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Title:
A SYSTEM FOR HARMONIZING THE CROPPING OF DIGITAL IMAGES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/058017
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
This invention relates to a method for harmonizing the cropping of digital photos (1) so that, regardless of the object of application, information on several cropping options for a digital photo (1) can be stored in the metadata included in the digital photo (1). The publishing platform (2), on which the digital photo (1) is loaded for use, transmits the original photo (1 ) to the service provider's cloud service (3), and then the cropping information in the metadata is used for cropping the image as required, the cloud service returns the cropped image to the publishing platform (2), where the image is then published in the desired size.

Inventors:
JÄRSTÄ ILKKA SAKARI (FI)
EKROOS MARINA AURORA (FI)
Application Number:
PCT/FI2018/000017
Publication Date:
March 28, 2019
Filing Date:
September 18, 2018
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
COBERG OY (FI)
International Classes:
G06T3/40; G06T11/60
Domestic Patent References:
WO2013062509A12013-05-02
Foreign References:
US20170243356A12017-08-24
US7734058B12010-06-08
US20050276477A12005-12-15
US20080181512A12008-07-31
Other References:
IMAGE TRANSFORMATIONS, 17 September 2017 (2017-09-17), XP055586059, Retrieved from the Internet [retrieved on 20181217]
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
HEINÄNEN OY PATENT AGENCY (FI)
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Claims:
Claims

1. A system for harmonizing the cropping of digital photos (1), characterised in that, regardless of the object of application.

• information on several cropping opticas can be stored in the metadata in- eluded in a digital photo ( 1 ),

• the publishing platform (2), on which the digital photo (1) is loaded for use, transmits the original photo (I) to the service provider's cloud service (3), and then the cropping information in the metadata is used for cropping the image as required,

* the cloud service returns the cropped image to the publishing platform (2) , where the image is then published in the desired ske.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the cropping information to be loaded in the metadata of the digital photo (I) can be generated in a special application (8).

3. A system as defined in claim i or 2, characterized in that the application (8) generating the cropping information to be stored in the metadata of the photo (1) is a plug-in of the image processing program.

4. A system as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application (8) generating the cropping information to be stored in the metadata of the photo (1 ) is a program installed in a photographic apparatus. 5. A system as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application (8) generating the cropping information to be stored in the metadata of the photo is a service acting as a web-based application.

6; A system as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in being also adapted for cropping video images.

7. A system as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, at the stage of generating the cropping information, the application (8) gives an alert if the desired cropping is too large relative to the number of pixels of the original photo file in width or height.

8. A system as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weighting of priorities in cropping adjustment can be set by parameters for generating certain shield zones (5) by mechanically guiding the cropped image so that these shield zones principally remain after final cropping, the parameters being either of best-effort Or must follow type.

9. A system as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one single or a plurality of cropping operations and/or priority zones allow algorithmic generation of image sizes or aspect ratios which define new cropping ver- sions and are stored in the metadata of the image files or on other sites of the system.

10. A system as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cloud service (3) provides hosting of the image* so that the image CI) can be delivered to the cloud service (3) either in advance, with the publishing platform (2) sending the image to the cloud service (3), or with the image (1) made publicly available on the web by appending the address of the image (I) to the address of the cloud service (3) when the image ( I) is being published* and when the end user or the end user's terminal requests this image from the cloud service (3), the cloud ser- vice (3) retrieves the image from its original position, performs correct cropping of it on the basis of cropping information in the metadata of the image tile and of any url parameters, and forwards it to the end user (4).

11. A system as defined in claim 1 i, characterized in that the user may generate individual cropping information lists in the library (10) and also import and export these for use elsewhere or tor making/returning a backup copy.

Description:
A system for harmonizing the cropping of digital photos

This invention relates to a system tor harmonizing the cropping of digital photos. General

Layout implies placing objects in the most appropriate positions in the image field. The layout requires consideration of a large number of issues. That is why the layout is one of the most demanding matters in photography, ' The following elements are involved:

• Position in the image field

• Rhythm

· The golden section

• Diagonal layout

• Use of empty space

• Role of the background and the edges

• Significance of the main object

· Cropping

Cropping is one of the basic elements in image narration. Usually the photographer performs some kind of cropping when taking the photo, adapting the photo exactly to the image size and aspect ratio of the image format of the camera. If the photog- rapher intends to crop the image later, he intentionally chooses a photo format that facilitates subsequent cropping with an image processing program as necessary.

Solutions in prior art

When an image is cropped, parts of it are eliminated in order to highlight the object of the image or to enhance the layout. Photos can be cropped and squared with the cropping tool of photo-editing software.

