Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6342290
-
Patent Number
6,342,290
-
Date Filed
Monday, November 8, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 29, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Jones; Deborah
- Boss; Wendy
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 428 919
- 428 195
- 428 17
- 428 15
- 428 190
- 002 900
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A pattern for camouflage and a method for making the pattern. Rely on photographic images arranged in a synthetic perspective relationship, appearing to extend toward the horizon. The photographic images are images of landscape features in a selected environment. The pattern blends in with landscape features both in proximity to and distant from the camouflage pattern. In one embodiment, the pattern is adapted to be seamlessly repeatable across a surface. In one or two dimensions the method for making the camouflage includes taking photographs and selecting photographic images that represent the landscape features in the selected environment. The method also includes separating those images and arranging them into a repeating pattern. Photographic images are arranged in synthetic perspective which includes obscuring background images with foreground images in a manner that simulates the perspective in the selected environment.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pattern for camouflaging a user and to novel methods for making a pattern for camouflage.
2. The Background Art
Since World War II, a variety of patterns have been designed to camouflage people and objects in an outdoor environment. Military personnel use camouflage clothing for combat and training. Other users of camouflage include hunters, bird watchers, paint ball players and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Camouflage prevents people from being detected by other people and animals. A good camouflage can allow hunters and other wildlife watchers to avoid startling wildlife. Camouflage aids the military in performing covert operations and hiding from enemy fire.
Early camouflage was a single color, often a shade of green or brown. More recent camouflage arrangements include repeating geometric shapes with borders. This type of camouflage typically has two or three colors, including green, brown, or black. A green version of this camouflage is designed for hiding a person in a forested environment. Another version of this camouflage is light brown with dark borders around the geometric shapes to match a dry, desert background.
Camouflage clothing manufacturers have recently attempted to create a more realistic appearance by using plant-like three-dimensional additions. However, this camouflage is noisy, cumbersome and may catch on snags. Other camouflage arrangements include artists' renderings or photographic images of wilderness scenes.
Typically, camouflage patterns are effective only in an environment where the user does not stand higher than vegetation. The camouflage schemes currently in use do not provide the illusion of perspective to blend in with a landscape that has low or sparse vegetation. The prior art generally provides camouflage only for a person standing in close proximity to the vegetation. The vegetation must also stand as high as the person for the camouflage to be effective.
In many regions around the world, a camouflage user stands taller than the surrounding vegetation. For example, in the western United States, large regions have only sagebrush and low ground cover. This sagebrush may stand as tall as an individual's knees or waist. Above the sagebrush immediately adjacent to the user, the viewer sees only plants and landscape features behind the user, many of which elements are a considerable distance behind the user. This type of open landscape, where the view is unobstructed by vegetation, is common in arid and semi arid regions, such as southern Europe or the western United States.
Prior art configurations do not camouflage any part of a user above the height of the vegetation because they cannot give the appearance of an open landscape, with vegetation in the distance. The prior art is designed for use only when vegetation reaches the full height of the body of a user. Moreover, no method is available to represent the vegetation or appearance of such landscapes.
In a landscape where a user stands higher than the vegetation or the vegetation is sparse, the camouflage scheme must blend with vegetation some distance behind the user. No currently available camouflage layout recreates an open landscape's view into the horizon.
The prior art is designed primarily for use in forests and not for use in sagebrush, other brush regions, forests or other arid or semi-arid environments. As a result, the currently available camouflage generally does not blend in with the vegetation of arid or semi-arid regions.
Moreover, the more realistic looking camouflage patterns, particularly those that use more realistic images rather than pseudo-random patterns, do not create a repeatable pattern because the images are not adaptable to do so. Some images must be matched to extend across a person's entire body. A repeatable pattern is necessary for commercially feasible large-scale production of camouflage clothing, without telltale discontinuities in the camouflage scheme.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a pattern that camouflages a user in an environment and blends in with the vegetation in proximity to and at a distance from the camouflage.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a camouflage pattern that blends in with a landscape dominated by comparatively low growing vegetation.
It is another object of the invention to create an image that recreates the appearance of a landscape extending to the horizon.
It is another object of the invention for provide a method for making the pattern.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pattern that combines photographic images into a composite image that blends realistically into the landscape, through the use of synthetic perspective, where the photographic images are selected to reflect the arrangement and density of landscape features in a selected environment.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pattern that can be seamlessly repeated in one or two dimensions, be imprinted on a substrate, be adapted for imprinting on a fabric, or provided in a commercially feasible pattern for mass production on bolts of cloth.
