Patent ID: 6288703
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method for determining a color contribution of a background of each image pixel (PixRGB) in a stored image when said image includes a complex multicolored foreground subject in front of a complex multicolored background, comprising the steps of;a) identifying to a computer, by cursor or equivalent, a sample of colors representing dominant colors found in the background,b) identifying to a computer by cursor or equivalent, a sample of colors representing dominant colors found in the foreground subject,c) generating Candidate mattes, one for each of said sampled background colors, using one of said sample background colors and said identified foreground colors,d) selecting from all Candidate mattes, the largest Candidate as a matte level for said image pixel,e) repeating steps (a) through (d) for each of the remaining pixels in the image, thus producing the matte level for all pixels in the image.