Client-server design tool with 3D preview for laser-finished garments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12247337-B2
Application number	US-202218069174-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2022
Priority date	Jul 23, 2019
Publication date	Mar 11, 2025
Grant date	Mar 11, 2025

Abstract

A tool allows a user to create new designs for apparel and preview these designs in three dimensions before manufacture. Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. Based on a laser input file with a pattern, a laser will burn the pattern onto apparel. With the tool, the user will be able to create, make changes, and view images of a design, in real time, before burning by a laser. The tool can be accessed in a client-server environment, such as executing via a Web browser.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
providing a garment design tool that shows on a computer screen of a client a three-dimensional preview image of a garment design as customized by a user with a finishing pattern;
in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user to select a garment base and upon the user's selection, showing on the computer screen a first preview image of the selected garment template;
in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user to select a wear pattern from a menu of wear patterns and upon the user's selection, showing on the computer screen a second preview image of the selected garment template with the selected wear pattern, wherein each wear pattern is associated with a laser input file to be used by a laser to produce that wear pattern onto a garment;
at a server, merging a laser input file associated with the selected wear pattern with an image of the selected garment template to generate a merged image, wherein the merged image is generated by
generating an adjusted base image from the image of the selected garment template without the selected wear pattern,
generating a pattern mask based on the laser input file associated with the selected wear pattern,
for a pixel at a pixel location of the merged image, obtaining a first contribution for the pixel location of the merged image by combining a first value for a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the image of the selected garment template without the selected wear pattern,
for the pixel at the pixel location of the merged image, obtaining a second contribution at the pixel location for the merged image by combining a second value for a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the adjusted base image,
combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain a color value for a pixel at the pixel location for the second preview image, and
using the color value for the pixel at the pixel location in the merged image; and
at the client receiving the merged image from the server, wherein the garment design tool shows the merged image as the second preview image;
saving the garment design as customized by a user with the selected garment template and selected level of wear;
providing a first laser file with a wear pattern for a first size and first style;
automatically generating a plurality of laser files with the wear pattern for a plurality of sizes and styles, different from the first size and first style; and
based on a laser input file associated with the selected wear pattern and the selected level of wear and a size as selected by the user, using the second laser input file with a laser to create a finishing pattern on an outer surface of a target garment corresponding to the selected garment template and of the size selected by the user.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:
allowing the user to change a point from which the three-dimensional preview image of the garment design is viewed.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the garment design comprises a design for at least one of a pair of pants, jeans, or shorts.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first contribution comprises a first percentage of the image of the selected garment template that passes to the merged image, and the second contribution comprises a second percentage of the adjusted base image that passes to the merged image.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein for the first contribution, the combining comprises a multiply operation of the first value for the pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and the pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the image of the selected garment template without the selected wear pattern.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein for the second contribution, the combining comprises a multiply operation of the second value for the pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and the pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the adjusted base image.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically generating comprises
scaling a first zone of the first laser file according to a first scaling factor,
scaling a second zone of the first laser file according to a second scaling factor, different from the first scaling factor, and
storing the first laser file with the scaled first zone and scaled second zone as a second laser file for a second size and first style.

8. A method comprising:
providing a garment design tool that shows on a computer screen of a client a three-dimensional preview image of a garment design as customized by a user with a finishing pattern;
in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user to select a garment base and upon the user's selection, showing on the computer screen a first preview image of the selected garment template;
in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user to select a wear pattern from a menu of wear patterns and upon the user's selection, showing on the computer screen a second preview image of the selected garment template with the selected wear pattern, wherein each wear pattern is associated with a laser input file to be used by a laser to produce that wear pattern onto a garment;
at a server, merging a laser input file associated with the selected wear pattern with an image of the selected garment template to generate a merged image, wherein the merged image is generated by
generating an adjusted base image from the image of the selected garment template without the selected wear pattern,
generating a pattern mask based on the laser input file associated with the selected wear pattern,
for a pixel at a pixel location of the merged image, obtaining a first contribution for the pixel location of the merged image by combining a first value for a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the image of the selected garment template without the selected wear pattern,
for the pixel at the pixel location of the merged image, obtaining a second contribution at the pixel location for the merged image by combining a second value for a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the adjusted base image,
combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain a color value for a pixel at the pixel location for the second preview image, and
using the color value for the pixel at the pixel location in the merged image; and
at the client receiving the merged image from the server, wherein the garment design tool shows the merged image as the second preview image;
saving the garment design as customized by a user with the selected garment template and selected level of wear;
providing a first laser file with a wear pattern for a first size and first style; and
automatically generating a plurality of laser files with the wear pattern for a plurality of sizes and styles, different from the first size and first style,
wherein the garment is a pair of pants, the first zone corresponds to a region of the pants above a crotch point of the pant, and the second zone corresponds to a region of the pants below a crotch point of the pants.

9. The method of claim 8 comprising:
allowing the user to change a point from which the three-dimensional preview image of the garment design is viewed.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the garment design comprises a design for at least one of a pair of pants, jeans, or shorts.

11. The method of claim 8

Assignees

• Strauss Levi & Co

Inventors

• Schultz Jennifer
• Schultz Christopher
• Mahanty Debdulal
• Sights James Barton
• Bell Benjamin

Classifications

• B23K26/362

  Laser etching · CPC title

• B23K26/0622

  by shaping pulses · CPC title

• D06B11/0096

  to get a faded look · CPC title

• D06P5/15

  Locally discharging the dyes · CPC title

• D06P5/2011

  Application of vibrations, pulses or waves for non-thermic purposes · CPC title