GB2331424A

GB2331424A - System for obtaining three-dimensional anagliph-like still photographs

Info

Publication number: GB2331424A
Application number: GB9724290A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jordi Masso Tejeda
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-17
Filing date: 1997-11-17
Publication date: 1999-05-19
Also published as: GB9724290D0; GB2331424A9

Abstract

System for obtaining three-dimensional still anagliph-like photographs, which consists in extracting an image 1 from a computer library and isolating it from its background. By mixing three colours, one creates by data-processing a concrete or abstract image from which are then isolated individually two of the component colours which are displaced symmetrically one (eg the red) to the left and the other (eg the blue) to the right to produce a background image 4. The image 1 prepared previously is then superimposed to form the foreground.

Description

1 2331424 "SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING THREE-DIMENSIONAL STILL PHOTOGRAPHS" is

This invention relates to a system for obtaining threedimensional still photographs.

The application of modern technology to the field of the image has produced various techniques, one example of which is the production of pictures combining a stereoscopic pair of images which are viewed by means of special glasses provided with acetate filters of a given colour for each eye, which give the images the appearance of being threedimensional.

In the known embodiments, however, the picture containing the stereoscopic pair appear blurred when viewed normally. It is therefore obligatory to use the special glasses to obtain a satisfactory view of images of this type. In fact, if viewed without the glasses, the known embodiments can be seen only indistinctly and with great difficulty. Conventionally the glasses consist of one blue and one red acetate, the three-dimensional effect then being obtained and with it the appearance of the motif in question.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which eliminates this disadvantage, permitting the obtainment of images which may be seen in characteristic relief (three-dimensional effect) by using special glasses, but which are still clearly visible without using the glasses, although needless to say without the three- is 2 dimensional effect.

According to the invention there is provided a system for obtaining threedimensional still photographs in which an image destined to form the foreground is isolated from its background, an image is created by mixing three colours which is intended to act as the background for the picture to be produced, two of the component colours being isolated individually in the image and being symmetrically displaced one to the left and the other to the right to produce a background image with said displaced colours and superimposing onto this the previously prepared foreground image thereby obtaining an overall image which, when viewed directly, may be seen clearly, while through glasses with lenses consisting of filters corresponding to the displaced colours the image may be seen in relief in front of the background with a three-dimensional effect extracted from a computer library.

The image destined to form the foreground can be a digital system.

The background can be created by means of dataprocessing and may be a concrete or abstract picture.

The three colours are preferably red, blue and green, and preferably the colours red and blue are isolated individually so as to be able to move them symmetrically, to the left and right respectively, while the colour green remains in its place.

is 3 In this way, an assembly is obtained which may be placed on any type of support, for example of cardboard, paperboard, adhesive paper, synthetic sheets, plastics etc., providing a picture which, when filtered by the special glasses provided with red and blue acetates in the form of lenses, enables viewing of the foreground image in relief on the background (three-dimensional effect), while, without the glasses, the overall picture appears with great clarity, thus also enabling it to be seen without glasses, although the threedimensional effect is naturally then not obtained.

The resultant system is extremely simple and easy to put into practice, enabling the obtainment of still photographs or pictures of any type by the superposition of a main image on another background image, for direct viewing as a normal picture or for viewing of the assembly in characteristic relief by using the specially designed glasses.

The system constituting the subject matter of the invention therefore exhibits various highly advantageous characteristics, which make it intrinsically different per se and distinguish.it from the conventional systems and techniques which are currently used for the same purpose.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a foreground image obtained from a computer library, for implementation of the proposed system; is 4 Figure 2 is an image of an abstract background, created by the three- colour process according to the proposed system;

Figure 3 is an image of the same abstract background as above, modified by displacement of two of' the component colours symmetrically to the left and right respectively; and

Figure 4 is an illustration of the resultant overall image obtained with the two previous elements, in accordance with the system of the invention. The subject matter of the invention relates to a system for obtaining three-dimensional still photographs, by superimposing a main foreground image 1 on a background 4 which may consist of a concrete or abstract image. The main image 1 re quired for the picture is preferably a digital image which can be extracted from a computer library containing a plurality of images available for selection. The main image 1 is isolated f rom the corresponding background 2 to which it is applied by means of a dataprocessing operation using an outlining tool to enable individualisation of the image 1. On the other hand, again using a dataprocessing operation, of the "Photo Shop" type or the like, a picture 3 is created which may be concrete or abstract and which is based on a mixture of three colours (three-colour process), preferably red, blue and green.

One of the component colours, for example the red, is isolated from the above-mentioned picture 3 and displaced by a certain amount to the left.

Another of the colours, for example the blue, is in turn treated in the same manner and isolated so that it may be displaced in this case to the right, by an amount equal to the left-ward displacement undergone by the previous colour.

In other words, both colours (red and blue) are displaced symmetrically, one to the left and the other to the right. with respect to a theoretical central line, while the third colour (green) remains stationary in its position. As a result an image 4 is thereby obtained which is destined to act as background for the picture to be obtained.

In a computer resolution file, the minimum transmission unit is known as a upixelO, such that, depending on the complexity of the motifs constituting the background 3, the latter will require a greater or lesser number of resolution units or "pixels". In turn, depending on the 11pixels,' used by the background 3, a greater or lesser number of "pixels" will be displaced to the left and consequently the same number of other 11pixelso will be displaced to the right, in such a way that the most basic background would be formed of three "pixels", constituting a microscopic plane, with one red llpixelll, one blue llpixelll, and one green llpixelll, in which case one red llpixelll, would be displaced to the left

6 and one blue 11pixell, to the right.

Finally, the main image 1, which has been previously prepared, is superimposed on the background image 4, with the displaced red and blue colours and the fixed green, an overall picture being obtained in accordance with that of Figure 4. In this instance displacement of the colours red and blue was five 11pixels,' per colour.

The overall picture obtained in the above-described manner may be viewed with special glasses with acetates respectively of red and blue constituting the lenses placed in front of the left and right eyes respectively of the wearer. Then the main foreground image 1 will appear in relief in front of the background image 4. Without using the abovementioned special glasses and so viewing the overall image directly, the image nonetheless appears with complete clarity, but not in relief.

is 7

Claims

A system for obtaining three-dimensional still is photographs in which an image destined to form the foreground is isolated from its background, an image is created by mixing three colours which is intended to act as the background for the picture to be produced, two of the component colours being isolated individually in the image and being symmetrically displaced one to the left and the other to the right to produce a background image with said displaced colours and superimposing onto this the previously prepared foreground image thereby obtaining an overall image which, when viewed directly, may be seen clearly, while through glasses with lenses consisting of filters corresponding to the displaced colours the image may be seen in relief in front of the background with a three-dimensional effect.
2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the image destined to provide the background of the overall assembly consists of a concrete or abstract picture.
3. A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the colours used to create the image are red, blue and green, red and blue being the colours which are displaced to the left and right to form the background.

8
4. A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the image destined to form the foreground is a digital picture extracted from a computer library.
5. A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the image is isolated from its background by means of an outlining tool.
6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the three colours are used to create the background by a dataprocessing operation.
7. A system for obtaining three-dimensional still photographs substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.