PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8203571-B2
Application Number: US-201113227282-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: 3D histogram for color images

Abstract:
The disclosed implementations relate generally to 3D histograms and other user interface elements for color correcting digital images. A color correction method includes: generating a user interface for display on a display device, the user interface including a display area; generating a three-dimensional cube representing a color space for display in the display area; and generating a plurality of spheres for display within the cube, where the spheres are sized to represent pixel densities in a digital image.

Claims:
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 obtaining a color distribution of a digital image; 
 providing multiple axes representing a three dimensional (3D) color space, the 3D color space comprising a surface defined by at least two axes of the multiple axes, the surface indicating a gradient in the 3D color space; and 
 providing for display in the 3D color space a 3D histogram representing the color distribution of the digital image, including:
 providing for display multiple pixels in the 3D color space, each pixel corresponding to a color of the digital image; and 
 providing a projection of at least one pixel of the multiple pixels for display on the surface, the projection representing an axis intersection between the at least two axes and the color corresponding to the at least one pixel, 
 
 wherein the method is performed by one or more processors. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the color space is one of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) or HLS (Hue, Lightness and Saturation). 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gradient indicated by the surface is a color gradient. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the 3D color space comprises another surface indicating a lightness gradient. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein providing for display in the 3D color space the 3D histogram comprises providing a projection of the at least one pixel of the multiple pixels for display on the other surface. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the projection is painted using the color corresponding to the at least one pixel. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , comprising identifying the color corresponding to the at least one pixel based on a user selection of a region of the digital image. 
     
     
       8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining a color distribution of a digital image; 
 providing multiple axes representing a three dimensional (3D) color space, the 3D color space comprising a surface defined by at least two axes of the multiple axes, the surface indicating a gradient in the 3D color space; and 
 providing for display in the 3D color space a 3D histogram representing the color distribution of the digital image, including:
 providing for display multiple pixels in the 3D color space, each pixel corresponding to a color of the digital image; and 
 providing a projection of at least one pixel of the multiple pixels for display on the surface, the projection representing an axis intersection between the at least two axes and the color corresponding to the at least one pixel. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The medium of  claim 8 , wherein the color space is one of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) or HLS (Hue, Lightness and Saturation). 
     
     
       10. The medium of  claim 8 , wherein the gradient indicated by the surface is a color gradient. 
     
     
       11. The medium of  claim 8 , wherein the 3D color space comprises another surface indicating a lightness gradient. 
     
     
       12. The medium of  claim 11 , wherein providing for display in the 3D color space the 3D histogram comprises providing a projection of the at least one pixel of the multiple pixels for display on the other surface. 
     
     
       13. The medium of  claim 8 , wherein the projection is painted using the color corresponding to the at least one pixel. 
     
     
       14. The medium of  claim 8 , the operations comprising identifying the color corresponding to the at least one pixel based on a user selection of a region of the digital image. 
     
     
       15. A system, comprising:
 a processor configured to perform operations including:
 obtaining a color distribution of a digital image; 
 providing multiple axes representing a three dimensional (3D) color space, the 3D color space comprising a surface defined by at least two axes of the multiple axes, the surface indicating a gradient in the 3D color space; and 
 providing for display in the 3D color space a 3D histogram representing the color distribution of the digital image, including:
 providing for display multiple pixels in the 3D color space, each pixel corresponding to a color of the digital image; and 
 providing a projection of at least one pixel of the multiple pixels for display on the surface, the projection representing an axis intersection between the at least two axes and the color corresponding to the at least one pixel. 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the color space is one of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) or HLS (Hue, Lightness and Saturation). 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the gradient indicated by the surface is a color gradient. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the 3D color space comprises another surface indicating a lightness gradient. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein providing for display in the 3D color space the 3D histogram comprises providing a projection of the at least one pixel of the multiple pixels for display on the other surface. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the projection is painted using the color corresponding to the at least one pixel. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 15 , the operations comprising identifying the color corresponding to the at least one pixel based on a user selection of a region of the digital image.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/408,741, filed Apr. 21, 2006, entitled “3D Histogram and other User Interface Elements for Color Correcting Images”, which is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/409,553, filed Apr. 21, 2006, Granted U.S. Pat. No. 7,693,341, entitled “Improved Workflows For Color Correcting Images,”, and U.S. patent application Ser, No. 11/408,783, filed Apr. 21, 2006, entitled “3D LUT Techniques For Color Correcting Images. The subject matter of each of these patent applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosed implementations are generally related to digital image processing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Color correction tools are used in the film industry and other disciplines to alter the perceived color of an image. Conventional color correction tools typically allow users to perform primary and secondary color corrections. Primary color correction involves correcting the color of an entire image, such as adjusting the blacks, whites or gray tones of the image. Secondary color correction involves correcting a particular color range in an image. For example, a user may want to change the color of an object in an image from red to blue. The user would identify the range of red in the object and then push the hue to blue. This process could also be applied to other objects in the image. 
