a still-picture camera 1 or a video-camera 2 in combination with a frame-grabber 3, a digital image of the visitor is made in the form of a still picture which is supplied to the processing unit 4 and appears on a monitor 5 situated in the field of view of the visitor. The processing unit 4 will have identified the image of the visitor beforehand — that is to say that a unique identity code will have been allocated to it. In this manner, it is always known which pixels are associated with the image of the visitor. In. the capacity of the processing unit 4, an otherwise well-known conventional personal computer can be used, such as an Apple Power PC or an IBM compatible PC with a system memory of 20 Mb and a hard disk with a storage capacity of approximately 200 Mb. Using input means connected to the processing unit in the form of a keyboard 6, a mouse or track-ball, a choice can be made from a selection of previously-recorded digital pictures, such as images of the theme park in question, or celebrities, animals or figures, to act as a background or to be otherwise combined with the image of the visitor

to form a composite picture. These images are stored, for example, on the hard disk of the processing unit. As soon as a certain image is selected, it is shown, combined with the picture of the visitor, on the monitor 5.

The various picture objects in the previously recorded images also each have a unique identity code and a pre-selected transparency code. After having selected a certain picture object or a portion thereof, it is also possible that the visitor himself, using input means 6, can apply a modified transparency code to the selected object or a portion thereof, and can in this way determine if a selected picture object in question, or a portion thereof, will lie in front of or behind his own image, or will permeate his own image to a greater or lesser extent. Furthermore, using the input means 6, the various picture objects can be shifted around to arbitrary points in the composite picture, can be rotated, and can be otherwise manipulated, whereby the visitor is capable of generating a truly life-like ordering of the various picture objects, whereby his own picture is placed in the midst of the other picture objects, as it were.

Finally, after the expiration of a previously-determined period of time, or on user- command, the definitive composite picture is output by the processing unit to output means connected thereto, whereby the final composition for the visitor is recorded. The output means can comprise a photographic printer 7, for example, with which a photographic print of the final composition is realised, in the form of, for example, a post-card 8 or of a watch-face 9 of a watch that can then serve as a souvenir.

In addition to being combined to form a photographic image, the image of the visitor can also be combined with a previously-recorded video animation, whereby the visitor, for example, sees himself placed in one or more of the attractions of the park or in the company of celebrities. In that case, it is preferable that, using input means 1-3, a number of images of the visitor are made from various angles — for example, a front, left-side, right-side and rear view — subsequent to which the processing unit, using known image-interpolation techniques such as morphing, for example, calculates the

intermediate points which are necessary in order to allow the visitor to move in unison in the final video animation.

The final video composition is supplied by the processing unit 4 to a suitable recording unit for, for example, the magnetic, magneto-optical or optical registration thereof. Such a recording unit can be formed by, for example, a floppy disk drive 12 of the processing unit 4, whereby the video animation is recorded on floppy disk and offered to the visitor in that form, or it can be a video recorder whereby the animation is recorded on a video tape 11 and offered to the visitor in that form.

Although the invention has been described in more detail with reference to a specific embodiment of it, it will be appreciated that the invention is by no means limited to that embodiment. On the contrary many modifications and alternative embodiments will be apparent to a skilled person without requiring him to perform any inventive skill. As such the technique according to the invention of providing objects with a unique identity code allows grouping these codes in such a manner that data may be derived from them by means of which a three-dimensional holographic image may be created. If the holographic projection is realized, it may be recorded another time by means of a 360-degrees camera. Said recorded picture can be combined with a picture which has been taken parallel of any kind of object or person. By feeding these (digitally) recorded pictures together to a computer monitor and displaying them simultaneously, said object or person can be manipulated to assume any pose with respect to the holographic picture so that the combined picture may be digitized directly in the desired pose with respect to the foreground and the background. In this manner it becomes possible to re-record pre¬ recorded images, both still and moving pictures, from a holographic representation and to match this new recording with any live-recording. This creates an entirely new manner of image-processing either in two or three dimensions.

The information derived from the identity and transparency codes of the several objects within the image can also be re-arranged and grouped such that it may be compiled real¬ time to a second or even further video driver. This enables the opening of additional

active windows on a screen so that the video information in the different windows may be compared with each other real-time. In this manner a system is realized which may be used to compare several objects with respect to one another.

All aforementioned features of the invention may be performed in plural, being merely limited by the bus-size of a state of the art micro-processor(s). However already with a 64 or 128 bit processor image processing according to the invention can be performed to a nearly unlimited extent which opens the doors to an entirely new world of video applications.