Abstract:
A method and system of masking comprising: positioning a masking tool over a masked portion of an image; applying an effect onto the image outside the masked portion; and dynamically moving the masking tool while applying the effect wherein the masked portion changes as the masking tool is dynamically moved.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/181,778, filed on Feb. 11, 2000. 
     
    
     
       COPYRIGHT NOTICE/PERMISSION  
         [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproductions by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the patent in trademark office patent file or records, the otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. The following notice applies to software and data as described below and in the drawings hereto: Copyright 2001, Sony electronics Inc., All Rights Reserved.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to graphical editing technologies, and more particularly, to controlling applications of effects by using masking tools.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    With the increasing popularity of computing and the use of the Internet in many fields, the ability to control computers and similar devices and in a simple, convenient manner becomes extremely important. However, existing interfaces to computers and similar devices can be cumbersome and complicated.  
           [0005]    In particular, many users of graphical editing programs would benefit from an improved interface used to control the application of various special effects onto an image. For example, graphical editing programs would benefit from improved control of the application of the effects with respect to the intensity and the area of the image that is being subjected to modification by application of the effect.  
           [0006]    Some software applications implement mask tools that are similar to applying a cut out or stencil to protecting area of the underlying image. They also implement control that applies effects only to a localized area, similar to a street paint tool.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    A method and system of masking comprising: positioning a masking tool over a masked portion of an image; applying an effect onto the image outside the masked portion; and dynamically moving the masking tool while applying the effect wherein the masked portion changes as the masking tool is dynamically moved. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1A illustrates a basic system of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1B illustrates a network overview of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1C illustrates a basic processor of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2A illustrates one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2B illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2C illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of one embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements, in which, is shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.  
         [0016]    Beginning with an overview of the operation of the invention, FIG. 1A illustrates system  100  which can control the effects of image manipulation according to one embodiment of the present invention. System  100  includes server  101  and one or more clients  103 . Within the server  101 , a typical software application  104  resides. In this embodiment, the software application  104  is an image editing package to manipulate graphical images. Within the software application  104 , an effects block  110  and a masking tool block  112  reside. The effects block  110  applies a specific effect to the image and the masking tool block  112  selectively limits the area of the image which is modified by the effects block  110 .  
         [0017]    Clients  103  represent any device that may enable user&#39;s online access to information. In this embodiment, client  103  may provide a user interface to communicate information to the user. It should be noted that although FIG. 1A illustrates only two modules performing the above functionality, more or less modules may be used to perform this functionality.  
         [0018]    In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, server  101  hosts a web site and is part of or coupled to an Internet Service Provider  135  to provide services over the Internet. The client computer  103  executes a conventional Internet browsing application to exchange data with the server  101 . It is readily apparent that the present invention is not limited to Internet access and Internet Web based sites; directly coupled and private networks are also contemplated.  
         [0019]    One embodiment of computer system  140  suitable for use as a server  101  is illustrated in FIG. 1C. In some embodiments, in which client  103  is a computer, computer system  140  may be suitable for use as a client  103 . Computer system  140 , includes processor  150 , memory  155  and input/output capability  160  coupled to system bus  165 . Memory  155  is configured to store instructions which, when executed by processor  150 , perform the steps described herein. Input/output  160  provides for the delivery and display at information to others. Input/output  160  also encompasses various types of computer readable media, including any type of storage device that is accessible by the processor  150 . One of the skilled the art will immediately recognize that the term computer readable media further encompasses a carrier ways that enclosed a data signal. It will also be appreciated that the server  101  is controlled by operating system software executing and memory  155 . Input/output and related media  160  store the computer executable instructions for the operating system and methods of the present invention.  
         [0020]    The description of FIGS. 1B and 1C are intended to provide an overview of computer hardware and other operating components suitable for implementing the invention, but is not intended to limit the application environments. It would be appreciated that computer system  140  is one example of many possible computer systems to have different architectures. A typical computer system will usually include at least a processor, memory, any bus coupling the memory to the processor. One of skill in the art will immediately appreciate that the invention can be practiced with other computer system configurations including microprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The invention can also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices are linked through communications network.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2A illustrates one embodiment of the masking tool as described in block  112  (FIG. 1A). Display  200  represents a sample screen while utilizing the software application  104  (FIG. 1A). A masking tool  210  is shown on the display  200 . The masking tool  210  is translucent and is defined by the clear outline. The masking tool  210  allows a selective application effects from the effects block  110  (FIG. 1A) by moving the masking tool  210  with respect to a static image as shown on the display  200 . The portion of the static image as shown on the display  200  which is within the masking tool  210  is not modified by the application of the effects.  
         [0022]    Furthermore, the masking tool  210  is capable of being dynamically moved with respect to the static image during the application of the effects. This allows the user to selectively apply the effect by interactively moving the mask tool simultaneously while applying the effect.  
         [0023]    Another embodiment includes a masking tool that is able to interract directly with a localized image editing operation. For example, the masking tool may become entirely transparent in the immediate area where a user is currently applying an image effect. This allows the user to see the entire area that is mask without a mask or line obstructing the immediate work area.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2B illustrates a masking tool  215  within the display  200 . The masking tool  215  shows the portion within the masking tool  215  to have a cross-hatched shading. Any type of shading can be utilized to illustrate the portion within the masking tool.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2C illustrates a masking tool of another embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the shape of the masking tool can be easily created and modified. For example, within the display  200  there are a first masking tool  220 , a second masking tool  230  and a third masking tool  240 . Each of the first, second and third masking tools ( 220 ,  230 , and  240 ) have differing sizes and may function independently or may be combined to form a single masking tool. Naturally, this specific example utilizes three portions to form independent or combined masking tools and any number of portions may be utilized to accomplish the same.  
         [0026]    Like masking tools that take different sizes, masking tools may also take any multitude of shapes. The masking tool may simulates the use a fixed edge such as a French Curve. The shape of the mask tool is infinitely changeable. Furthermore, the user may mask as much area of the image as desired and perform a global image effect on the entire image while protecting portions of the image from the image effects with the masking tools.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram. At block  300 , the application software  104  (FIG. 1A) is initiated. The user may build, create, and/or modify the shape and size of the masking tool in Block  310 . The user may position the masking tool relative to the static image (Block  320 ). The user may apply the image effect selectively to the image that is not masked by the masking tool (Block  330 ). The user may dynamically reposition the masking tool while simultaneously applying the image effect (Block  340 ).  
         [0028]    Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any of the adaptations or variations of the present invention.  
         [0029]    The terminology used in this application with respect to network architecture is meant to include all client/server environments. Therefore it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.