     Color corrections are usually performed in a color space, such as the ubiquitous RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color space. These color spaces can be represented by a three-dimensional (3D) coordinate system, where the three axes of the coordinate system represents components associated with the color space. For example, in the RGB color space the three axes represent contributions of Red, Green and Blue. A color can be located in the RGB color space based on Red, Green and Blue contributions to the color. Since color corrections are performed in 3D color space, many colorists could benefit from a 3D color visualization tool for making precise primary and secondary color adjustments to digital images. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosed implementations relate generally to 3D histograms and other user interface elements for color correcting digital images. 
     In some implementations, a color correction method includes: generating a user interface for display on a display device, the user interface including a display area; generating a three-dimensional cube representing a color space for display in the display area; and generating a plurality of spheres for display within the cube, where the spheres are sized to represent pixel densities in a digital image. 
     In some implementations, a color correction method includes: generating a user interface for display on a display device, the user interface including a display area; and generating a color correction interface for display in the display area, the interface including a control for adjusting a selected hue range in a digital image, where the control allows for hue overstep. 
     Other implementations are disclosed that are directed to methods, systems, apparatuses, devices and user interfaces. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary selection process for selecting a color range in a digital image. 
         FIG. 2   a  is a screenshot of an exemplary 2D color correction interface for correcting a hue range. 
         FIG. 2   b  illustrates the concept of hue overstep. 
         FIG. 2   c  illustrates a user interaction with a hue overstep control. 
         FIG. 3  is a screenshot of an exemplary 2D color correction interface for correcting a luminance range. 
         FIG. 4  is a screenshot of an exemplary 3D histogram showing a representation of pixel values of a digital image in RGB color space. 
         FIG. 5  is a screenshot of an exemplary 3D histogram showing the distribution of pixel densities in RGB color space with proxy elements. 
         FIG. 6  is a screenshot of an exemplary 3D histogram showing the distribution of pixel values of a digital image in HLS (Hue, Lightness, Saturation) color space. 
         FIG. 7  is a screenshot of an exemplary 3D histogram, which uses spheres as proxy elements to provide a visual representation of the average pixel density in the proximity of the sphere. 
         FIG. 8   a  is a screenshot of an exemplary 3D histogram for HLS color space, showing a different viewer perspective. 
         FIG. 8   b  is a screenshot of an exemplary 3D histogram for HLS color space, showing a different viewer perspective (clockwise rotation about the Saturation axis). 
         FIG. 8   c  is a screenshot of an exemplary 3D histogram for HLS color space, showing a different viewer perspective (looking down along the Saturation axis). 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram of an exemplary color correction system incorporating 3D LUTs. 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram of an exemplary user system architecture. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Selection Process 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary selection process for selecting a color range in a digital image  102 . In a color correction tool, an imager viewer  100  displays the digital image  102 . The user can select a region  104  in the image  102  using a pointing device  106  (e.g., cursor). The range  104  can include colors that can be characterized as being in a range of hue, luminance and/or saturation values. In the example shown, the region  104  includes a shadow cast by a volume knob of a bass guitar. The shadow includes blue, gray and white tones. A visual indicator  110  (e.g., a marker or tag) can be provided to remind the user of the location of the selected region  104 . Multiple regions in a digital image, or regions from two or more digital images, can be selected by the user in a similar manner. Each selected region can include a different visual indicator. In some implementations, the visual indicator can be painted with a color so as to improve visibility in the digital image. For example, the visual indicator  110  was painted black to make it stand out in the lighter colored region  104 . 
     Color Correction Interfaces 
       FIG. 2A  is a screenshot of an exemplary 2D color correction interface  200  for correcting a hue range in the digital image  102 . In some implementations, the color correction interface  200  includes a user interface element  202  (e.g., button) for selecting a color correction mode. In the example shown, there are two modes available for selection: Luminance and Hue. Other modes are possible. 
