Abstract:
A method of arranging a series of at least two visual images of different characteristics of the same image and fixing them to a page which is usable in a scrapbook, includes using a digital image to produce a series of digital images of different characteristics; forming visual images of the series of different characteristics of images on a medium; cutting out the series of different characteristics of visual images from the medium; and fixing the cut out different visual images on the page which can be used in a scrapbook.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to forming a scrapbook page or a portion of a scrapbook page, which can be inserted into a scrapbook.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A scrapbook is a collection of scrapbook pages, each of which is a unique collection of at least photographs, paper crafts and journaling. In general, each scrapbook page or a group of pages are based on a theme, and all of the components that make up that page(s) are in context with the theme. For instance, a scrapbook page having a “Holiday” theme would comprise photographs taken during that holiday and paper crafts depicting the holiday, for instance a Christmas tree cut out of green construction paper or a purchased die cut. In addition, the person making the scrapbook page would record information about the holiday, and including who was shown in the pictures on the page in the form of journaling. All of the components of a scrapbook page are arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner which best depicts the essence of the theme. The components are typically glued in place, and the assembled scrapbook page is inserted into a scrapbook. A purpose of making a scrapbook vs. simply putting pictures in a photo album is to create a unique, personalized family heirloom which tells a story and will be cherished for a lifetime, and perhaps passed on to the next generation. The task of creating a personalized scrapbook provides benefit to those participating in this craft as well as the recipient of the completed scrapbook.  
           [0003]    Novice scrapbookers will often look to others for inspiration when organizing a new page layout, and experienced scrapbooker will share their scrapbook page layouts for creative inspiration, and because they are a source of pride for the creator. Many scrapbook magazines show themed page layouts with a description on how to assemble a page, and the materials needed to get the desired results.  
           [0004]    The scrapbook business has grown over the past several years. Today there are scrapbook specialty stores, magazines devoted to the craft, and a plurality of websites offering on-line merchandise sales and creative tips. The type of merchandise available in this market segment has grown substantially. Today, a person can purchase scrapbook specialty items including scissors to cut a variety of patterns, pre-printed patterned paper and paper in all colors of the rainbow, rubber stamps, stickers, templates, stencils, die cuts, specialty pens and markers, specialty adhesives, and die punches to name a few. On the other hand, the type of still photograph included in a scrapbook has gone relatively unchanged over 100 years.  
           [0005]    With the advent of digital imaging, still photographs can take on a whole new look. Even if the original picture was captured with an analog camera, the picture can be scanned to create a digital copy of the original photograph. Once a picture is in digital form, using digital editing techniques a person can create distinctive looking composite photographs comprising images having different characteristics. The avid scrapbooker is continually looking for new ways to make a scrapbook page layout, the latest technique to try, or a new product to try in their scrapbook. However, most of the present methods used by scrapbookers are fairly complex and use only a single image of the same scene.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide visual images of different characteristics taken from a single digital image.  
           [0007]    This object is achieved by a method of arranging a series of at least two visual images of different characteristics of the same image and fixing them to a page, which is usable in a scrapbook, comprising the steps of:  
           [0008]    a) using a digital image to produce a series of digital images of different characteristics;  
           [0009]    b) forming visual images of the series of different characteristics of images on a medium;  
           [0010]    c) cutting out the series of different characteristics of visual images from the medium; and  
           [0011]    d) fixing the cut out different visual images on the page, which can be used in a scrapbook.  
         Advantages  
         [0012]    It is an advantage of the present invention that users of scrapbooks can provide a single digital image and receive a series of visual images having different characteristics such as size and color from such supplied digital image and fixing them to a scrapbook page to provide a more esthetically pleasing scrapbook page. Distinctive images which have a special appeal to a scrapbooker can be used to form images with different characteristics of the distinctive images thereby allowing the scrapbooker to use his/her creativity to create a scrapbook page of distinction.  
           [0013]    It is a further advantage of the invention to provide a simple method, which permits a user to supply a visual image and receive a single page composite image product that includes multiple visual images derived from the supplied visual image. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1A depicts a composite image product, which provides information including text and images to a scrapbooker to practice the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1B depicts another embodiment of a composite image product, which provides information including text and images to a scrapbooker to practice the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1C depicts yet another embodiment of a composite image product which provides information including text and images to a scrapbooker to practice the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 depicts in block diagram form a process, which can be used by a scrapbooker to practice the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but depicts another process, which can be used in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a schematic showing the use of the Internet as a channel in the practice of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 depicts a picture or visual image making apparatus often referred to as a kiosk which can be used in making images for use in the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 depicts in block diagram form the various functions that are found in the picture or visual image making apparatus shown in FIG. 5; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 depicts a scrapbook page created from the composite image product of FIG. 1A and the method of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    Turning now to FIG. 1A, a composite image product  10  is shown which includes a user supplied visual image  12  (converted from an original digital image), a series of modified visual images  14 ,  16 ,  18  derived from an original digital image but having different characteristics than the visual image  12 . Instructions  20  and an optional order information block  22  are also provided. In the case where user supplied visual image  12  and modified images  14 ,  16  and  18  require more physical space on the page, instructions  20  may be provided as an instruction sheet separate from composite image product  10 . All of the above visual images are shown provided on a single medium. The composite image product  10  can be produced by the user interacting with a service provider  96  such as depicted in the system shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, composite picture product  10  can be produced by the user interacting with a picture or visual image making apparatus  110  as shown in FIG. 5 and which will be described in detail in subsequent discussion.  
