MXPA98002014A - Method and systems for the handling of images of floor covers or other te - Google Patents

Abstract

A digital collection of fabric models is created, preferably including digitalized full-color images (74) and having associated a digital representation of positions that are located inside and that characterize the models (75). A user can navigate through the series of alternative models, and can modify the positions of the selected models to test desired combinations of features - such as tassels or thread ends, for floor covering models (79) - and observe the results. The present invention also provides for replacing colors in digital images of photographic quality, at the same time retaining its realism. The resulting designs can be stored and transmitted to a central facility that can generate images of the samples, or can directly generate real samples of the carpet.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR THE HANDLING OF IMAGES OF FLOOR COVERS OR OTHER FABRICS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to methods and systems for computer aided design, and, in particular, to methods and systems for image formation and design of floor coverings or other fabrics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The selection or "sample" of made-to-measure floor coverings and other fabrics has been addressed by several deficiencies that arise from the difficulty of visualizing new color configurations for those fabrics as they would actually appear. Typically, sales representatives have been limited to the display and sale of only those models and color schemes that can be loaded from one place to another, and flipping a tailor-made design sample has been a costly and consuming proposition. Before an accurate visualization of the sample is possible, it is necessary to select and specify a custom order, to transmit the order to a fabric factory, to produce a corresponding sample in the fabric factory by means of a procedure of intense labor, and to wait for the sample to be sent in. Even assuming that a particular client could visit the fabric factory where they can produce tailored samples, the time and expenses involved in experimenting with various color schemes and the production of fabrics and textile models themselves would be prohibitive and could impose a limit on the range of options that a customer could export. The variety of available models of floor coverings and other fabrics has proliferated as a result of improvements in manufacturing technology, among other factors, which has increased the number of choices available to designers and others who choose a carpet made to measure. This trend has also complicated the customer's decision procedure. Instead of persisting with the arduous procedure described above, it would be very preferable for a sales representative to be able to visit a customer without having to carry the full panoply of models and colors, and still allow the client to accurately visualize the range of possible design choices . It would still be more useful to allow the client to independently vary the treatment (e.g., color) of image components of a floor covering or other fabric essentially at own will, to store one or more representations of these variations, and specimen specifications that they cover particularly promising design specifications, to quickly generate a series of alternative designs based on different models and with different color schemes, and to be able to compare and contrast the alternatives as a method of selecting the series of design options at a manageable. Once the series of design alternatives has been chosen, it would greatly help the sellers as well as the customers, in comparatively short order and in a convenient way, to be able to make a side-by-side comparison of the design alternatives. However, no capacity as such has been available. Perhaps the most challenging obstacle to assist in the design and selection of custom-made fabrics is presented by the sensitivity of the human eye (particularly the well-trained eyes of professional designers) to the disadvantages in the predictive representations of items made to the eye. measure. This sensitivity places a premium on the reality of the representation despite the variation of image parameters such as color. A system to represent and allow the manipulation of high resolution images should therefore very preferably provide an ability to manipulate the parameters of a photographic image, and to do so with convenience and convincing results. Such a system should be able, for example, to modify the color and structure of the components in a photographic image of a floor covering or other fabric, and, in particular, to do so in the vicinity of shadows and other factors that may tend to to undermine the realism of the image when a color transformation has been requested. However, until now, such capabilities have not been available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above problems by providing methods and systems for representing floor coverings or other fabrics or textiles of various models, and allowing a user to vary the characteristics of subseries or portions of images of the models to visualize the models incorporating the (s) selected variation (s). The present invention also provides a technique for converting the selected fabric design parameters to a format that can be used to generate even higher resolution representations within a short turnaround time. In addition, the present invention provides a method and system by which the images that are manipulated are of photographic quality, and the manipulation of colors can be done at the same time conserving the realism of the image even in the presence of shadows or other influences that can tend to lead to results that seem unrealistic. One embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention, for example, comprises a method for manipulation assisted by computation of characteristics of an image of a fabric, such as a floor covering. The method is implemented in a computer coupled to a display medium and a means of user access. The fabric with image has at least one "position" comprising a sub-series of the fabric that must receive substantially the same treatment (such as the thread end or tassel of the same color). At least one image of a web, and preferably a collection of said images, has been stored in a memory in a readable and manipulable computer format. The data defining one or more positions of the fabric is also stored in a readable and manipulable format, and in association with each of the fabric images. In addition, at least one treatment defined by at least one feature (e.g., color of the wire end or tassel) has been stored in a memory in a readable and manipulable computer format. A selected position of a fabric (chosen from at least one stored image) is displayed. A selected position is then identified from at least one position of the fabric, and a treatment selected from at least one available treatment is also identified. The selected position of the selected image is then modified to display the selected treatment for said position, and then the image, which includes the modified position, is displayed. A system or apparatus for implementing the above method is also described. One embodiment of another aspect of the present invention involves selecting at least one color in a color photographic image of a floor covering or other fabric, for example, and replacing said source color with a target color. Prior to the implementation of the method, the RGB and YIQ color model values (described in the Detailed Description section of this document) for the source and target colors have been stored in a data storage device. In addition, the color photographic image, including the substring of the image having the font color, has been digitized to produce a full-color digital image represented in accordance with the RGB color model and the digital image is stored in a device of data storage (preferably between a collection of said images). The RG B values for the font color and the target color are transformed from the color model RG B to the color model YIQ. An adjusted Y value is computed based on the Y values for the source and target colors. A replacement YIQ representation is then created by using the adjusted Y value and the I and Q values of the target color. The modified YIQ representation resulting from the target color (including the I and Q values of the target and the adjusted Y value) is then transformed back to the RGB color model. The resulting values produce an exhibit where the font color has been replaced by the target color, and where the luminance of the result has been adjusted to maintain a realistic appearance. