Patent ID: 6185342
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A method for applying at least one adjustment during a process of compositing a set of ordered image layers, the set having a logical top layer and a logical bottom layer, into a final merged image, comprising the steps of:(a) creating a blank current intermediate merged image;(b) defining at least one adjustment layer, each logically ordered within the ordered image layers according to a user selection, each adjustment layer comprising at least one adjustment function;(c) compositing each image layer occurring(1) logically between a current adjustment layer and any previous adjustment layer or(2) logically before the current adjustment layer if there is no previous adjustment layer, into the current intermediate merged image;(d) applying the adjustment function of a current adjustment layer to the current intermediate merged image to generate a current adjusted temporary image;(e) temporarily storing the current adjusted temporary image in a compositable form;(f) compositing the stored current adjusted temporary image into the current intermediate merged image;(g) repeating steps (c) through (f) for each adjustment layer;(h) compositing any remaining image layers into the current intermediate merged image to create a final merged adjusted image,where the set of ordered image layers and at least one adjustment layer are preserved, and where compositing is performed using masks and compositing parameters.