     When the Hue mode is selected, the color correction interface  200  displays several curves and controls for adjusting hue characteristics. In some implementations, curves are displayed for saturation  208 , level high  210  (e.g., white level), level low  212  (e.g., black level) and hue range  216 . In the example shown, the curves represent color corrections that will be applied to the digital image  102  based on the hue range contained in the selected region  104 . For example, the area  218  under the curve  216  represents the range of hue in the region  104 . Rather than displaying numbers, the curves are displayed over a hue gradient that represents the colors contained in the digital image  102 . The hue gradient provides an intuitive interface which is more aligned with how a colorist thinks about color correction. Note that the hue range curve  216  continues on the left side of the hue gradient surface so that a portion of the area  218  under the curve  216  is on the left side of the hue gradient. 
     Using controls  204  and  206 , the user can adjust the hue range and sigma of the digital image  102  based on the hue range contained in region  104 . As used herein, “sigma” is the spread of the hue range curve  216  when the central position of the hue range curve  216  corresponds to a specific hue value. Various user interface elements can be used as controls (e.g., buttons, sliders, knobs, editable curves, etc.). In the example shown, a vertical bar  203  is displayed to provide a plot of a specific pixel in the digital image  102  through a syringe. In the example shown, the vertical bar  203  is in the middle of the hue range of region  104 . The user can use the controls in the interface  200  to color correct the digital image  102 . Other 2D interfaces are described in U.S. Granted U.S. Pat. No. 7,693,341, entitled “Improved Workflows for Color Correcting Images.” 
     Hue Overstep 
       FIG. 2   b  illustrates the concept of hue overstep. A hue wheel  220  is a circle composed of colors that gradually transition between red, yellow green, cyan, blue, magenta and red again as one traverses the circle. Also, in the hue wheel  220  the center is gray and as you go toward the outside ring, the color becomes more saturated, i.e., more rich. A hue range curve  224  represents the hue range in region  104  ( FIG. 1 ). The curve  224  corresponds to the curve  216  shown in  FIG. 2   a . The curve  222  is the same as curve  224  but has been adjusted to include a hue overstep (i.e., the difference in the peaks of the curves  222 ,  224 ). The area under the curve  224  represents the hue range of region  102 . In some situations, when a color correction is applied to an image the desired result may not be achieved due to psychovisual factors associated with the human vision system. For example, skin tones may appear to have a blue tint even if blue has been removed from the image. To counteract such factors, the hue gradient shown in  FIG. 2   a  can include a hue overstep region  214 . In some implementations, the hue overstep region  214  can be used to include colors in the selection range that are opposite (in terms of hue) from the colors contained in the region  104 . For example, the user can adjust the height of the range curve  216  (curve  224  in  FIG. 2   b ) to include an opposite color at a low saturation value in the hue overstep region  214  until the desired color selection is achieved. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2   c , an example of a user interaction with a hue overstep control  232  in a color correction interface  226  will now be described. In the example shown, a user selected a blue region  236  in an image  234  that also contains an object  238  with skin tones (e.g., a women golfer against a blue background). When color correction is applied to correct blue portions of the object  238 , the skin tone of the object  238  may still appear to contain some blue tint (due to surrounding psychological effect) that the user may wish to affect also. But to correct or affect that part, since it&#39;s not a blue range but truly a yellow range (the opposite of blue), and since that bluish tint will appear only in a region of low saturated values of the opposite color, the hue overstep adjustment can be applied to include in the selected range  236  some part of the low saturated opposite color. For the example shown, the blue color range is located at the top of a hue wheel  228  in the color correction interface  226 . As the hue wheel  228  is traversed clockwise the blue range transitions into a green range and then into a yellow range. As the hue wheel  228  is traversed counterclockwise, the blue range transitions into a red range and then into a yellow range. A user can adjust the selected range  236  where a color correction could be applied in the image  234 . The center of the hue wheel  228  represents colors with no saturation or gray tones. The more you move toward the external rings of the hue wheel  228 , the more the colors represented by the hue wheel  228  are saturated. 
