Abstract:
A method for obtaining custom cut images products by an ordinary unskilled user/consumer wherein the consumer at a first location identifies a subject within a digital image for producing a cut image product. A software program automatically differentiates the selected subject from the background. The consumer then places an order over a communication network to a production facility at a second location that is remote from the first location for producing a cut image product using the selected subject on a cut sheet of media.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to remote a system and method for producing custom cut image products by the average consumer. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Applying pressure sensitive adhesive and release sheets to the back sides of photographs to generate “sticker prints” is well known. Typically, these sticker prints are die cut with a fixed format die cutter. With the advent of “Internet Photofinishing”, consumers can view, edit, zoom, crop, correct red-eye, make color/density adjustments and many other image adjustments, on-line before the digital images are printed. In addition, consumers can select a finished print size from a list of fixed print sizes. 
   Digital cutters such as the CM-300 30″ Pro Series Vinyl Cutter sold by Roland DGA Corporation, used to make custom cut signage from computer files, can be programmed to any shape or pattern. This system typically uses complex image manipulation software such PhotoShop® by Adobe Systems to produce custom image products. This equipment is also operated by skilled individuals, is expensive and requires routine maintenance such as positioning calibration and knife replacement. Additionally these digital cutters require adjustments to compensate for the various media types that are being cut and are not designed to automatically handle numerous media types. There is currently no Internet Photofinishing service that offers the unskilled average consumer prints that are custom cut to the average consumers&#39; requirements. 
   It is also known to create “Scrap Books” by cutting photographs into various shapes with scissors and razor knives, applying glue and pasting them into books has become a popular way to preserve and present personal photographic images. This procedure is time consuming, expensive, requires an array of tools and materials, is limited by the skill of the user/consumer and is potentially hazardous because of the use of unfamiliar sharp implements on various print materials of different compositions. It is desirable to provide a choice of cut shapes from fixed, freeform and image derived without requiring a operator or an expensive investment in time, tools and materials. It is toward this end that the present invention is directed. 
   It is therefore desirable to provide system and method that allows an unskilled user the option to select and indicate how a final print will be cut without the extensive skill required to use complex image manipulation software and at a relative low cost. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for obtaining custom cut image products by an unskilled user, comprising the steps of: 
   the user identifying a subject within a digital image for producing a cut image product at a first location; 
   automatically differentiating the selected subject from the background; 
   placing an order over a communication network to a production facility at a second location that is remote from the first location for producing a cut image product using the selected subject 
   printing an image of the selected subject on a sheet of media; and 
   producing the cut image product from the sheet of media incorporating the selected subject. 
   These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of a system for producing custom cut image products in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2   a  is a plan view of an image from which a subject is to be extracted; 
       FIG. 2   b  a view similar to  FIG. 2   a  illustrating the subject identified by an outline; 
       FIG. 3   c  illustrates the identified subject as to how it would be viewed on a display device; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a view similar to  FIG. 2   a;    
       FIG. 3   b  is a view similar to  FIG. 3   a  illustrating a fixed pattern for identifying a subject; 
       FIG. 3   c  shows the fixed pattern of  FIG. 3   b  separated from the background of the image; 
       FIG. 3   d  shows a view of what the cut image product produced from the image of  3   c  would look like; 
       FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  illustrates several examples of fixed patterns; 
       FIG. 5  is an operational flowchart of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6   a  is a plan view of an image that is to be made into a cut image product; 
       FIG. 6   b  is an exploded view of the image product of  FIG. 6   a  made into a puzzle; 
       FIG. 7   a  is a plan view of a display of subject and supporting stand that is to be made in a cut image product according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 7   b  is a view similar to  FIG. 7   a  showing the supporting stand as a part of the cut image product; and 
       FIG. 7   c  is plan view of a cut image product made from the subject of  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b.    
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a diagram of a system  10  made in accordance with the present invention for producing custom cut image products. The system  10  includes custom cut image products, production facility  12 , which can be accessed over a communication network  14  through a computer/server  16  located at facility  12 . In the particular embodiment illustrated, the communication network  14  comprises the Internet, which is accessed through an Internet Service Provider (ISP)  18 . The facility includes a digital printer  20  for printing of images on media  22 . The custom cut image products production facility  12  also includes a cutting device  24  that is operably connected to server  16  for cutting of the media  22  along designated paths. 
   As illustrated, system  10  also includes a remote ordering site  30  for ordering of goods and/or services from facility  12 . In the particular embodiment illustrated, the remote ordering site  30  comprises a user having a computer  32  including a display device  44  which is capable of communicating over the Internet  14  through ISP  34 . A digital camera  36  and image scanner  38  are connected to computer  32  for obtaining digital images. Image scanner  38  can include capabilities to scan photographs, slides, film negatives and other forms of printed material. Remote ordering site  30  may be a private home, public facility or retail outlet and computer  32  may be a private personal computer or public kiosk such as a Kodak Image Magic Enhancement Station manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company. Images may be provided to computer  32  from digital camera  36  or image scanner  38  or by any other source. In addition, it is common practice for users to access images stored at remote locations such as with the “You&#39;ve Got Pictures™” service provided by America Online and the Eastman Kodak Company. 