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide methods and systems to enable a person, with the aid of a computer, to view a wide variety of fabric or textile designs, as well as changes in the desired characteristics of said fabrics or fabrics. textiles Another object of the present invention is to provide methods and systems for providing realistic representations of fabrics and textiles, such as rugs, so that the component characteristics of the represented fabric or textile can be modified or manipulated by a designer or other user with the help of a computer. Still another object of the present invention is to provide methods and systems for allowing a user of a computer to modify the visual characteristics of fabrics or textiles, such as the color of portions of a carpet by manipulating aspects of photographic images of said fabrics and textiles Another object of the present invention is to generate a series of alternative design selections for a cloth or textile carpet, which can be conveniently compared, and to provide a mechanism by which a higher resolution representation can be provided at a time. of short rotation to facilitate such comparison. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for adjusting colors in photographic quality images of fabrics, textiles or other materials, while preserving the color realism of said images in the vicinity of shadows or other features that They may tend to give the transformed color an unrealistic appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a portion of a simplified, hypothetical textile or fabric having three positions. Figure 2 is a flow chart showing preliminary steps of the procedure associated with a method in accordance with and encompassing the present invention. Figure 3 is a high-level block diagram of a method mode according to and embodying the present invention. Figure 4 is a first portion of a flow chart showing the start, main menu and leafing portions of the embodiment of the present invention shown in the diagram of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a second portion of a graph of flow showing the portion of the project of the embodiment of the present invention shown in the diagram of figure 3. Figure 6 is a third portion of a flow chart showing the index portion of the database and search of the embodiment of the present invention shown in the block diagram of figure 3. Figure 7 is a fourth portion of a flow chart showing the pre-modification portion of the embodiment of the present invention shown in the block diagram of the figure 3 Figure 8 is a fifth portion of a flow chart showing the modifying portion of the embodiment of the present invention shown in the block diagram of Figure 3. Figure 9 is a sixth portion of a flow chart showing the modifying portion of the embodiment of the present invention shown in block diagram of Figure 3. Figure 10 is a flow chart showing the steps in a method for adjusting colors in a digitized image in accordance with and encompassing the present invention. Fig. 11 is a seventh portion of a flow chart showing the later modification portion of the mode shown in the block diagram of Fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The methods and systems in accordance with the present invention facilitate the selection of design parameters by persons involved in choosing custom made fabrics and textiles, such as floor coverings, tapestries, window treatments, or other fabrics. Specifically, the described methods and systems allow a user to visualize the modifications to the characteristics of the components or portions of a fabric or textile by selecting and manipulating high quality digital images of these materials to produce highly realistic photographic quality presentations of the different options generated.

These images can be stored and removed for subsequent comparison, and can be used as the economic and convenient basis for generating representations or samples of even higher quality of the candidate designs. The methods and systems can usually be applied to at least garments, textiles, fabrics or other materials, whether quilted, woven, spun or otherwise manufactured. In one embodiment, described herein, the methods and systems in accordance with the present invention facilitate the selection or design of a custom made carpet. Although described with reference to floor coverings such as carpets, for which the described methods and systems are particularly effective, the principles of the present invention are not limited to use in relation to floor cover markets, but may be applied to fabrics more in general. The designs of a carpet, rug, or other fabric can be characterized by several parameters, but a particularly useful one for the purposes of the present invention is captured by the notion "position". A position in a cloth can be considered as a subseries of the cloth, to which a particular "treatment" is given. Although the treatment herein should mean any feature, the color is particularly important and its handling is emphasized in the present invention. In this way, a given position of a fabric can be defined by all portions of said fabric having a particular color, whether those portions are continuous or not. A fabric can have several positions, each characterized by its own tassel or end of yarn having a particular color and / or construction. A "tassel" is often used to refer to a small group of yarn used for demonstration purposes to show the structure and color of a given yarn type. A "thread end" refers to the visible portion of the material that occupies a particular position. Accordingly, a pattern, pattern or style of a fabric, such as a floor covering, can be characterized at least by the number and arrangement of the positions it includes (despite the color or construction of the actual tassels or ends of yarn). that can fill these positions). In Fig. 1, for example, a highly simplified presentation of a sample of a floor covering model 10 is schematically shown. This hypothetical floor covering model 10 includes three positions. The treatment (for example, the tassel or end of yarn) in each of the positions is shown in the legend below the figure. A first treatment 12 is illustrated schematically by vertical lines, a second treatment 14 is illustrated symbolically by horizontal lines, and a third treatment 16 is symbolically illustrated by diagonal lines. The sample and fabric design methods and procedures in accordance with the present invention begin with the preliminary steps for generating a database of floor covering models that serve as the starting point for the sample and design process. Since the carpet design is restricted by the machine processes used in the fabric factories to manufacture the actual carpet, the design and sample methods and systems in accordance with the present invention use existing models as a starting point. This proposal is economic, since it restricts the possible design results to the structures that can be manufactured. If a designer were able to specify any design without restriction, he could conclude that the result can not be manufactured