     The user can adjust the amount of hue overstep by manipulating a hue overstep control  232  until the desired color correction is achieved. By manipulating the hue overstep control  232  the color that is opposite blue on the hue wheel  228  (i.e., yellow) is added to the selection range  236  of the current correction of the image in varying saturation amounts, as shown in  FIG. 2   c . As the user moves the control  232  to the right more saturated yellow tones are added to the selection range  236 . As the user moves the control  232  to the left, less saturated yellow tones are added to the selection range  236 . In some implementations, a limited range of saturation values is allowed (e.g., a low saturation range) to achieve the desired result. When the control  232  is completely at the left, there will be no opposite color included in the selection range  236 . 
     Luminance Corrections 
       FIG. 3  is a screenshot of an exemplary 2D color correction interface  300  for correcting a luminance range. The color correction interface  300  is similar to the color correction interface  200 , except the luminance mode has been selected by clicking the user interface element  302 . The interface  300  displays curves for luminance saturation  308 , level  310  and range  314  for the digital image  102 . An area  316  under the range curve  314  represents the luminance range in region  104 . The user can adjust luminance range and sigma values with controls  306  and  304 , respectively. A vertical bar  312  is a plot of a specific pixel obtained in the digital image  102  through a syringe. Similar to the user interface  200 , the curves  308 ,  310  and  314 , are displayed over a luminance gradient to provide a more intuitive interface. 
     3D Histogram For Color Correction 
       FIG. 4  is a screenshot of an exemplary 3D color histogram showing a representation of pixel values of a color corrected digital image in 3D color space. As the user corrects a digital image, the 3D color histogram is updated in real time. In some implementations, the real-time responsiveness can be provided by a 3D LUT, as described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/408,783, entitled “3D LUT Techniques for Color Correcting Images.” 
     In the example shown, the 3D histogram includes a cube  300  representing a bounded color space (e.g., RGB color space) with three coordinate axes. A first axis  302  represents Red, a second axis  306  represents Blue and a third axis represents Green. A 3D color distribution  308  is displayed within the cube  300 . In this example, the distribution  308  is a one to one representation of pixel values. That is, each pixel is represented by a single point inside the cube  300 . The position of the point is determined by contributions from Red, Green and Blue components. For example, a pixel that contains only blue would be represented by a point located along the Blue axis  306  in the cube  300 . Similarly, a pixel having a color value with equal amounts of red, green and blue would be represented by a point located in the center of the cube  300 . 
     3D Histogram With Proxy Elements 
       FIG. 5  is a screenshot of an exemplary 3D color histogram showing the distribution of pixel densities in an RGB color space using proxy elements  500  to provide a visual representation of pixel density. Pixel densities are the correlation of the number of pixels found in the digital image with a specific color in the proximity range of each element  500  in the 3D histogram. In some implementations, a user may desire only a visual approximation of color distribution in a digital image. In the example shown, a number of pixel values is replaced with a single proxy element  500 . The proxy element  500  can be any object (e.g., cubes, triangles, spheres, etc.). The use of spheres as proxy elements  500  provides a significant advantage over cube-shaped proxy elements for specifying densities. Cube-shaped proxy elements that are displayed too close together can appear as one large cube, resulting in a display that is difficult to read. On the other hand, spheres can be displayed close to each other because of there shape, resulting in a display that is much easier to read (similar to a cluster of molecules). In some implementations, the size of the proxy elements  500  can be adjusted to indicate the pixel densities in the digital image that are represented by the proxy elements  500 . In the example shown, large spheres represent large pixel densities and small spheres represent small pixel densities. Other representations of pixel density are possible. 
     3D Histogram With Gradient Surfaces 
       FIG. 6  is a screenshot of an exemplary 3D histogram showing a 3D color distribution  600  of pixel values for a digital image in HLS (Hue, Lightness, Saturation) color space. In the example shown, the three axes represent Hue, Lightness and Saturation of a color instead of representing the Red, Green and Blue components, as previously shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In some implementations, the 3D color histogram includes hue/saturation and luminance gradient surfaces  602  and  604 . The surfaces  602 ,  604 , are provided as visual reminders to the user of the meaning of the corresponding axes that they represent. The hue/saturation gradient surface  602  includes a gradient of colors in the digital image to be corrected. The luminance gradient surface  604  includes a gradient of luminance (or brightness) in the digital image. In the example shown, two colors that were previously plotted by a user ( FIG. 1 ) in the digital image  102  are shown in the 3D histogram as references  610  and  612 . Any desired number of references can be included in the 3D histogram, and each reference can refer to a different color plotted by the user in one or more digital images. 