Consistent with the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, an apparatus and method are disclosed, in suitable detail to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention.
In certain embodiments an apparatus and method in accordance with the present invention may include taking photographic images of discrete landscape features of a sagebrush environment. In a sagebrush embodiment, photographic images of sagebrush may be the largest of the photographic images used in the pattern. This embodiment may also includes photographic images of small bushes and low groundcover. These photographic images may be selected and isolated from larger photographic images, which include the landscape feature in the natural environment. The isolated photographic images may be arranged in a synthetic perspective relationship. The synthetic perspective relationship is created by overlaying a photographic image on top of any other photographic image that lies above and behind the first photographic image.
Any environment can be recreated by taking photographs of the landscape features in the environment and separating the photographic images of each landscape feature of interest. For example, one embodiment includes photographic images of reeds and rushes arranged in a synthetic perspective relationship, recreating a marsh environment. Another embodiment includes photographic images of aspens, conifers, and herbs, also arranged in a synthetic perspective relationship, recreating an alpine forest environment.
To recreate the appearance of the selected environment, a background color may be selected and can be seen in the spaces between the photographic images of the selected principal element. An accent color may be selected to match the appearance of the environment's background in shadow. The accent color may be smeared across the background color to mottle and shade naturally and randomly.
The repeating pattern is created by the selection and positioning of edge elements and corner elements. Each edge element is selected and split into two halves. The first half is positioned at its opposite edge of the pattern and the other half is position at its opposite edge opposite the first half The edge halves create a single image when two pattern edges are placed together. The pattern contains split edge images positioned at each of the pattern's four edges. The corner elements are split into four quadrants. Each quadrant is positioned at its opposite corner of the pattern, creating a complete image when the pattern is repeated in two dimensions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is an illustration of a pattern of one preferred embodiment of synthetic perspective camouflage;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a diorama illustration of the pattern organization;
FIG. 3
is a line drawing representing a photographic image of a large element;
FIG. 4
is a line drawing representing the organization of photographic images in a pattern;
FIG. 5
is an illustration of a groundcover layer of a pattern;
FIG. 6
is an illustration of a mid size element layer suitable for super position over a groundcover layer;
FIG. 7
is an illustration of a large element layer suitable for super position over groundcover and mid size element layers;
FIG. 8A
an illustration of an edge element;
FIG. 8B
is an illustration showing the position of an edge element in a pattern;
FIG. 9A
an illustration of a corner element;
FIG. 9B
is an illustration showing the position of a corner element in a pattern;
FIG. 10
is an illustration of a pattern repeated;
FIG. 11
is an illustration of a sample of a pattern in accordance with the invention
FIG. 12
is an overview flowchart of a method of creating a pattern in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 13
is a flowchart of a method for artistic design of a pattern in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 14
is a flowchart of a method for element selection of a pattern in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 15
is a flowchart of a method for element separation and classification of pattern in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 16
is a flowchart of a method for pattern assembly;
FIG. 17
is a flowchart of a method for element placement;
FIG. 18
is flowchart of a method for printing of a pattern in accordance with the invention;
FIGS. 19-21
are illustrations of various color plates for a color separation process in accordance with te invention;
FIG. 20
is an illustration of a single color plate; and
FIG. 21
is an illustration of single color plate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in
FIGS. 1 through 21
, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is as broad as claimed herein. The illustrations are merely representative of certain, presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Those presently preferred embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will, of course, appreciate that various modifications to the details of the Figures may easily be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. Thus, the following description of the Figures is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain presently preferred embodiments consistent with the invention as claimed.
FIG. 1
shows a pattern
10
of one preferred embodiment in grayscale. The illustrated pattern
10
is composed of twelve different colors (represented by shades of gray) selected to match a selected environment. The pattern has an ecotone motif, meaning the landscape features used in a pattern are selected from landscape features that occur naturally together. The pattern
10
may contain any number of colors selected to match the selected environment. The colors of the pattern
10
may also reflect a selected time of day. The illustrated pattern is particularly suited to camouflage for open landscapes during daylight.
The environment of the illustrated embodiment is a western United States region with a sagebrush landscape. The selected environment may be any environment in which users desire camouflage. Users include hunters, bird watchers, and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Military personnel may also use camouflage for training and combat.