in accordance with known methods. With the proposal taken by the present invention, this possibility is excluded. In addition, the fact that the models originate with an existing repertoire of an existing fabric factory implies that the production of real samples, or complete orders of carpet, can be produced economically and on short order. In addition, instead of confronting the user with a clean, blank page, the existence of a rich series of models provides some structure to the design and sample procedure. The models provide a multiplicity of starting points, which can help a client initiate the mental portion of the sample and design procedure. The fact that the number of existing alternative models is large, maintains the design procedure and shows to be unduly or unreasonably restricted. Among the large number of models, as well as the large number of thread ends or tassels, the size of the design space, that is, the number of possible combinations, can be very large. However, the methods and systems in accordance with the present invention allow the client to negotiate said design space in such a way to quickly arrive at a series of desired alternatives, and with such realism that the client can predict with a high degree of precision how the actual floor cover (or other type of fabric) will appear. As a precursor to creating or testing the methods and systems in accordance with the present invention, a number of pre-application steps 70 are performed to create a database of models that form the starting points and, in a sense, the tempered ones. , for the design procedure. First, a real article, such as a carpet sample representative of a particular model, is scanned digitally at 72 in accordance with known methods to create a full color digital image at 74. Each carpet sample is preferably one wherein the colors of the tassels or ends of yarn in particular positions are previously selected to be of high contrast with respect to each other, in spite of any aesthetic disadvantage of the combination. The choice of colors in this way tends to maximize the resolution of the boundaries between the positions. The digitized image is then stored retrievably in a database in accordance with known methods, and in association with a code identifying the model. The code is preferably one that is understood by a factory or fabric factories that must comply with an order for a variation on the model, or at least be convertible to a form recognizable by the fabric factory. Once the image is retrievably stored in a memory, the positions of the model are isolated in step 75. Isolation and storage of the positions based on a full-color digital image, as well as the remaining pre-application steps 70, can be done with conventional graphic design systems, such as (but not limited to) PHOTOSHOP (R), by ADOBE SYSTEMS I NC. (R) This procedure creates a data structure that defines the positions with respect to the original image, when creating a bitmap, for example. Also in step 75, a faithful or representative color is identified or established for said position, which is necessary to comparatively characterize the shaded portions of the image when the color is modified. Once the positions are isolated, an image or display in black and white (or luminance) is created in step 76 for each of the positions. A file (or more) including the image, the black and white position displays, and the pattern identifier information, is then created (n) and stored (n) in step 78 for recovery in association with the application. The pre-application steps 70 can be repeated as many times as necessary to create a collection of the models that a particular fabric factory or factories can manufacture. Similar to the creation of a model collection, a collection of available tassels or thread ends with a particular construction is also created in step 79 by scanning real carpet samples to generate a digitized image showing the structure of carpet that has the tassel or end of particular yarn. Also in step 79, for each scanned image, a series of allowed colors is coded in association with an identification name, as well as an indication of the "true" color specified in terms of the computer graphics code for that color (e.g. , the RGB code, described later in relation to Figure 10). The selection of the code for the "faithful" color, as with the exploration of carpet models in general, can be done by a person by using PHOTOSHOP (R) or another available system. As for the model position colors, you need to design a single faithful color value, since the presence of shadows and the like in a particular image creates a variety of colors perceived for a carpet of a particular shade. Figure 3 shows a block diagram illustrating the architecture of a computer program application 20 covering the methods and architecture of the system in accordance with the present invention. In the following description, the term "screen" may be used to denote a user interface, which may be of any type, but which is preferably a graphical user interface (GU I). The application steps described below can be implemented through the use of existing computer languages, such as the C ++ programming language. The method and system according to the present invention is shown in the form of a procedure (flow chart). However, this should not indicate that the methods and systems in accordance with the invention are, or need to be, implemented by using a procedure programming model, rather than an object-oriented model. You can use any of these, or any suitable alternative model. In the procedurally oriented flow charts shown in the figures, the apparent order of several of the steps to enter or move away from different states associated with particular user interfaces does not reflect an order that a user needs to follow; instead, it shows, for clarity of illustration, a representative "trajectory" through the system that a user can adopt. However, the user in general can freely move between said states within the restrictions shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the illustrated states, but involves the important functionality accessible to a user upon entering said states. . Said functions can be rearranged to a certain degree to involve a greater or lesser number of said user interfaces and states without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Following the graph 22 of the application 20, the user is presented with a menu 24. From the main menu 24, the user can switch between a project screen 26, a database index screen and search 30, and a screen to browse 36. The project screen, as described below with reference to figure 5, provides an interface for the user to identify and select from existing projects created during previous sessions with the application. The database and search index screen 30, on the other hand, gives user access to a database for one or more fabric factories or sellers of floor coverings (or other fabrics of interest), described below. in relation to figure 6. By means of the screen for browsing 36, the user can, for a given project, see the models in the project work list in a slide format, described in more detail below with reference to Figure 7. One can also access a specification screen 38 to quickly obtain a list of information regarding a particular model. From each project screen 26, the database and search index screen 30 and the screen for browsing 36, the user can return to the main menu 24. A user can also move directly from the database index screen and search 30 to the screen to browse 36, or to a screen of previous modification 40, which can also be invoked from the screen to browse. From the pre-modification screen 40, a user can accommodate and view images of sample designs, as can be done if they were examining samples, considered, or perhaps eliminated from consideration, on a table cover. The pre-modification screen 40 is described in relation to Figure 8 below.