     To assist the user in color correction of hue ranges, the hue/saturation gradient surface  602  includes projections  606  and  608  corresponding to references  610  and  612 , respectively. In the example shown, the projections  606  and  608  are rectangles. The centers of the rectangles  606 ,  608 , represent the axis intersection of the Hue value with the Saturation value of the plotted pixel. Other representations of projections are possible. Projections can be painted with the same color as their corresponding references or otherwise altered or embellished to form a visual association with a corresponding reference. 
     To assist the user in color correction of luminance ranges, the luminance gradient surface  604  includes projections  614  and  616  corresponding to references  610  and  612 . In the example shown, the projections  614  and  616  are vertical bars and are painted with the same color as their corresponding references  610  and  612 . Note that vertical bars are used instead of points because only the lightness axis in the HLS color space is represented. Thus, the gradient surface  604  provides a visual cue for the lightness axis only, while the gradient surface  602  for hue/saturation provides a visual cue for both the hue and the saturation axes in HLS color space. That is, the lightness gradient surface  604  is a 1D gradient and the hue/saturation gradient surface  602  is a 2D gradient because it includes two axes. 
       FIG. 7  is a screenshot of the 3D histogram shown in  FIG. 6 . In this example, the color distribution  700  is represented by spheres, which are proxy elements for indicating pixel density. The color of the spheres correspond to their respective positions in the 3D histogram. The size of the spheres correspond to the pixel density for a particular color range. 
       FIG. 8   a  is a screenshot of an exemplary 3D histogram for HLS color space. The 3D histogram is shown displayed in a display area  801  of a user interface  800 . Also displayed are a hue gradient surface  802  for displaying projections  804  and  810  corresponding to references  806  and  808 , respectively. A user interface element  803  can be used to select the 3D histogram for display in the display area  801 . A user interface element  805  can be used to select a color space for the 3D correction histogram. In the example shown, HLS color space was selected. Other color spaces can also be represented by a 3D histogram (e.g., RGB, Y&#39;CbCr, CIELAB, etc.). A user interface element  807  can be used to select between a proxy element (e.g., a sphere representing density) or a “cloud” of points representing pixel values without any density information, as shown in  FIG. 6 . User interface elements can be any mechanism that can be presented in the user interface  801  and that can receive user input (e.g., a menu, dialog pane, check box, button, slider, knob, hot spot, etc.) 
       FIG. 8   b  is a screenshot of the 3D histogram shown in  FIG. 8 , but showing a different viewer perspective. In some implementations, the user can change the “camera” view of the 3D color correction histogram through one or more user interface elements (e.g., menu options, hot spot, buttons, slider, etc.). In the example shown, the user has rotated the 3D histogram clockwise around the Saturation axis in HLS color space. From this perspective the user can see the positioning of the plot of a specific pixel chosen by the user through a syringe in the image. The lightness of that plot is displayed as a vertical bar  814  on the lightness gradient surface  812 . The plot itself is located at references  816 . The hue/saturation of that plot are represented as the center of the rectangle saw  817  on the hue/saturation gradient surface  819 . 
       FIG. 8   c  is a screenshot of the 3D histogram of  FIG. 8   b , but showing a different perspective i.e., looking down along the Saturation axis. 
     Exemplary Color Correction System 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram of an exemplary color correction system  900 . The color correction system  900  includes a system/UI manager  902 , a heuristic engine  904 , a correction engine  906 , a display engine  908  and one or more 3D LUTs  910 . The system/UI manager  902  receives user input (e.g., control inputs) from a UI and sends the input to the heuristic engine  904  and/or the correction engine  906  depending upon the type of input and the current mode of the system  900 . For example, if the user selects a range of pixel values from a digital image, the system/UI manager  902  sends the sample range to the heuristic engine  904  to be analyzed. The heuristic engine  904  uses, for example, data from expert level colorists to determine an intended correction based on the sample range. For example, if the pixels are mostly black or dark, the heuristic engine  904  may interpret the intended correction to be a luminance range adjustment. The heuristic engine  902  informs the system/UI manger  902  of the intended correction. The system/UI manager  902  instructs the display engine  908  to present a correction interface with luminance controls on the digital image, and to populate the correction interface with appropriate luminance data. This same process can apply to hue, saturation and exposure corrections based on a selected sample range. 
