Patent ID: 8170367

Claim:
A method for transforming a design image into a projection design image indicating how the design image will appear when the design image is printed or projected on a 3-dimensional (3-D) curved object and the object is viewed from a known position, comprising: receiving a flat 2-dimensional (2-D) design image of known dimensions and resolution; applying, by one or more processors, a mapping transformation to the flat 2-D design image to generate a projection design image, the mapping transformation determined by (a) obtaining an image of the 3-D curved object having a flat 2-D image projected or implemented thereon, the flat 2-D image having the same known dimensions and resolution as the known dimensions and resolution of the received flat 2-D design image, and (b) mapping, by one or more processors, each respective pixel in the flat 2-D image to a corresponding pixel in the 3-D object image where the content of the respective pixel appears in the 3-D object image.