A user can also invoke the modification screen 44 either from the database and search index screen 30 or from the pre-modification screen 40. By means of the modification screen 44 a user can design and / or manipulate images of model fabrics, such as floor cover models, and select and modify the treatment of positions of the selected models. The functionality accessible to the user by means of this interface is described below with reference to figures 9 and 10. A user interacting with the modification screen of a system in accordance with the described embodiment of the invention can return, for the purposes of edit, to the pre-modification screen 40, or you can return to the database and search index screen 30. In addition, the user can move to and from the subsequent modification screen 56, for example, if he has reached a series of floor cover selections. Alternatively, the user can move to a photo promotion screen 52, where a user can see a photographic image of a real carpet model in a real environment, or a large sample screen 54, which allows the user to zoom in by telephoto and see a larger area of the sample including many pattern repetitions that are ordinarily visible. From the large sample screen 54, the user can proceed to the subsequent modification screen 56. In the subsequent modification screen 56, the user can decide which items in the work list should be arranged in photographic form, and then can make said orders The user can also organize the work list in one or more projects that can be invoked for additional work or otherwise be referenced at a later time. A user can return to the subsequent modification screen 40, where the user can accommodate through the different items in the work list by using a table cover paradigm, as a customer and a sales representative can use a table cover to display, compare, inspect and discuss several design options in a preliminary way. Then, the user can return from the pre-modification screen 40 to the subsequent modification screen 56, and can bring a selected model or sample from the previous modification screen 40 to the subsequent modification screen 56, where it can be added to a work list for a given project. From the subsequent modification screen 56 one can also move to the project screen 26, where the user can browse through a list of existing options and select one with which to work. Finally, as illustrated in Figure 3, one can invoke an exit function 58 from the subsequent modification screen 56. Although this is the most logical starting point of the application, and the clearest way to illustrate the architecture of the application, the user, of course, can leave other points in the application if necessary or desired through the main menu 24.

As shown in figures 4 to 9, from the main menu 24, a user can select from three areas or interfaces: project screen 26, database index and search 30 and browse to browse 36, or it may exit at 58. When interacting with the project screen 26, shown in Figure 5, the user may enter the application by choosing step 262 to return to work on a previously initiated project. The user can also, beginning at step 262 (which can be entered from the subsequent modification screen, described below), remove or delete a project (ie, a text file that includes information and customer specifications for the samples generated in a given session) with what you have worked previously. If you must imine or omit a project on which you worked previously, the user is presented with a project list in step 264, which removes files for previously designed samples from storage, or, alternatively, executes an omission in step 268 of the files associated with an existing project. In step 270, the application must return to the main menu, from which another interface can be selected. If a user has not previously generated a series of sample designs, or has decided to omit them in step 268, he can develop a working list of candidate models with which the procedure begins. From the main menu 24, the user selects the database and search index screen 30, by which the user can begin to see a list of models on the monitor, at 302. The base index screen of data and search 30 preferably includes means for listing available carpet styles organized by such indication as style category, machine type and coloring method. For each of these categories, the fault display must be the first instance N (for example, how it is organized alphabetically), or it can be any desired fault series. If any of the choices displayed are of interest to the user, those choices can be selected, and the selections indicated to the user, such as placing them in a list. If the user wishes to change the selection series of the displayed model list, such selection can be made in step 304, and an associated question is executed in step 306. The selection series, as used herein, refers to the most basic categories that can be assigned to carpets by a fabric factory. For example, a first selection series may include the fabric factory test line, while the second selection series may include tailor-made styles from the fabric factory. The user can see the list corresponding to the selected series in the computer's display medium, in step 302. Once again, and as many times as desired, the user can modify the series selected in step 304 either adding additional models of interest or omitting them. During this procedure, the user has the option in step 308 to change the selection style being viewed and thus increases the range of styles with which one can work. The selection style should refer to a class of models that have a particular style category (for example, pattern type), machine type (for example, PCL, loop / tie, etc.), coloring method (for example , piece colorant, thread colorant, etc.), or other characteristic. If the user wishes to do so, then in step 310 a question is executed and the resulting list can be observed in the computer display in step 302. The user can then decide in step 312 whether the observed list includes one or more models of interest. In this case, the application moves to 314, where you can use one or more models displayed to start (or add to, in subsequent repetitions) a work list. The entries to the work list can be viewed on the monitor, as in step 316. If the user wishes, in step 318, to add one or more models to the work list, the procedure can return to step 314; otherwise, the user may choose in step 320 to remove models from the work list. In this case, the user can execute a movement (ie, a deletion) from the work list in step 322, viewing the work list in the monitor, in 316. If the user does not want to remove one or more models from the work list, you can consider moving to a different screen with the work list. For example, the user, after arriving at a work list, can decide to browse the work list by repeating through the displays in the form of a slide show in 326 to the screen to browse 36. Or, the user can Desire to manipulate or rearrange the members of the work list before modifying those members by moving, in step 328, to the pre-modification screen 40. If the user considers that the work list is in a suitable condition to begin the procedure of In this case, you can execute a change in step 330 to the modification screen 44. For each of these movements to different screens, the work list remains intact for access from the new screen. You can enter the screen to browse 36 from the main menu 24, the database and search index screen 30 or the previous modification screen 40. The paradigm for the screen for browsing 36 is that of a sample by means of slides, through which the user can browse the articles in the work list. As shown in Figure 7, you can see in sequence each image, at 362, on the monitor, with the ability at 364 to return to an image previously viewed at 366, or move to another image at step 368. When, During this procedure, an image of a sample design of particular interest is reached, the user can choose to see the current tassels or thread ends, which are then removed from the memory and displayed as a display in the image of the Model screen being seen. Each position can be shaded in a particular way, and a legend can be displayed by correlating said shading to the corresponding position. The user may also choose in step 374 to zoom in via telephoto in (376), out of (378), to the image, to obtain a finer, or more global, view of the image.