     When the correction interface is displayed, the user can make adjustments using one or more controls in the correction interface (e.g., a slider, button, editable curve, etc.). User interactions with the controls are received by the system/UI manager  902  and sent to the correction engine  906 . The correction engine  9006  includes various algorithms for generating color corrections, such as matrix transformations, color space warping and the like. The correction engine  906  also determines new color values for 3D LUT  910 . The 3D LUT can be initialized by the system/UI manager  902  with color values upon the loading of the digital image. The digital image can be rapidly processed by the display engine  908  which replaces pixel values in the digital image that are in the sample range with corrected values provided by the 3D LUT  910 . Techniques for color correcting digital images using a 3D LUT are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/408,783, entitled “3D LUT Techniques For Color Correction of Images”. 
     The System/UI Manager  902  is responsible for generating and displaying the 3D histograms, shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . When the user selects one or more colors from a digital image, the System/UI manager  902  receives the selected color and instructs the display engine  908  to display in a display area references corresponding to colors plotted or selected from a digital image, as shown in  FIG. 8   a . In response to input, the System/UI Manager  902  instructs the display engine  908  to display gradient surfaces including projections corresponding to the references. 
     User System Architecture 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram of an exemplary user system architecture  1000  for hosting the color correction system  900 . The architecture  1000  includes one or more processors  1002  (e.g., IBM PowerPC®, Intel Pentium® 4, etc.), one or more display devices  1004  (e.g., CRT, LCD), one or more graphics processing units  1006  (e.g., NVIDIA® Quadro FX 4500, GeForce® 7800 GT, etc.), one or more network interfaces  1008  (e.g., Ethernet, FireWire, USB, etc.), one or more input devices  1010  (e.g., keyboard, mouse, etc.), and one or more computer-readable mediums  1012  (e.g. SDRAM, optical disks, hard disks, flash memory, L1 or L2 cache, etc.). These components exchange communications and data via one or more buses  1014  (e.g., EISA, PCI, PCI Express, etc.). 
     The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor  1002  for execution, including without limitation, non-volatile media (e.g., optical or magnetic disks), volatile media (e.g., memory) and transmission media. Transmission media includes, without limitation, coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics. Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic, light or radio frequency waves. 
     The computer-readable medium  1012  further includes an operating system  1016  (e.g., Mac OS®, Windows®, Linux, etc.), a network communication module  1018 , one or more digital images or video clips  1020  and a color correction application  1022 . The color correction application  1022  further includes a system/UI manager  1024 , a correction engine  1026 , a heuristic engine  1028 , a display engine  1030  and one or more 3D LUTs  1032 . Other applications  1034  can include any other applications residing on the user system, such as a browser, compositing software (e.g., Apple Inc.&#39;s Shake® digital compositing software), a color management system, etc. In some implementations, the color correction application  1022  can be integrated with other applications  1034  or be configured as a plug-in to other applications  1034 . 
     The operating system  1016  can be multi-user, multiprocessing, multitasking, multithreading, real-time and the like. The operating system  1016  performs basic tasks, including but not limited to: recognizing input from input devices  1010 ; sending output to display devices  1004 ; keeping track of files and directories on computer-readable mediums  1012  (e.g., memory or a storage device); controlling peripheral devices (e.g., disk drives, printers, GPUs  1006 , etc.); and managing traffic on the one or more buses  1014 . The network communications module  1018  includes various components for establishing and maintaining network connections (e.g., software for implementing communication protocols, such as TCP/IP, HTTP, Ethernet, etc.). The digital images  1020  can be a video clip of multiple digital images or a single image. The color correction application  1022 , together with its components, implements the various tasks and functions, as described with respect to  FIGS. 1-9 . If the GPUs  1006  have built-in support to process 3D meshes, the 3D LUT operations are preferably performed by the GPUs  1006  to improve system performance. 
     The user system architecture  1000  can be implemented in any electronic or computing device capable of hosting a color correction application, including but not limited to: portable or desktop computers, workstations, main frame computers, network servers, etc. 
     Various modifications may be made to the disclosed implementations and still be within the scope of the following claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20110907
Publication Date: 20120619
Grant Date: 20120619
Priority Date: 20060421
Inventors: PETTIGREW DANIEL
MOUILLESEAUX JEAN-PIERRE
CANDELA DAN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04N1/62", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2320/0606", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G5/06", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2320/0666", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G5/06", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N1/62", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2320/0666", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2320/0606", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 38619075