The pattern may be printed on a substrate. The substrate may be any surface, such as a fabric-like material, for example, where the presentation surface is the same as the area of the substrate.
The pattern
10
includes photographic images
11
of discrete landscape features. The photographic images
11
of the illustrated pattern may include images of shrubs, bushes, grasses and the like. Alternative embodiments may contain any combination of shrubs, bushes, grasses, rocks, herbs, trees, flowers, rocks, deadwood, and the like to match the pattern
10
to the selected environment. For example, the pattern
10
may include photographic images of scrub oak and grass to match a western United States foothill environment. Alternatively, the pattern may include a combination of photographic images including: Joshua trees, desert shrubs and small cacti to match a desert environment; reeds and rushes to match a marsh environment; or conifer, aspens, and herbs to match an alpine terrain or even tundra.
FIG. 2
, a perspective view of a three dimensional diorama illustration
12
of the pattern
10
, shows the synthetic perspective relationship and organization of photographic images
11
in the pattern
10
. The perspective illustration
12
has a horizon
14
that is imaginary and above the pattern
10
. The perspective illustration
12
shows a vanishing point
16
in the horizon
14
, an imaginary point at which the pattern
10
would disappear in horizon
14
, if the pattern
10
extended indefinitely. The perspective illustration
12
has viewing planes,
18
,
20
,
22
and a reference plane
24
. A reference image
26
lies in the reference plane
24
and has a base
28
. A reference line
30
runs through the base
28
of the reference image
26
.
The perspective illustration
12
also shows several photographic images
11
, including three that are background images
32
,
34
, and
36
, lying in viewing planes
20
and
22
. Any portions of the background images
28
,
30
, or
32
that appear to be directly behind the reference image
26
are obscured by the reference image
26
.
The perspective illustration
12
also has photographic images
11
that are foreground images
34
,
35
in a viewing plane
18
. Foreground images
34
,
36
will mask any portion of the reference image
26
that appears to be directly behind foreground images
34
,
36
. The base
28
of the reference image
26
is obscured by an upper portion of a foreground image
38
, adding to the synthetic perspective in the pattern
10
.
The perspective illustration
12
shows that the perspective of the pattern
10
may run toward the vanishing point
16
. This perspective creates a perception in the viewer, an animal or another person, that the object represented by foreground images are smaller that the objects represented by the background images, even if the two images are actually the same size.
FIG. 3
shows a computer representation (e.g. line drawing) of a large pattern element
42
. Large element
42
is a photographic image that has been isolated from a larger photographic image (not shown) of large element
42
and the surrounding vegetation or landscape. A large element is a photographic image
11
of a landscape feature that is large relative to all the landscape features in the environment.
The complete photographic image (not shown) of a selected environment is selected to represent part of an ecotone of the environment. Large elements
42
combined in a single pattern
10
are usually from the same ecotone. The term ecotone describes a given group of plant types that occur naturally together, such as aspen/conifer or sage/juniper. The environment is a given landscape, in which hunters need camouflage. For example, the environment may be a landscape in the western United States, where the ecotone selected may be sagebrush and grass.
Large element
42
is separated from a larger photographic image along both its exterior boundaries
44
and its interior boundaries
46
. The interior boundaries
46
create interior spaces
48
within large element
42
.
FIG. 4
shows a simplified line drawing
52
representing the organization and synthetic perspective of photographic images
11
in a pattern
10
. The line drawing has a first layer of a background
54
and an accent color
56
. The background
54
is a color selected to match a dominant ground color or background foliage color of the selected environment. For example, the background
54
could be rusty colored to match the red soil of the southwestern United States. Alternatively, the background
54
could be a light brown to match the sandy soils of desert regions. The background
54
could also be black with a light accent color to match a wet, marshy environment.
Accent color
56
is selected to be a secondary color of the selected environment. The accent color may be the color the ground in shadow. Alternatively, the accent color may be a secondary color of the soil or undergrowth. Accent color
56
is smeared across background
54
, giving a textured and shadowed appearance to background
54
.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, the next layer of the pattern
10
contains groundcover
58
. In this representation of the pattern
10
, the groundcover
58
is made up of images of small and large rocks
55
. The groundcover
58
could be any number of distinct images, selected to match the desired environment. For example, one camouflage pattern could contain a groundcover
58
of low growing clumps of grass. An alternative pattern
10
could have a groundcover
58
of small bushes. Any mixture of images of rocks, herbs, grasses, and/or small bushes could be used to recreate the appearance of the selected environment.