   Digital image files, which represent images and provided are via remote ordering site  30  can be transferred to server  16  over the Internet  17  via ISPs  18 ,  34 . Algorithms at computer  32  or server  16  may be used to extract a subject  42  from the background of an image.  FIG. 2   a  illustrates an image  41  from which the subject  42  to be extracted. The algorithm may be applied to the full resolution image  41  or a surrogate, lower resolution image. The result of the subject extraction algorithm is displayed on the display device  44  (See  FIG. 1 ) of computer  32  as shown by  FIG. 2   b . In one method of identifying the subject  42 , an outline  43  of the subject  42  is displayed as illustrated by  FIG. 2   c . The user can indicate the subject  42  by any of the following methods including: manually tracing around the edge of the subject, point to point connection of dots and lines around the subject, key point indication and automated subject extraction. The custom cut pattern indicia (outline)  43  would be visible around the subject  42 . When the user verifies the selection of the custom cut pattern indicia  43 , the subject  42  is removed from background  45 . The user verifies that the subject  42  has been extracted correctly or can reapply the extraction algorithm, select a different extraction method, modify the parameters of the extraction algorithm or manually edit the subject extraction. 
   Once the extracted subject  42  is obtained, it can be replicated and/or resized depending on the image product(s) desired by the consumer. The subject  42  can be made to fit the size of the media on which it is to be printed, scaled to a selected size or printed as many times as desired on a single or plural number of sheets. The extracted subject  42  is printed using a digital printer  20  producing digital print  22 .) Digital printing technology can include but is not limited to; a digital photographic printer such as the Kodak Digital Science LF CRT color printer, a thermal dye-sublimation printer such as the KODAK PROFESSIONAL 8670 PS Thermal printer and inkjet printer such as the KODAK Personal Picture Maker 120 by Lexmark or an integrated printer/cutter such as the ColorCAMM PRO Model PC-60 sold by the Roland DGA Corporation. In addition to the extracted subject  42 , the user could have the option to select other pre-extracted subjects or clip art, not shown, to add to the digital print  22 . Digital print  22  is sent to digital cutter  24  where it is cut in accordance with the instructions or desires of the customer. An example of a suitable printer is the “CX-12”, a 12″ wide Desktop vinyl Cutter sold by Roland DGA Corp. Since the location of the printed image is known from the information provided to digital printer, the cutter is able to cut the media at predetermined locations so as to form cuts in a predetermined pattern, for example, along the outline of the printed subject. Optionally, a machine readable indicia can be printed on the media  22  by the printer  20  that can be read by cutter  24 . The cutter can then use this indicia as an position means for determining placement of the cuts. The cuts provided may be completely around the printed subject or just partially along the outline so as to allow the image to be easily removed from the media. 
   It is to be understood that printing of the images may be done on a variety of media types, for example, but not limited to: plain paper; an adhesive backed media comprising a printing layer having a printing side and back side and base layer; a media having a printing base layer and base layer that may comprise of a flexible magnetic layer, a static cling layer or a transparent base; an image receiving heat shrink film layer and a heat shrink base layer. If an adhesive backed media is used the resulting cut digital print  22 , is cut in such a way that the image media is cut and the adhesive release layer is not so as to facilitate removal of the cut adhesive backed print. Cut digital print  22  is placed in a package  52  for delivery the customer at site  30  or any designated location. If the originating location is a retail outlet, payment can be made to the retailer when the custom cut image product  22  is picked up by the customer. If the originating location  30  is a private home or a public location like a public library, payment can be made at the time the custom cut product is ordered, via credit card or C.O.D. whichever is appropriate. 
   While in the illustrated embodiment, separate printing and cutting devices are disclosed, the functions of the digital printer  22  and digital cutter  24  can be integrated with a single unit as with the “ColorCAMM PRO Model PC-60”, sold by Roland DGA Corp. 
     FIG. 3   a  is an illustration of image  60  from a digital image file having a subject from which a fixed pattern custom cut image product is to be made. The image  60  comprises an image subject  62  and background  64  which would be displayed on the computer display device  44 . The user would select fixed cut pattern indicia  66  and place it around image subject  62 . Fixed cut pattern indicia  66  can be any shape or size and can be scaled to fit image subjects of any size.  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c  illustrate but a few examples of various shapes the cut pattern indicia  66  may take. When positioned correctly the user verifies the selection and the fixed cut pattern indicia  66  including the image subject is removed from background  64 . The resulting custom cut print via fixed cut pattern indicia  66  is produced as illustrated by  FIG. 3   d.    
     FIG. 5  is an operational flowchart  80  of a method according to the present invention. The method starts with select image step  82  where the user chooses an image file to obtain a subject that is to be used to make a custom cut image product. Selection step  82  requires the user to visually identify the subject on the computer display device  44 . The user indicates, via a standard input device such as a mouse or a touch screen, the subject&#39;s eyes, a rough outline or the edge of the subject. PhotoShop® 6.0 by Adobe Systems Incorporated provides a software tool such as a “Smart Lasso” to assist the user in defining the subject  62  from the background  64 . In the case where an image is generated with a chroma key system, such as the “Holoset” system by Play Incorporated, the subject  62  can be automatically removed from the background without initial intervention from the user. A similar technique can be used with “subject only” physical items such as sporting or entertainment tickets, greeting cards or other printed matter and memorabilia where the entire printed object is the subject. The item can be scanned with a print/document scanner, such as KODAK DIGITAL SCIENCE PhotoDoc Color Scanner, sold by the Eastman Kodak Company, to automatically obtain a subject without a background. 