When a photo has been loaded for example as an image illustrating an article on the publishing platform of a digital medium, the publishing platform crops the photo automatically to the aspect ratio and size desired for this particular system. This will impair the. original layout of the photo, and it may even cut out crucial information. It is particularly harmful if graphics and text initially connected to the photo are cut out afterwards. This appears frequently in articles published in online media even by major media outlets- Social media frequently use variable cropping and aspect ratios. Facebook, for instance, shows the same photo in dozens of different image sizes. The upper image in the Facebook profile has a function allowing the user to define the image layout using the aspect ratio and size set by the system.

The invention

The system of the invention is characterized in that, regardless of the object of ap- plieation,

• information on several cropping options for a digital photo (1) can be stored in the metadata included in the digital photo (1 ),

• the publishing platform (2), on which the digital photo (1) is loaded for use, transmits the Original photo (1) to the service provider's cloud service (3), and then the cropping information in the metadata is used for cropping the image as required,

• the cloud service returns the cropped image to the publishing platform (2) , where the image is then publi$hed in the desired size. The crapping information to be stored in the metadata of the photo (1) can be generated in a special application (8).

The system is characterised in that the application (8) generating the cropping information to be stored in the metadata of the photo (I) is a plug-in of the image pro- cessing program. The system is characterized in that the application (8) generating the cropping information to be stored in the metadata of the photo (1) is a program installed in a photographing apparatus. The system is characterized in that ihe application (8) generating the cropping information to be stored in the metadata of the photo (I) is a service acting as a web-based application.

The system is also adapted for cropping video images.

At the stage of generation of cropping iftftftmation, the application (&) gives an alert if the desired cropping is too large relative to the number of pixels of the original photo file in width or height.

The weighting of priorities in cropping adjustment can be set by parameters for generating certain shield zones (5) by mechanically guiding the cropped image so that these shield zones (5) principally remain after final cropping, the parameters being either of oest-effprt or must follow type.

One single or a plurality of cropping operations anoVor priority zones allow algorithmic generation of image sizes or aspect ratios which deime new cropping versions and are stored in the metadata of the image files or on other sites of the sys- tern.

The cloud service (3) provides hosting of the image, so that the image ( I ) can be delivered to the cloud service (3) either in advance, with th$ publishing platform (2) sending the image to the cloud service (3), or with the image ( 1) made publicly available on the web by appending the address of the image ( 1) to the address of the cloud service (3) when the image (1 ) is being published; when the end user or the end user's terminal requests this image from the cloud service (3), the cloud service (3) retrieves the image from its original position, performs correct cropping of it on the basis of cropping information in the metadata of the image file and of any url parameters, and forwards it to the end user (4). The user may create individual cropping information lists in the library (10) and also import and export these for use elsewhere or for makjn^'retuming a backup copy.

Should the user perform particular image cropping for a desired aspect ratio and minimum image size, the system informs the user whether the image resulting from the selected cropping will be too small, and then the original image can be cropped so as to match the minimum size.

A high-resolution video image, such as e.g. a 4K image, is preferably used tbr video, so that the number of pixels in the image after cropping is adequate for generation of the final image to be published. Advantages of the invention the major advantage of the invention is that the information content of photos and other image files is available for distribution without impaiftrig the information. The photographer or any graphic designer can influence the aspect of the various crop- ping versions of the images. With the use of this system, priority zones, such as individuals' faces and vital text graphics, will not be cut out.

A library of image sizes and aspects used by general publishing channels can be loaded down in the cropping application of the system. This allows the photogra- pher or the graphic designer to conveniently produce various ready-made cropping versioas, which are subsequently stored for use in the photo metadata.

The system does not encumber the publishing platforms with an excess of various images. The cropped image is automatically delivered in the desired format from the providers cloud service to the publishing platform. The service provider can al- so host the image, and then the image url alone is attached to the platform.

Detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings Fig l.

The figure shows a system for harmonizing the cropping of digital photos 1 so that

♦ a plurality of cropping data of a photo 1 is stored in the metadata of the digital photo 1,

♦ the publishing platform 2 on which the photo 1 k loaded for use sends the original photo 2 to the service provider's cloud service 3, where the cropping iinfromation in the metadata is used for cropping the photo as necessary,

♦ the cloud service returns the cropped image to the publishing platform,, where the image is published in the desired format for the end user 4.

Fig 2.

This series of images shows how the adjustment of the cropping of a photo 1 allows to set weighted priorities with parameters for creating a shield zone 5, with mechanical control of the image while it is cropped to a new size 6. The system stores the cropping information 7 of the new image in the metadata for subsequent use as necessary.

Fig 3,

The series of images shows an application 8 allowing the cropping information 9 to be generated in the metadata of a digital photo 1 on the basis of a library 10 formed by loading down image sizes and aspect ratios used by general publishing channels. Then the system generates the cropping information of the new images 12 in the metadata 11 of the photo 1.