         [0024]    Continuing now with FIG. 1A, the user supplied visual image  12  can, for example, be a color visual image. The user supplied visual image  12  must be a digitized visual image to be transferred to the service provider  96  in a system  104  as depicted in FIG. 4. The modified visual images  14 ,  16  and  18  represent different characteristics of the user supplied visual image  12  which in FIG. 1A are shown as reduced size copies of the user supplied visual image  12  and preferably have a similar pixel resolution.  
         [0025]    Also provided on the composite image product  10  is optional order information block  22  which shows relevant information to identify the user who placed the order for composite image product  10 . When composite image product  10  is produced by the service provider  96  (see FIG. 4), order information block  22  is useful and can be provided. When composite image product  10  is produced by the picture or visual image making apparatus  110  (see FIG. 5), order information block  22  is less useful since the user is co-located and is not typically provided.  
         [0026]    An instruction block  20  is provided to assist the user in disassembling the visual images  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  from composite image product  10  and reassembling them to form a portion of a scrapbook page. Disassembling can be accomplished with the use of scissors to cut out visual images  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18 . The user can cut out the entire visual image or portions of the visual image. In FIG. 7, the series of cut out visual images  134 ,  136 ,  138  and  140  assembled on scrapbook page  130  form a layered zoom effect.  
         [0027]    In FIG. 1B, composite image product  30  includes the user supplied visual image  12  and modified visual image  24 . Modified visual image  24  is provided with the same size and resolution as user supplied visual image  12 , but represents different color characteristics. For example, but not by way of limitation, modified visual image  24  can be a black and white visual image. In a similar fashion, modified visual image  24  can be formed using any number of well-known digital filters to modify the user supplied visual image  12 . Such digital filters are commonly found in image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop produced by Adobe Systems Incorporated.  
         [0028]    An instruction block  26  is provided to assist the user in disassembling the visual images  12  and  24  from composite image product  30  and reassembling them to form a portion of a scrapbook page. Also optionally provided on the composite image product  30  is order information block  25  which shows relevant information to identify the user who placed the order for composite image product  30 .  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIG. 1C, a composite image product  50  includes a visual image portion  32  of the user supplied visual image  12  and seven additional copies of said visual image portion  32  which are shown as visual image portions  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46 . An instruction block  48  is provided to assist the user in disassembling the visual image portions  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  and reassembling them into a portion of a scrapbook page. Composite image product  50  optionally includes an order information block  52  which shows relevant information to identify the user who placed the order for composite image product  30 .  
         [0030]    Turning now to FIG. 2, a process is shown by which a user can easily order the composite image product  10  of FIG. 1A. Beginning with block  54 , a user connects to a service provider  96  from computer  88  using a communication channel via an Internet Service Provider (ISP)  92  and Internet  94  (see FIG. 4) and selects (block  56 ) a product of interest such as composite image product  10 . The service provider  96  will then prompt the user for the user supplied visual image  12  required for the fulfillment of composite image product  10 . In block  58 , the user uploads the user supplied visual image  12  to service provider  96 . Application server  100  (see FIG. 4) modifies user supplied visual image  12  and computes visual images  14 ,  16  and  18  (block  60 ). Before completing the order, the user can optionally view (block  62 ) the composite image product  10  in its final form before supplying the appropriate user order information (block  64 ) such as credit card information and address information. Service provider  96  completes the order and causes the composite image product  10  to be delivered (block  66 ) to the user at the address supplied in block  64 .  
         [0031]    In FIG. 3, an alternative method for providing a user with the composite image product  10  is shown wherein the user only connects to service provider  96  when he or she has settled on a final form of the composite image product  10 . To achieve this, the user has been provided with application software that is operable (block  68 ) with a personal computer  88  (see FIG. 4). The application software permits the user to select (block  70 ) a product of interest such as the composite image product  10  and prompts the user to supply (block  72 ) a visual image  12  for completion of the composite image product  10 . The user can choose to iterate many times between blocks  70  and  72  before settling on a final form of composite image product  10  or another image product all together. At this point, the application software can provide a list of service providers  96  who provide similar products for the user to select (block  74 ) from.  
         [0032]    Upon selection, the application software connects the user (block  76 ) to the selected service provider  96  via ISP  92  and Internet  94  whereon the user supplied visual image  12  is uploaded (block  78 ) to the service provider  96  along with the appropriate product code for identifying the chosen image product. Application server  100  modifies (block  80 ) the user supplied visual image  12  to compute visual images  14 ,  16 , and  18  according to the requirements of composite image product  10  and presents this final form to the user for verification (block  82 ). Upon verification, the user supplies order information (block  84 ) such as credit or debit card information and address information that are necessary for delivery of the product (block  86 ).  
