Radial lenticular blending effect

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9924069-B2
Application number	US-201715409187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2017
Priority date	Aug 2, 2011
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A method of integrating a radial zoom effect with a complementary radial image transition effect includes integrating the effects such that the two blended radial effects share a common center, and thereby share common displacement paths during the perceived transition. In addition to the visual appeal of the effect, the invention also resolves operational incompatibilities between the practice of commercial photography and the practice of lenticular printing. A lenticular product is formed in accordance with this method.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming a lenticular product having a radial lenticular blending effect comprising the steps of:
selecting a first image and a second image;
processing the first image and the second image to form a correlated first image and a correlated second image, respectively, wherein the correlated first image represents a source file for producing a zoom image;
selecting a targeted zoom area within the correlated first image and forming an interlaced first image which comprises an interlaced zoom image having a zoom effect that is observed in the targeted zoom area;
forming an interlaced alpha channel made up of an alpha file queue that is formed from an alpha file set, wherein the interlaced alpha channel is interlaced at a same spatial frequency as the zoom effect generated by the interlaced zoom image;
using the interlaced alpha channel as a selection mask to integrate the interlaced zoom image and the second image which comprises a non-interlaced, static image to form a merged radial effect file, wherein the interlaced alpha channel as a selection mask includes a variable level of transparency;
producing an interlaced print image layer based on the merged radial effect file; and
combining the interlaced print image layer with a lenticular lens to form the lenticular product.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lenticular product transitions from a first observed state in which the first image is displayed to a second observed state in which the static second image is observed.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transition from the first observed state to the second observed state includes two separate but complementary radial effects that share a common center.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the common center comprises a common geometric center.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alpha channel is configured so as to progressively reveal the static second image as the lenticular product transitions from the first observed state to the second observed state.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alpha file set comprises a sequence of gray scale images that proceed from a gradual transitional boundary gradient to an abrupt boundary gradient.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoom effect and the alpha channel share a common center.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interlaced alpha channel is configured such that the visual emergence of the static second image is integrated with a structure of the interlaced zoom image.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the static second image, which is viewed as a still phase in a final image after the lenticular transition is complete, is an inseparable part of the merged radial effect file as a result of being applied the interlaced alpha channel which is constructed to be specific to the second image.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoom area represents a discrete area of the first image and thus can have a center at any point within the first image.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interlaced alpha channel is configured such that the second image constitutes a zoomed-in image that is observed in the zoom area of the first image, the second image representing a stable terminal phase of the lenticular product as a result of the second image being a static image.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interlaced alpha channel is constructed such that an introduction of the second image is initiated in a same vicinity where the target zoom area is centered.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the static second image, which is viewed as a still phase in a final image after the lenticular transition is complete, is an inseparable part of the merged radial effect file as a result of being applied the interlaced alpha channel which is constructed to be specific to the second image.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoom area represents a discrete area of the first image and thus can have a center at any point within the first image.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interlaced alpha channel is configured such that the second image constitutes a zoomed-in image that is observed in the zoom area of the first image, the second image representing a stable terminal phase of the lenticular product as a result of the second image being a static image.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interlaced alpha channel is constructed such that an introduction of the second image is initiated in a same vicinity where the target zoom area is centered.

17. A method of integrating a radial zoom effect with a complementary radial image transition effect to produce an integrated radial effect that can be used for producing an interlaced print image for use in a lenticular product comprising the steps of:
selecting a first image and a static second image;
processing the first image and the second image to form a correlated first image and a correlated second image, respectively, wherein the correlated first image represents a source file for producing a zoom image;
selecting a targeted zoom area within the correlated first image and forming an interlaced first image which comprises an interlaced zoom image having a zoom effect that is observed in the targeted zoom area;
forming an interlaced alpha channel made up of an alpha file queue that is formed from an alpha file set, wherein the interlaced alpha channel is interlaced at a same spatial frequency as the zoom effect generated by the interlaced zoom image; and
using the interlaced alpha channel as a selection mask to integrate the interlaced zoom image and the second image which comprises a non-interlaced, static image to form a merged radial effect file for use in producing the interlaced print image, wherein the interlaced alpha channel as a selection mask includes a variable level of transparency,
wherein the integrated radial zoom effect and the radial image transition effect share a common center and thereby share common displacement paths during a perceived transition between a first observed state in which the first image is displayed to a second observed state in which the static second image is observed.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the alpha channel is configured so as to progressively reveal the static second image during the transition from the first observed state to the second observed state.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the alpha file set comprises a sequence of gray scale images that proceed from a gradual transitional boundary gradient to an abrupt boundary gradient.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the interlaced alpha channel is configured such that the visual emergence of the static second image is integrated with a structure of the interlaced zoom image.

Assignees

• Tracer Imaging Llc

Inventors

• Spiro Steven M
• Daniell Stephen S
• Lau Daniel L

Classifications

• G02B3/0006

  Arrays (G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence) · CPC title

• G06T13/80

  Two-dimensional [2D] animation, e.g. using sprites · CPC title

• H04N1/3871 Primary

  the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals · CPC title

• H04N1/393

  Enlarging or reducing · CPC title

• Y10T428/24802

  Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.] · CPC title