Patent ID: 7133050

Claim:
An automated cropping method for an image having a defined ideal image area, the ideal image area having been previously selected by an image preparer based on at least the image preparer's visual review of the image, the method comprising (a) determining at least the size of an image container, (b) if a cropped version of the image can be created such that the cropped version meets the conditions of (i) filling the image container, (ii) having at least a predetermined minimum image resolution and (iii) including only content from the ideal image area, creating a corresponding cropped version containing image content entirely from within the ideal image area, (c) if a cropped version of the image cannot be created at step (b) and if a cropped version can be created such that the cropped version meets the conditions of (i) filling the image container and (ii) having at least a predetermined minimum image resolution, creating a corresponding cropped version containing at least some image content from outside the ideal image area, and (d) if a cropped version of the image cannot be created at step (b) or step (c), identifying the image as being incompatible with the image container.