Patent ID: 6925593

Claim:
A method, comprising the steps of: providing a set of predetermined function definitions which are different, at least one of said predetermined function definitions defining a function for manipulating image data; and preparing a project definition that is operable when executed to process said image data, said project definition including: a plurality of function portions which each correspond to one of said function definitions in said set, and which each define at least one input port of said function portion and at least one output port of said function portion that are functionally related according to the corresponding function definition; a further portion which includes a source portion identifying a data source and defining an output port of said source portion through which said image data from the data source can be produced, and which includes a destination portion identifying a data destination and defining an input port of said destination portion through which said image data can be supplied to the data destination; and binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective one of said input ports with one of said output ports, at least one of said binding portions being a conditional binding which is responsive to a specified condition for associating a respective one of said input ports with one of a plurality of different said output ports that form a set; wherein preparing said project definition comprises: displaying a project window that includes a graphical representation of said project definition; and allowing a user to modify said project definition by interacting with said graphical representation using a pointing tool; and wherein execution of said project definition operates at least in part to manipulate a graphical aspect of said image data.