If the user desires, he may choose at 380 to move to a specification screen 38 to see the specifications associated with the model illustrated in said image and the ends of the wire or tassels at the positions of said model. For example, but without imitation, the user can see the article code for the style that corresponds to a selected model and a description of the style (or an identifier, such as a product name). In addition, the specification screen may reveal information about the machine size and / or type that corresponds to the style, as well as the weight of the fabric (eg, padded weight of a carpet). The user can also learn about the dimensions within which the pattern of the style is repeated, and a minimum size required for carpet orders. The user can also decide, at 382, to add the sample design by being seen, in step 384, to a list of sample designs to be viewed from the pre-modification screen 40 (the image of the sample design can be seen at 362 ). The user may otherwise move freely at 386 either to the pre-modification screen, or back to the main menu 24. It may be believed that the pre-modification screen 40 is a class of a stack or table cover in where a sales representative can display a series of samples for customer consideration. The table cover is stimulated by the screen where images can be displayed to see, in 402. As shown in figure 8, a user can choose in 404"flip" through several models in the work list to get to another sample (406) to see (402). The user can also choose at 408 to select the candidate series by deleting them at 410 from the work list, with an opportunity to see the sample to be removed from the list at 402. The user can also choose at 412 to alter the view of a shows, such as viewing the sample in a full-size mode, where a larger band of the sample can be displayed, at 414. The user can also choose at 416 to call the identity of the tassels or thread ends for the positions of the current sample at 418. From the pre-modification screen 40, the user can move to the modification screen 44 if he wishes to modify the treatment of the positions of any of the samples. Alternatively, the user can return to the screen to browse 36 to review and reconsider the candidates in the work list, or can move to the subsequent modification screen 56, where the work list of candidate samples can be collected in one or more projects for storage and subsequent removal. A user wishing to vary the treatment of the positions of a selected sample would move to the modification screen 44, flow chart steps that are shown in Figure 9. The interface provided by the modification screen 44 allows the user to see the sample image selected at 442 and vary the views of the image. For example, the user at 444 may choose to see a brief animated image where each of the positions is individually highlighted, at 446. In a modality, as the positions are indicated, they are filled in (by the use of "holding" methods). "conventions are available through computer programs that work in the AP MAC MACOS H (R), for example, or other suitable systems) with a particular color or pattern, and a corresponding window is opened to indicate the number of the position and that contains the same color or pattern, so that multiple positions can be enhanced simultaneously. The user may also choose at 448 to zoom in by telephoto to and away from the image displayed at 450 (by using functionality similar to that used in steps 376 and 378 of the browse interface 36). If the user is interested in comparing a sample of a particular interest model with a promotional photo (probo) of said model that shows it installed in a real scenario, said option can be selected at 452 and executed at 454. Alternatively, the user can select (as in the browse interface 36 and the pre-modification interface 40) in step 456 to see in step 458 the ends of the yarn and tassels of the view currently seen. The user also has a number of options to vary the treatment of the positions of a selected model. The flow chart of Figure 9 indicates that the user, at 456, can refuse to see the tassels or ends of yarn at the positions of the sample being viewed at present.; however, the choice to modify the treatment of the sample positions could easily have been shown as being initiated from any of the options to see 444, 448, or 452, and these options are contemplated by and fall within the scope of the present invention. When the choice has been made to vary the views of the current sample in 456 (or in 444, 448 or 452), the user can choose in 460 to modify or vary the treatments of the positions in the current sample. This procedure can be initiated by selecting 462 a position to manipulate, and the application locates and retrieves the previously stored data for the selected position at 464. The user can then select 466 from a displayed series of options a treatment ( for example, a thread end or tassel of a particular color) to replace that of the currently selected position. This selection is executed by the application at 468. At 470, the user can select from a series of variations for the selected style a particular thread end or tassel, the selection executed by the application at 472. Then, in order to To display the current sample that has the newly selected thread end or tassel in the selected position, the user can choose to replace the new thread tassel or endpoint for the original at the designated position of the model, executed at 480. The substitution of the thread end or selected tassel (target) for the original wire end or tassel (source) in the selected position, in accordance with the present invention, involves a method, a modality of which is set forth in reference number 80 in the Figure 10. The invention is not limited to the particular steps or order shown in Figure 10; instead, these may be varied or combined (for operation or other reasons, for example) in a manner consistent with the functionality without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. First, the file for the model corresponding to the sample will have been recovered in the memory in step 82 in order to display the model image on the screen. A position has been selected in the model in step 84 (corresponding to step 462 in Figure 9). The application then retrieves the black and white or luminance image display (generated in step 76 of the procedure set forth in Figure 2 and described in the accompanying text) corresponding to the selected position. This display image is displayed as a display in the sample image, highlighting the selected position for the user, in which position the newly selected thread or tassel end is added, step 88 (corresponding to step 478 of the figure 9). In accordance with the present invention, the characteristics of two different color models for scanning graphics are employed to facilitate the color transformation in a particular position. Exploration graphics techniques based on television technology are conventional in most computers and video adjustments. In a scanning graphics system, primitive graphics (such as characters, lines, and other characteristics) are stored in a controller in terms of its component "pixels". A "pixel" is a shortened form for "drawing element" (also known as "the") and refers to the elements of an exhibit from which the screen image is constructed. A scan is a series of horizontal scan lines, each line is a series of individual pixels. A scan line one by one, an image is scanned to the display by a video driver, painting the screen. In accordance with the convention, this procedure starts at the top and continues until the bottom line of the image is scanned. The content of a scanning image is controlled by modulating the way in which the scanning beam or beams illuminate each individual pixei. In the images to white and black or luminance, only one beam is used, and the desired luminance of the screen in a particular pixel is a