   At step  86 , the file of the subject is submitted to the subject identification algorithm to augment the manually input information provided by the user. The subject&#39;s edges are estimated at step  88 . At step  90 , the display image with a visible outline is presented to the user on the computer display device  44 . 
   At decision step  92 , the user verifies that the outline is acceptable. If required, the user modifies the outline at step  94  and then goes back to step  86  for resubmission. When the outline is acceptable, the user then does any desired manipulation of the subject and orders goods and/or services starting at step  96 . At step  96 , the customer confirms purchase and/or payment method. At step  98 , the server  16  performs any necessary manipulation and/or calculation such as vector analysis of the selected subject. At step  100 , the data from step  98  is stored on server  16 . At step  102 , image enhancements or further image manipulation occurs. Once this is completed by server  16 , the image is stored at step  104 . As appropriate, the image at step  106  is sent to the printer  20  for printing. At step  108 , the media  22  received from printer  20  is placed in cutter  24 . The media  22  at step  110  is aligned in the cutter  24 . This alignment can be used so as to locate the image on the media  22  for proper placement of the cuts by cutter  24 . Alternatively, as previously discussed, an indicia can be read by cutter  24  that can also be used for location of the subject for cutting at the desired locations. At step  112 , the appropriate data from server  16  is obtained by cutter  24  and at step  114  is used to conduct the cutting operation at the predetermined locations. Finally, the cut media XX at step  116  is forwarded to the user designated location. 
   Because many different types of custom cut products can be created from different media and digital printing techniques, the workflow at the production facility  12  is important for minimizing the cost to facility  12 . In addition, the user requires that the correct product type, which has been properly cut, be delivered in a timely manner at a reasonable cost. Altering the digital cutter settings for cut depth, cut pressure and cut speed to accommodate different media types for each individual order received, would interfere with the productivity and workflow and would induce errors into the system resulting in waste and potential damage to the equipment. Therefore in order to maximize the productivity of the production facility, batching of similar type orders are done so that similar media type print orders are processed together with the proper digital cutter settings. Another method for minimizing cost and/or improving efficiency of the system involves having a number of digital cutters each set to process an individual media type and cutting parameter. Alphanumeric eye readable and/or machine identification codes can be printed on a non-image area of the digital print. This code could be read by the cutter to assure that the digital print is cut with a cutter set to the proper setting and also can be used to assure that the proper custom cut image product is delivered to the proper location. Various digital media types that may be utilized at facility  12 , include but are not limited to the following: Inkjet Shrink Film sold by Royal Brites, a Mafcote Company to make personalized ornaments, pins and toys; Inkjet Window Decals sold by Royal Brites; A Mafcote Company a transparency material with a tacky, semi-adhesive layer and release layer to attach the print to windows; and Inkjet Magnetic Paper sold by Royal Brites, A Mafcote Company for making prints that attach to ferrous metal surfaces; Inkjet Photo Stickers sold by Eastman Kodak Company an inkjet print material with an adhesive layer and release layer; and Thermal dye sublimation sticker prints such as 4700 Photo Printer Media Kit by Eastman Kodak Company. 
   In  FIG. 6   a , there is an illustration of a media  101  that is to be made into the form of a puzzle  111 , as shown by  FIG. 6   a  with an image subject  103  and background elements  105 . In addition to the primary image subject  103 , additional scene elements  107  can be defined in the same way as the primary image subject  103 . For a content derived puzzle  111 , the primary image subject  103  and additional scene elements  107  can be cut to form custom cut image subject puzzle piece  113  and custom cut scene element puzzle pieces  115 . For the remaining background elements  105  that have no discrete large objects, this area can be randomly cut to form random cut puzzles pieces. The media for constructing custom cut content derived puzzles may be integral magnetic media or magnetically backed print media or any suitable heavy stock digital print media. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7   a – 7   c , there is illustrated a content derived freestanding custom cut image product  200  which in the embodiment illustrated is a custom cut paper doll stand. Image product  200  is created in the form of the extracted subject  202  that has been altered by the addition of digitally generated paper doll stand  206 . Paper doll stand  206  may also be integrally formed with the subject  202 . The product  200  may be placed into the proper position manually by the user using a pointing device or automatically positioned by an algorithm. In order to form the support sections  204  of the paper doll stand  206 , pre-scored or digitally printed fold lines  208 , are added. A score line  210  can be created with a digital cutter with a perforation pattern instead of a contiguous cut for removing of the designated subject from media  22 . In addition dulled knives can be used in the digital cutter to create a score line to facilitate folding for custom cut image products such as origami models, folded greeting cards or boxes and other formed containers and shapes. 
   Other custom cut image products include stencils, silhouettes, magnetic or adhesive frames, speech/thought bubbles, greeting cards and origami. In order to entice or inform the user of the availability of the array custom cut images product options that are available, these options can be presented on the user&#39;s computer monitor after the subject has been extracted. 
   It is to be understood various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, the present invention being defined by the claims set forth herein. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               PARTS LIST 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               10 
               System 
             
