Computer-implemented systems and methods providing user interface features for editing multi-layer images

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9619108-B2
Application number	US-201113006738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2011
Priority date	Jan 14, 2011
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

One exemplary embodiment involves, on a computer device, displaying a graphical user interface for editing electronic content and displaying representations of a fixed number of layers available for use in the electronic content. Representation of ones of the layers that are not used are graphically distinguished from representations of ones of the layers that are used. In response to receiving input at the computer device, an editing feature for editing a layer of the electronic content is provided.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
displaying, on a computer device, a graphical user interface for editing electronic content: displaying, on the computer device, representations of a fixed number of layers available for separately editing different aspects of an image of the electronic content, wherein:
the fixed number of layers is fixed based on a type of the computing device upon which a software application providing the graphical user interface has been installed, wherein, when the software application is installed on a second computing device of a different type, the fixed number of layers is different, wherein a same set of layer constructions is used to provide the software application on the computer device and the second computer device, and
displaying representations of the fixed number of layers including both representations of layers that are populated with content and layers that are not populated with content indicates a maximum number of layers available for separately editing the different aspects of the image by editing individual layers of the image using the graphical user interface, wherein representations of layers that are not populated with content are graphically distinguished from representations of layers that are populated with content; and
in response to receiving input at the computer device, providing an editing feature for editing a layer of the electronic content.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
each of the layers that are populated with content is represented only by an unlabeled selectable thumbnail image representative of a corresponding layer of the electronic content; and
each of the layers that are not populated with content is represented only by an unlabeled selectable indicator indicating that a respective layer is not populated with content.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein relative positions of the representations of the fixed number of layers indicate an order, wherein a representation of a first layer positioned above a representation of a second layer indicates that the first layer is above the second layer in the electronic content.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the input comprises a touch-based input received on a touch-screen display of the computer device, the touch screen display displaying the representations of the fixed number of layers.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the touch-based input selects a first representation representing a first layer of the layers that is not populated with content, wherein in response to receiving the input, the first representation changes to indicate that the first layer is populated with content.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the touch-based input selects a first representation representing a first layer of the layers that is populated with content and deletes the first layer, wherein in response to receiving the input, the first representation changes to indicate that the first layer is not populated with content.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the touch-based input comprises a gesture that selects a first representation representing a first layer and moves it to a new location relative to a second representation of a second layer such that there is a changed order of the representations displayed, wherein in response to receiving the input, an order of the layers of the electronic content is changed based on the changed order of the representations.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the touch-based input comprises a gesture that selects a first representation representing a first layer and moves it to a new location relative to a second representation of a second layer, wherein in response to receiving the input:
the first layer is merged into the second layer; and
the first representation changes to indicate that the first layer is not populated with content.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the touch-based input comprises a gesture that selects three or more representations to merge, wherein in response to receiving the input the three or more layers are merged in to a single layer represented by a single one of the representations.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the gesture results in merging of all of the layers of the electronic content.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the touch-based input comprises a gesture that selects a first representation representing a first layer, wherein in response to receiving the input a menu of expanded layer options is displayed.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein menus of expanded layer options are displayed simultaneously for multiple layers.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein a representation of a first layer that is populated with content displays only a portion of the first layer, wherein a transparent portion of the first layer is not displayed as part of the representation of the first layer.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising indicating which of the layers is currently being edited separate from indicating whether each layer is populated with content.

15. A system comprising:
a touch screen; and
a processor for executing instructions stored in computer-readable medium on one or more devices, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions perform operations comprising:
displaying a graphical user interface for editing electronic content;
displaying, on the computer device, representations of a fixed number of layers available for separately editing different aspects of an image of the electronic content, wherein:
the fixed number of layers is fixed based on a type of the computing device upon which a software application providing the graphical user interface has been installed, wherein, when the software application is installed on a second computing device of a different type, the fixed number of layers is different, wherein a same set of layer constructions is used to provide the software application on the computer device and the second computer device, and
displaying representations of the fixed number of layers including both representations of layers that are populated with content and layers that are not populated with content indicates a maximum number of layers available for separately editing the different aspects of the image by editing individual layers of the image using the graphical user interface, wherein representations of layers that are not populated with content are graphically distinguished from representations of layers that are populated with content; and

in response to receiving input at the computer device, providing an editing feature for editing a layer of the electronic content.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein relative positions of the representations of the fixed number of layers indicate an order, wherein a representation of a first layer positioned above a representation of a second layer indicates that the first layer is above the second layer in the electronic content.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the operations further comprise receiving touch-based input as a gesture that selects a first representation representing a first layer and moves the first representation to a new location relative to a second representation of a second layer; and
in response to receiving the input,
merging image aspects of the first layer into the second layer; and
changing the first representation to indicate that the first layer is not populated with content.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein a diagonally-measured screen size of the touch screen is within a range of 5 inches to 9 inches, inclusive.

Assignees

• Dowd Geoffrey
• Adobe Systems Inc

Inventors

• Dowd Geoffrey

Classifications

• G06F2203/04804

  Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows · CPC title

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G06F2203/04801

  Cursor retrieval aid, i.e. visual aspect modification, blinking, colour changes, enlargement or other visual cues, for helping user do find the cursor in graphical user interfaces · CPC title

• G06F2203/04808

  Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title