direct function of the beam intensity when it points to the pixel. In color systems, three beams are used, one red, one green and one blue, and the desired color in a particular pixel is determined by the intensities of these three-color components. Several conventions or models help to manipulate colors in a video or computer screen image. A color model usually represents a scale or range of colors that use a 3D coordinate system. Using this proposal, you can specify almost any color with high precision by referring to its position in the 3D space using the coordinates for each dimension. Then colors can be manipulated using mathematical techniques, such as linear algebra tools. For example, since any two color models of 3D represent the same phenomenon, color light, the specification of a color in a system can be transformed into any other model by linear transformation of a 3D vector from a source model to a 3D vector in an objective model by conventional matrix multiplication. The possibility of a 3D model is implied by the fact that most light colors can be created usually by combining three component light beams. This is probably easier to understand for a model that is of particular importance to the present invention. This model, known as RGB (for red, green and blue), is used with CRT (color cathode ray tube) monitors in most computer graphics applications. The RGB model places black at the origin (0, 0, 0) of a Cartesian cardinal system, and white at the vertex (1, 1, 1) on the unit cube, a point in the RGB space furthest from the origin. Gray tones are on a line that connects these two points. The blue is located at (0, 0, 1); the red in (1, 0, 0) and the green in (0, 1, 0); the circle is located at (0, 1, 1), the magenta at (1, 0, 1) and the yellow at (1, 1, 0). Another model of interest for the present invention is the YIQ color model. This model is used in the transmission of color television signals in the United States. YIQ is essentially a re-encoding or linear transformation of RGB for transmission efficiency. The signals encoded by Y1Q can easily be converted to a black-and-white signal, so that the signals can be seen on black-and-white televisions. This easy conversion is possible since the first of the dimensions YIQ, Y, refers not to the yellow but to the luminance. In black and white television systems, only the Y component of a YIQ signal is displayed. The chrominance of the signal is captured in the I and Q components. Conveniently, a YIQ vector can be computed for a pixel from an RGB vector using the following relationship: A YIQ vector for a pixel can be transformed back into a RGB pixel vector by the following operation, where the matrix is simply the inverse of the previous transformation matrix.

In order to replace a thread or tassel end in a particular position for the thread or tassel end currently in said position, the RGB vector for the "faithful" color of the tassel or thread end residing in the currently in the selected position (that is, the "source" image). Also, the RGB values for the treatment of the position (here, the faithful target color of the desired end of the yarn or tassel) are recovered in 92. The values of the faithful source color and target RGB color vectors after preference they are scaled and standardized at 94 from a machine code (for example, defined in the range (0 £ S £ 255)) to a normalized value in the interval (OES £ 1) in order to allow algebra to be performed on the values, or for any other reason that may be necessary or desirable depending on the particularities of the application. The RGB vectors for the faithful source color and for the objective color are then transformed to step 96, using the first of the matrices identified above, in a YIQ representation. It may also be necessary to ensure that the final RG B representation includes legitimate values (on the scale defined for that model). In one embodiment of the present invention, Y and Q thus must be adjusted to be respectively within the scales: (-0.596 £ and £ 0.596) and (-0.525 £ Q £ 0.525). In addition, an adjustment can be made to consider the psychophysical phenomenon that the human eye perceives different tones as having different brightness (despite the possibility that they may have identical physical brightness). To achieve these adjustments, the well-known technique of gamma curve manipulation (or gamma correction) is carried out. According to known methods, the map of a source luminance to a desired target luminance can be represented by a polynomial function, namely a quadratic: Y = ax2 + bx + c whose coefficients are a function of the luminance values of faithful or objective source. Specifically, if the desired target luminance is Yt and the desired source luminance is Ys, then the coefficient b, for the first order term of the quadratic; is given by: b = (Yt-Ys2) / [Ys (1 -Ys)] ya, the coefficient for the second order term of the quadratic is given by: a = 1 -b These coefficients are computed in step 98. Then, referring to step 100, the following steps are performed for all the pixels in the selected position (which had previously been stored as a black and white display). The RGB values for the pixel are retrieved in step 102. Then, the value Y corresponding to the values of RG B recovered for the pixel is computed in step 104 using the first of the matrix operations defined above. The value Y can then be adjusted in step 106 in accordance with the range correction function defined above (or another suitable function). Then, the replacement YIQ values for the present pixel are selected: Y is adjusted to the adjusted Y value and the I and Q values are adjusted to those of the target color. In this way, the present pixel will be characterized by the chrominance of the lens and a luminance set as a function of the source and target luminances. Finally, in step 1 10, the resulting YIQ values are transformed back into the RGB space. Then they can be scaled, also in 1 10, to be in the original interval (for example, (0 £ S £ 225)) and memory locations can be written that correspond to the pixel with these values to illuminate the pixel, in the step 1 12, with the target color with adjusted luminance. The previous steps are repeated for all the pixels in the selected position. Referring to figure 9, the user can see the adapted image in 482. If in 478 the user decided not to continue adding the tassel or end of thread to the selected position, he can select in 462 the same position or a different one with which to work. The application partially fills the selected tassel or end of yarn and then no longer encourages the user 484 if, based on the partial view, he wants to continue with the change of tassel or thread end. If the user so selects, the application at 486 completes the filling at the position with the tassel or thread end selected in accordance with the method described above. The result can be seen at 488. Alternatively, the user at 484 could choose to leave the change, but instead return to step 462 and restart the modification procedure. In 490, the application checks if all positions have been changed. In a preferred embodiment, it is preferred in terms of developing a complete specification for the sample to require all positions to be examined and changed (even if the "change" is not a genuine change, but instead retains the same tassel or thread end. ); this ensures that the file containing the specifications for the sample contains complete data regarding the content of all the positions. If in 490 it were not the case that all the positions have changed, the control would return to step 462, where the user can select a new position with which to work. On the other hand, if all the positions have changed, then the user can choose 492 to add the resulting sample to a work list that can be manipulated in the subsequent modification screen 56, executed in step 494. If the sample is added Whether or