Patent ID: 6822756
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method of combining at least one customer generated digital image with at least one prestored digital image to form a merged digital image, comprising the steps of:a) selecting a prestored digital image, said prestored digital image having at least one predetermined location where a customer generated digital image may be placed, said prestored digital image having a design attribute of a predetermined value contributing to a visual characteristic when printed or displayed; b) providing at least one capture means for obtaining at least one customer generated digital image in digital form; c) providing at least one output means for printing, displaying, transferring or storing of a merged digital image formed of said at least one customer generated digital image and said prestored digital image; d) capturing at least one customer generated digital image with said capture means, said customer generated digital image having a design attribute of a value differing from said predetermined value of said design attribute of said prestored digital image, and contributing to a visual characteristic when printed or displayed differing from the visual characteristic of said prestored digital image; e) automatically analyzing said design attribute of said customer generated digital image to obtain an analyzed value of said design attribute of said customer generated digital image; f) automatically adjusting said design attribute of said customer generated digital image or said prestored digital image based on the predetermined value of the design attribute of the prestored digital image and the analysis of the design attribute of said customer generated digital image, to establish a predetermined relationship between said predetermined value of said design attribute of said prestored digital image and said analyzed value of said design attribute of said customer generated digital image; g) merging said customer generated digital image with said prestored digital image into a merged digital image with said predetermined relationship between said predetermined value and said analyzed value; and h) forwarding said merged digital image to said output means.