GB2079974A

GB2079974A - Improvements in Camera Viewfinders for Preparing Overlay Images

Info

Publication number: GB2079974A
Application number: GB8120365A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: COFRASA SARL
Current assignee: COFRASA SARL
Priority date: 1980-07-09
Filing date: 1981-07-01
Publication date: 1982-01-27
Also published as: JPS5730824A; BE889186A; DE3126908A1; FR2486668A1; NL8103249A

Abstract

To enable the customer of a hairdresser to appreciate the appearance to be given by a hairstyle, a photograph is taken of the face of the customer and has superimposed upon it a representation of the hairstyle. To ensure that the image of the face appearing in the photograph corresponds in scale to the representation of the hairstyle, the face of the subject as viewed through the viewfinder system of the camera is compared with a template in the form of a silhouette 2 of a human face on a suitable mount, conveniently a mirror 1 of the viewfinder system of the camera. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in Photographic Techniques In connection with professional hairdressing, it has hitherto been proposed that a photograph should be taken of the face of a customer, and then have superimposed upon it representations of various hairstyles carried on a transparent carrier. In this way, the customer can judge which of a number of styles is most suitable.

A problem which has arisen in connection with this proposal is that it is difficult to ensure that the face of the subject is photographed to exactly the same scale as the representations of the hairstyles on the transparent carrier. As a result, this proposal has not been commercialised to such an extent that it is in general use.

To overcome this problem, it is proposed herein that the photograph should be taken with the aid of a template which has a fixed position relative to the camera and is interposed in the optical path between the face of the subject and the eye of the photographer. The template may be in ths form of a silhouette of a human face printed, etched, or otherwise carried by a transparent mount included in the viewfinding system of the camera, or otherwise associated therewith. The camera is moved towards or away from the face of the subject until the latter as viewed through the viewfinder system substantially coincides with the silhouette. To facilitate the carrying out of the method described above, there is further proposed herein a camera having a viewfinder system including a mirror or other optical component bearing the silhouette of a face.Stemming from these proposals, there may be placed on sale an instant camera, that is a camera of the type which permits film to be developed in or in the vicinity of the camera within a short time after exposure, for example a camera of one of the types sold under the trade mark Polaroid, the camera having a viewfinder system adapted as described above, in combination with films, flash cubes and a booklet containing representations of various hairstyles carried on transparent plastic sheets and having a scale equal to that of the photograph obtained using the proposed method, all contained within a suitable carton.

The drawing shows a mirror of the viewfinder system of a camera, adapted in accordance with the present proposal. Referring to the drawing, an instant camera includes a viewfinder system incorporating transparent mirrors, one of which mirrors 1 bears a silhouette or outlined representation of a face in three-quarter view. The silhouette may alternatively be provided upon a mirror or transparent mount which forms no part of the camera proper, but is mounted in a fixed position relative to the camera in front of or behind the latter. It will also fall within the scope of the present proposal, for such a mount to be of opaque material with an aperture therein defining the silhouette, or in the form of opaque materal applied to a transparent mount or reflective surface.

The essence of the present proposal is that a silhouette or other template means is fixedly associated with the camera and is disposed in the optical path between the face of the subject and the eye of the photographer.

In use, the camera is set in such a position that the face of the subject substantially coincides with the silhouette, whereupon there is obtained a photograph to the same scale as representations of hairstyles carried by transparent plastic sheets, upon which the representations are formed by printing, photographically, impressing or in any other way.

The photograph may then be placed under such a transparent carrier to give an indication of the effect to be produced by the hairstyle. Although it falls within the scope of the present proposal for use to be made of a generalised representation, indicating simply the outline of a human head, the advantage of employing a more detailed silhouette as shown in the figure, printed or otherwise applied to a mirror or transparent mount, is that the photographer is able to ensure that the viewpoint from which the face is to be photographed corresponds to the viewpoint from which the hairstyle has been represented. Of course, the representations of the hairstyles may take forms other than representations on transparent carriers.

Although the proposal has been described and illustrated, particularly with regard to hairdressing, it may also be used for makeup, using the same principle.

Claims

1. In connection with hairstyling or the application of makeup, a method in which the face of a subject is photographed, and the resulting photograph juxtaposed with a carrier bearing a representation of a hairstyle or makeup, wherein to ensure that the image of the face in the photograph is reproduced to a scale equal to that of the representation of the hairstyle or makeup, a template is interposed in the optical path between the subject and the eye of the photographer, and the template is aligned with the face of the subject as it appears in the viewfinder of the camera.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the template is in the form of a silhouette impressed, printed or otherwise applied to a mirror of the viewfinder system of the camera.

3. A camera having a viewfinder including a mirror on which is impressed, printed or otherwise applied the silhouette of a face.

4. In combination, a camera as claimed in claim 3 and at least one transparent carrier bearing the representation of a hairstyle or makeup.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.

6. A camera including a viewfinder substantially as hereinbefore described.

7. A method wherein a photograph is taken of the face of a human subject and has superimposed thereupon a representation of a hairstyle or makeup, wherein to ensure that the image of the face contained in the photograph corresponds in scale and viewpoint to that of the representation, the face of the subject as viewed through the viewfinder system is compared with a template in the form of a silhouette of a notional human face.