not it results in the work list, the user can select if he wants to move to a new area of the application. A movement can be made to return the previous modification screen 40, to start a database and search index on the screen 30 or to advance to the subsequent modification screen 56. On the subsequent modification screen 56, the user can browse through the previously designed samples and organize the results of the previous session in a project file. At step 564 a sample can be chosen with which to work, which is retrieved at 566 to display on the screen at 562. The user can repeat the above steps as necessary until reaching a desired sample. The user can then, if he wants, delete the particular view sample from the work series, the deletion being executed at 570. At 576, the user can once again choose to view the treatments, such as the ends of the thread or tassels, in each position, which is executed by the application in step 578. The user can then choose in step 570 to add the sample to the current work list and associate it with a project name, so that it can later be pulled into the project screen 26. The sample design being seen after is added to the current project list in step 588 (see figure 5). When the user has developed sufficient interest in a particular sample design, he may decide in step 582 to place an order for one or more impressions. Then the application displays an entry screen of order information in 584, which allows the user to enter information regarding the transaction, such as: customer name, name of the project, pertinent information regarding the current project for said client, name of the sales representative, a description of the client's business, the customer's address, telephone number and facsimile, measured in square yard, place of installation of the carpet, type of adjustment, type of carpet backing, etc. After step 584, the application creates a file containing the order information, including the specification for the particular sample to be imaged, as well as information regarding the client. The order can be transmitted at 585 by any means, such as (without limitation) electronically by modem, to a central facility where a high resolution photographic image can be generated by using techniques analogous to those described in relation to the figure 10, and using PHOTOSHOP® or another suitable photo manipulation tool. The user can then decide in step 586 whether to continue choosing models to work with, or to select a new area of the application, such as returning to the previous modification screen 40, or to the modification screen 44, or to the project screen 26. (In the project screen 26, in step 588 (figure 5), the current project can be added to the project list). If the user no longer orders prints and / or defines that he continues to work on a project or refers to a later time, he can exit, at 58. Of course, he can exit the application at any point through the main menu 24 , but a single exit point has been identified in terms of the location where it would be more logical to follow the session.

The methods according to the present invention, such as the modality described above, can be implemented using any conventional computer system having sufficient memory, processing power and graphic capability, including without limitation electronic notebooks, or desktop personal computers with a processor POWER PC® or PENTI UM®, and with a board, color screen and a means of positioning the cursor. In addition, methods according to the present invention have utility as articles of manufacture stored in any computer readable medium, such as soft disk, hard disk, computer disk (optically readable), tape, or in a read-only memory or random access, without limitation.

Claims (2)

1. CLAIMS 1 . - A method for handling aided by com putation of characteristics of a full color digitalized cloth image, wherein the fabric has at least one position, each position comprising a sub-series of the fabric to which it must be given substantially the same treatment, and wherein the image of the fabric has been stored in memory in a readable and manipulable computer format, and one or more positions of the fabric have been isolated and their positions are stored in a memory in a format of reliable and manipulable computing, and, in addition, where at least one treatment defined by at least one characteristic has been stored in a memory in a readable and manipulable computing format, the method being implemented in a computer coupled to a means of display and a means of user input, the method comprises the steps of: a) displaying on the display medium a digitized image in full color selected from a web to from the at least one stored image; b) identifying a selected position from the at least one position of the displayed fabric image; c) identify a treatment selected from at least one treatment, the treatment defined by at least one characteristic; d) modifying the selected position of the selected image to include the selected treatment feature and adjusting the modified position of the selected image to correct the psychophysical phenomenon; and e) exh i bi r the selected image where the selected position has been modified to include the selected treatment characteristic. 2. - The method according to claim 1, wherein the image displayed and manipulated in steps ae is photographic, 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in step b, the position selected is identified by a gray scale display. 4. - The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one treatment comprises a type of yarn. 5. - The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one feature of the selected treatment comprises a color. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises a floor cover. 7. - The method according to claim 6, wherein the floor cover comprises carpet. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein at least one treatment comprises a type of yarn end. 9. - The method according to claim 8, wherein at least one characteristic of the wire end comprises a color. 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein a first of at least one characteristic of the end of the thread comprises a color and a second characteristic of the end of the thread comprises a construction of thread. 1 1 .- A method for manipulation aided by computation of features within a full-color digitized image of a fabric, where the fabric has at least one position, each position comprising a subset of the fabric to which it is attached. it must give substantially the same treatment, and where at least one image of the fabric has been stored in a memory in a readable and manipulable computer format, and one or more fabric positions have been isolated and their positions stored in a memory in a readable and manipulable computing format, and, furthermore, wherein at least one treatment defined by at least one characteristic is stored in a memory in a readable and manipulable computing format, the method being implemented in a computer coupled to a display means and a user input means, the method comprises the steps of: a) reading a user selection of a fabric from the series of examples for which images are stored in a memory; b) display a full color digital image corresponding to the selected fabric; c) displaying an indication of fabric positions in the displayed image; d) read a user selection of a displayed position; e) modify the displayed image to visually indicate the selected position; f) exhibit at least one of the stored treatments as an option for treatment of the selected position; and g) modifying the selected position of the selected image to display the feature of the selected treatment option and adjusting the modified position of the selected image to correct the psychophysical phenomenon. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in step e, a gray-scale display is incorporated in the image to visually indicate the selected position. