Patent ID: 7397968

Claim:
A method implemented in an image capture device, the method for assisting in tone composition of an image, the method comprising the steps of: receiving light information corresponding to light detected by a plurality of pixels of a photosensor in the image capture device; analyzing the light information to determine a light value for each of the plurality of pixels, the light value corresponding to an adjustable exposure level; determining contour information, the contour information corresponding to a plurality of groups of adjacent pixels, wherein each group of adjacent pixels is characterized by a unique predetermined range of light values, the contour information comprising tone contour regions and tone contour lines; communicating the contour information to a display of the image capture device; displaying the tone contour regions and the tone contour lines concurrently with the image prior to image capture, the tone contour lines indicating a transition between a first exposure level of a first tone contour region and a second exposure level of a second tone contour region; and adjusting prior to image capture at least one of the first exposure level and the second exposure level based on the contour information, wherein the step of adjusting further comprises: adjusting the received light information from a first group of adjacent pixels from an initial value to an adjusted value such that the adjusted light information for the first group is adjusted to an adjusted predetermined range of light values; and adjusting a zone of the first group of adjacent pixels from an initial zone to an adjusted zone, the initial zone corresponding to an indicia indicating the unique predetermined range of light values and the adjusted zone corresponding to an adjusted indicia indicating an adjusted unique predetermined range of light values.