Abstract:
In an image processing apparatus, a stereo image is photographed by fitting a stereophotographic adapter to a camera for photographing an object image. A depth map representing a depthwise distribution of an object is extracted from the stereo image. A multi-viewpoint image sequence of the object looking from multiple viewpoints is generated based on the stereo image and the depth map. A three-dimensional image is synthesized based on the multi-viewpoint image sequence. Further, a printer prints the three-dimensional image for enabling a stereoscopic image of the object to be observed with an optical member such as a lenticular sheet.
Abstract:
A method of producing a multidimensional image having a special effect. A lenticular lens is provided having a plurality of equally spaced, parallel lenticular lines and a substantially planar back surface. A plurality of planar images are created, ordered, and interlaced into a desired sequence. The interlaced images are printed and arranged in a desired manner in relation to the lenticular lens. A special effect coating is then applied to a desired portion of the interlaced images to create a desired visual effect.
Abstract:
The filmless method and printer for making 3D and animation pictures, using a matrix display to sequentially display a series of 2D views, and a projection lens to project the displayed images onto a lenticular print material, each at a different projection angle. In order to fill the image area underlying each lenticule on the lenticular print material with different 2D views, each 2D view must be projected onto the lenticular print material at different projection angle. Two methods can be used: 1) In the scanning method, two of the three elements including the matrix display, the projection lens and the lenticular print material are moved by mechanical means to different positions to change the projection angle; 2) In the non-scanning method, a large-aperture projection lens is used to project the 2D views sequentially displayed on the matrix display onto the lenticular print material such that each 2D view is projected through a different section the lens aperture. The 2D images for making 3D pictures are electronically aligned before they are conveyed to the display. Thus, the key-subject alignment process during printing is eliminated. The matrix display can be a video monitor or a light valve, such as an LCD or LED panel. Computer generated images can be used.
Abstract:
A system and method in which a size of a pixel used to print lenticular depth images is changed to remove overlap in the slow scan print direction. A space adjustment of the space between scan lines can also be performed to remove pixel overlap. The pixel can also be elongated in the fast scan direction reducing fast scan resolution. An elongated pixel can be combined with skip space adjustment to remove pixel overlap. Printing the image lines in the fast scan or dot movement direction improves image quality. The print resolution in the fast scan direction can be reduced by increasing the printing rate compared to the data rate of the supplied image data, thereby cloning pixels in the fast scan direction, while maintaining a normal slow scan speed to normally print lines. Combinations of the above approaches to directional printing, removing slow scan pixel overlap and reducing file size can be accomplished.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for forming a hard copy motion image from a video motion sequence recorded on a video recording device. The video motion sequence is played and an operator selects a series of motion containing views which are stored in memory. An integral image is printed on a printing medium such that the selected motion containing views can be viewed in sequence by altering the angle between a viewer's eyes and a lenticular or barrier screen located on the printing medium.
Abstract:
The method and apparatus for making a composite image of a scene a large-aperture lens to form an image of the scene on a photographic film through a lenticular screen or a barrier strip. The recorded image on film is digitized into a digital image and conveyed to a computer workstation for processing. Assuming the image area in the recorded image under each lenticule is digitized into an image zone composed of N pixel rows in the digital image. To correct the pseudoscopic effect, the order of each group of N pixel rows in each image zone is electronically reversed. Also, the entire digital image is electronically reversed to become a normal composite image. The image reversal process (for the entire image) can also be effected optically by forming the scene image through a plane mirror. The composite image in digital form can be used to produce 3D display, video and hard-copies by presenting the composite image behind a lenticular screen or a barrier strip. A similar method can be used to produce a composite image of a series of M scenes for making animation picture. In addition to the components described above, an aperture plate having an opening the width of which is substantially equal to 1/M of the taking lens aperture is moved to M different positions such that each of the M scenes is formed through a different section of the lens aperture.
Abstract:
A 3D photographic printer and printing method wherein a stationary projection lens is used to project a series of 2D views each at a different projection angle onto a stationary lenticular print material. The aperture of the projection lens is sufficient large to cover the entire width of each of the lenticules on the print material. The lens aperture is mechanically or optically partitioned into a number of sections so that only one section is opened to allow a 2D view to be exposed at a different projection angle.
Abstract:
A 3D printer for producing 3D photographs on lenticular print material in which a video monitor is used to display stored digital 2D images of different views of a scene for exposure. Prior to printing, one of the stored 2D image is displayed on a viewing monitor and the key subject image of the displayed 2D image is selected. Based on the location of the selected key subject image, the computer searches for the key subject location of each of the other stored 2D images and electronically shifts the 2D images so that the key subject location of all different views is the same. During printing, the electronically shifted 2D images are sequentially displayed on the video monitor and projected through a projection lens onto the lenticular screen at different projection angles.
Abstract:
Multidimensional lithographs which impart the illusions of depth and/or motion to a viewer are prepared by constructing and sequencing a plurality of electronic pages, preferably four or more; rasterizing, compressing and converting each page; interlacing the pages in a desired sequence; outputting the interlaced frames to an imaging device; and producing a lithographic separation from the imaging device. In the rasterization of each frame, nonbinary pixels are created that correspond to the resolution of the line count of the lenticular lens that will ultimately be applied to a print of the lithograph times the number of frames in the lithographic separation. The frames are compressed to an amount equal to the reciprocal of the number of frames from which the lithographic separation is prepared. In the converting step, the nonbinary pixels of the compressed frames are converted to individual color plates of binary pixels. The multidimensional lithographic separations are free of moire and screen interference.
Abstract:
A system and method that determines a number of scan lines for each image of a view using a resolution of the recording media, a pitch of the lenticules and a number of views needed to minimize angular transitions between views. The viewing range is also increased by allowing the primary visual field to be offset with respect to the projection field of the lenticules such that the image lines can be positioned under lenticules adjacent to the lenticule projecting the image lines as the distance from a central viewing position increases.