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one treatment comprises a type of yarn. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one feature of the selected treatment comprises a color. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises carpet. 16. - The method according to claim 15, wherein at least one treatment comprises a type of yarn end. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein at least one characteristic of the wire end comprises a color. 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the images stored in memory and the image manipulated in steps b-g are digitized photographic images. 19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: h) storing data indicative of the treatment selection in a memory associated with data indicative of the selected fabric and the selected position. 20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of: i) reading a second user selection of a displayed position; j) modify the displayed image to indicate the second selected position; k) exhibit at least one option for treatment of the second selected position, the treatment option has a characteristic; and I) modifying the second selected position of the selected image to display the feature of the selected treatment option and adjusting the modified position of the selected image to correct the psychophysical phenomenon. twenty-one . - The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: h) storing information that specifies the selected treatment option; i) transmitting the information stored in step (h) to a central facility; and j) in the central installation, generate an image based on the information transmitted. 22. A system for representing and modifying full-color digitized images of fabrics of at least one type, each type of fabric being defined by at least one characteristic and having a characteristic series of positions, each position comprising one or more regions in the cloth having a common treatment, the modification of the images involves the modification of treatments for the positions, the modification of treatments can be selected from a series of treatments, each treatment has a characteristic, the system comprising: a) user input means; b) data storage means, wherein the series of full-color digitized images of fabrics are stored in accordance with the type and series of treatments are stored in accordance with the characteristic; c) a processor coupled to the user input means and the data storage means, the processor being programmed to: i) display a selected image of a fabric from at least one stored image; ii) identifying a selected position from at least one position of the displayed fabric image; iii) identify a treatment selected from at least one treatment, the treatment defined by at least one characteristic; and v) display the selected image where the selected position has been modified to include the selected treatment feature and adjust the modified position of the selected image to correct the psychophysical phenomenon. 23. A storage medium encoded with instructions for allowing a computing device to perform a method for manipulation assisted by computation of features of a full-color digitized image of a fabric, wherein the fabric has at least one position, each position comprises a subset of the web to which substantially the same processing should be given, and wherein at least one image of a web has been stored in a memory in a readable and manipulable computing format, and one or more of the positions of said fabric have been isolated and their positions stored in a memory in a computer format le íble and man ipu lable, and, in addition, where at least one treatment defined by at least one feature in a memory in a readable and manipulable computing format, the method being implemented in a computer coupled to a display medium and an input media. user, the storage medium encoded with instructions for performing the method comprising the steps of: a) displaying a full-color digitized image of a fabric from at least one selected image; b) identifying a selected position from at least one position of the displayed fabric image; c) identify a treatment selected from at least one treatment, the treatment defined by at least one characteristic; d) modifying the selected position of the selected image to include the selected treatment characteristic and adjusting the modified position of the selected image to correct the psychophysical phenomenon; and e) displaying the selected image where the selected position has been modified to include the selected treatment feature. 24. - A method for adjusting at least one color in a photo image from a font color to a target color, the model values of RG B and YI Q for the source and target colors being known and stored in a data storage device, a representative RGB color value previously selected for the font color is also stored in a data storage device, the color photographic image, including the substring of the image having the font color , having been digitized to produce a full-color digital image represented with the RGB color model and the digital image is stored in a data storage device, the method comprising the steps of: a) transforming the RGB values for the font color and the color of objective to color model of YIQ; b) convert the RGB values for the target color to the YIQ color model; c) Substitute the I and Q values of the target color with the I and Q values of the source color, so that the resulting YIQ values include the chrominance of the target and a luminance adjusted as a function of the source luminances and objective; d) transform the resulting YIQ values which include the luminance of the source color and the chrominance of the target color to the RGB color model; and f) displaying the RGB color model for the target color. 25.- A method for adjusting at least one color in a photographic image from a source color to a target color, the RGB and YIQ model values for the source and target colors being known and stored in a color device. data storage, a representative RGB color value previously selected for the font color is also stored in a data storage device, the color photographic image, including the substring of the image having the font color, having been digitized to produce a full-color digital image represented with the color model of RG B and the digital image is stored in a data storage device, the method comprising the steps of: a) recovering the RGB values for the faithful font color of the data storage device; b) compute the Y component of the YIQ representation of the RGB value for the faithful font color; c) recovering the RGB values for the target color of the data storage device; d) compute the YIQ values for the target color of the recovered RGB values; e) computing luminance adjustment coefficients as a function of the Y value of the faithful source color and the Y value of the target color; and f) for all the pixels of the image having the font color: i) recovering the RGB values for the pixel; ii) compute the Y value that corresponds to the RG B values recovered for the pixel; iii) adjust the value Y that corresponds to the value of RGB recovered for the pixel as a function of the coefficients computed in step d in order to correct the psychophysical phenomenon; iv) substituting the values of I and Q for the target color for the I and Q values for the pixel, so that the pixel is characterized by the chrominance of the target color and the adjusted luminance; and v) transforming the resulting YIQ values for the pixel to the RGB color model for display. 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the adjustment of the value Y in step f.iii. , is done in accordance with the function: Y = ax2 + bx + c where b = (Yt-Ys2) / [Ys (1 -Ys) 3 where a = 1 -b where the Y value for the faithful target color is Ys and the Y value for the target color is Yt.