             
               12 
               Production facility 
             
             
               14 
               Communication network 
             
             
               16 
               Computer/Server 
             
             
               17 
               Internet 
             
             
               18 
               Internet Service Provider (ISP) 
             
             
               20 
               Digital printer 
             
             
               22 
               Media/digital print 
             
             
               24 
               Digital Cutter 
             
             
               30 
               Remote ordering site 
             
             
               32 
               Computer 
             
             
               34 
               Internet Service Provider (ISP) 
             
             
               36 
               Digital camera 
             
             
               38 
               Image scanner 
             
             
               41 
               Image 
             
             
               42 
               Subject 
             
             
               43 
               Outline/Custom cut pattern indicia 
             
             
               44 
               Display device 
             
             
               45 
               Background 
             
             
               60 
               Image 
             
             
               62 
               Image subject 
             
             
               64 
               Background 
             
             
               66 
               Fixed cut pattern indicia 
             
             
               80 
               Flowchart 
             
             
               82 
               Step 
             
             
               86 
               Step 
             
             
               88 
               Step 
             
             
               90 
               Step 
             
             
               92 
               Step 
             
             
               94 
               Step 
             
             
               96 
               Step 
             
             
               98 
               Step 
             
             
               100 
               Step 
             
             
               101 
               Media 
             
             
               102 
               Step 
             
             
               103 
               Image subject 
             
             
               104 
               Step 
             
             
               105 
               Background elements 
             
             
               106 
               Step 
             
             
               107 
               Scene elements 
             
             
               108 
               Step 
             
             
               110 
               Step 
             
             
               111 
               Puzzle 
             
             
               112 
               Step 
             
             
               113 
               Custom cut image subject puzzle pieces 
             
             
               114 
               Step 
             
             
               115 
               Custom cut scene element puzzle pieces 
             
             
               116 
               Step 
             
             
               200 
               Image product 
             
             
               202 
               Extracted subject 
             
             
               204 
               Support sections 
             
             
               206 
               Paper doll stand 
             
             
               208 
               Pre-scored/Digitally printed fold lines 
             
             
               210 
               Score line