         [0033]    Turning now to FIG. 4, a system  104  is shown which is useful in practicing the present invention as discussed with respect to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Personal computer  88  is shown operably connected to a server  98  of service provider  96  via a communication channel including ISP  92  and Internet  94  thus allowing a user to select product options, supply digital images required for the fulfillment of the product options, and supply order information required for the delivery of the completed product. Personal computer  88  is also shown operably connected to a printer  91  through a local channel that can be a cabled or a wireless channel. Printer  91  may be, for example, an inkjet printer, a thermal printer, or a silver halide printer.  
         [0034]    An electronic camera  90  is shown operably connected to personal computer  88  and can provide a source of user supplied visual images. Other devices connected to personal computer  88 , such as popular flatbed scanners manufactured by the Hewlett-Packard Company, can provide visual images useful in the present invention. Similarly, film images provided on a PictureCD™ manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Co. are another source of visual images, which have been converted to a digital format and are operable in personal computer  88  and useful in the present invention.  
         [0035]    Service provider  96  includes server  98  which is responsible for connecting a user to application server  100  and collecting the order information used to complete the order and deliver the selected product. Application server  100  accepts the user supplied digital image and performs the necessary image processing to complete the ordered product such as composite image product  10 . Communicating with a digital printer  102  such as a Model 2711 digital minilab manufactured by Noritsu Inc., Application Server  100  causes the digital printer  102  to form the composite image product  10  with user supplied visual image  12  and modified visual images  14 ,  16 , and  18  which is then delivered to the user.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 5, the picture or visual image making apparatus  110  can take various forms know in the art. For a specific example, it can be the Picture Maker™ kiosk produced by the Eastman Kodak Company. Picture or visual image making apparatus  110  includes a color display  112  for presenting information to a user and a flatbed scanner  114  for receiving the user supplied visual image  12 . Hardcopy egress slot  116  is provided for controlling the delivery of a medium, which includes composite image product  10  to a user.  
         [0037]    Referring to FIG. 6, a block diagram is shown that depicts the included functions of picture or visual image making apparatus  110  in more detail. Not shown in FIG. 5 is a keyboard  118  for entering information into control computer  120 . Control computer  120  typically is a specialized type of personal computer and manages the flow of information and functionality of the components of picture or visual image making apparatus  110 . Internal to picture or visual image making apparatus  110  is a digital printer  122  an example of which is the Kodak Digital Science Model 8650 manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company. The digital printer  122  responds to the commands of control computer  120  for forming the composite image product  10  on a medium such as thermal paper. Another method for receiving the user supplied visual image  12  is illustrated by the inclusion of Removable Media Reader  124 . Removable Media Reader  124  receives removable media  126  which can take many forms such as a compact flash card, a floppy disk, a compact disk, a Picture CD™ or many other forms of removable media used in transferring datafiles such as digital images.  
         [0038]    Turning now to FIG. 7, a scrapbook page  130  is shown in its completed form. It includes an optional background shape  132  and a series of cut out visual images  134 ,  136 ,  138  and  140 . Background shape  132  is typically die cut and of a different color and/or texture than scrapbook page  130 . However, a user can cut out a background shape  132  with scissors.  
         [0039]    Beginning with the composite image product  10  (see FIG. 1A) and a pair of scissors, the user cuts out portions of visual images  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  to form the series of cut out visual images  134 ,  136 ,  138  and  140  in accordance with the instructions set forth in instruction block  20 . To complete the scrapbook page  130 , background shape  132  is then fixed to scrapbook page  130  using an adhesive compound. In sequence, cut out visual images  134 ,  136 ,  138 , and  140  are also fixed to scrapbook page  130  using an adhesive compound. At this point, the user is permitted to add text, additional pictures, and/or additional forms of decorative accent to further annotate scrapbook page  130 . Completed scrapbook page  130  can then be inserted into a scrapbook (not shown).  
         [0040]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
                                         PARTS LIST                                10   image product       12   visual image       14   visual images       16   visual images       18   visual images       20   instruction block       22   order information block       24   visual images       25   information block       26   instruction block       30   image product       32   visual image portion       34   visual image portion       36   visual image portion       38   visual image portion       40   visual image portion       42   visual image portion       44   visual image portion       46   visual image portion       48   instruction block       50   image product       52   information block       54   block       56   block       58   block       60   block       62   block       64   block       66   block       68   block       70   block       72   block       74   block       76   block       78   block       80   block       82   block       84   block       86   block       88   computer       90   electronic camera       91   printer       92   Internet Service Provider       94   Internet       96   service provider       98   server       100   application server       102   digital printer       104   system       110   visual image making apparatus       112   color display       114   flatbed scanner       116   hardcopy egress slot       118   keyboard       120   control computer       122   digital printer       124   Removable Media Reader       126   removable media       130   scrapbook page       132   background shape       134   visual images       136   visual images       138   visual images       140   visual images