The layer on top of the groundcover
58
contains several large elements
42
. One of the large elements
42
of
FIG. 4
is a reference image
64
. The interior spaces
48
of the reference image
64
reveal groundcover
58
and background images
30
,
32
that lie directly behind the reference image
24
.
Where the reference image
64
overlaps another photographic images and has a base
65
that lies below the other photographic image, the reference image
64
obscures the overlapping portions of photographic image. Any large element
42
, groundcover
58
or other photographic images
11
, that lie below the reference image
64
and interfere with a part of the reference image
64
, mask the overlapping part of the reference image
64
.
FIGS. 5-7
show the organization and synthetic perspective of a pattern
10
.
FIG. 5
shows a groundcover layer
66
with substantially evenly spaced groundcover
58
. The groundcover
58
of this embodiment is made of photographic images of low growing shrubs. However, groundcover
58
could be made up of discrete images of low grass clumps, rocks, or low shrubs, or any combination of the same. Background
54
and accent color
56
are visible around the groundcover
58
.
FIG. 6
shows a mid-size element layer
70
on top of a groundcover layer
66
. Mid-size element layer
70
is composed of mid-sized elements
72
, which are images of small bushes in this illustration. The mid-sized elements
72
could be photographic images of rock, groups of herbs, small trees, bushes or other plants. The mid-size elements
72
are mid-size relative to other elements in the pattern
10
and represent mid-size landscape features, that are mid size relative to the features in the landscape.
The mid-size elements
72
obscure portions of groundcover
58
with bases
76
that appear to lie above and behind the base
74
of each mid-size element
72
. Groundcover
58
obscures a mid-size element where the base
76
of groundcover
58
lies below a mid-size element
72
in the pattern
10
and overlaps mid-size element
72
. The bases
74
of mid-sized elements
72
are generally obscured by groundcover
58
. Exposed bases of mid-size elements
72
are obscured by overlapping groundcover
58
with a base
76
positioned below the base
72
of the mid-size element, adding to the synthetic perspective.
FIG. 7
shows a pattern
10
with a large element layer
78
over a groundcover layer
66
and a mid-size element layer
70
. Large element layer
78
has large elements
80
, which are images of large bushes in the illustrated embodiment. Large elements
80
are photographic images of landscape features that dominate the landscape and are large relative to other landscape features. The large elements
80
could be a number of images, including trees, deadwood, large rock, or cactus, in any combination required to match the appearance of the selected environment.
The organization of the large element layer
78
is similar to the organization for the mid-size layer
70
. The large elements
80
are spaced farther apart than the groundcover
58
. The large elements
80
partially obscure all other images directly above and behind, except for portions of other images that show through the interior spaces
48
of the large elements
80
. All images with a base
74
,
76
below a base
82
of a large element
80
obscure the overlapping portion of the large element
80
. The bases
82
of large elements
80
are obscured by overlapping groundcover
58
or mid-size elements
72
with bases
74
,
76
that lie below the base
82
of the large elements
80
.
FIGS. 8A and 8B
show the organization of edges
85
,
86
of the pattern
10
. An edge element
84
has two halves
88
,
90
. One half
88
of the edge element
84
is positioned with dividing line A—A aligned with an edge
85
of the pattern
10
.
The other half
90
of edge element
84
is positioned on the opposite edge
85
. The positioning of halves
88
,
90
create a pattern capable of repeating along edges
84
,
85
.
FIGS. 9A and B
show the position of a corner element
92
. The corner element
92
in the illustrated embodiment, is a large element
80
, although a mid-size element
72
, groundcover
58
, or background
30
could also be corner elements.
Corner element
92
has four quadrants,
94
,
96
,
98
100
. Each quadrant is positioned in one of four corners
102
,
104
,
106
,
108
of the pattern
10
. The four quadrants
84
,
96
,
98
,
100
create a pattern
10
that is continuous at corners
102
,
104
,
106
,
108
of the pattern
10
when the pattern
10
is repeated in all directions.
FIG. 10
shows a repeating pattern
110
created by several patterns
10
. The repeating pattern shows the position of corner element
92
and edge element
86
, which create a seamless, repeatable pattern
110
.
The pattern
10
may be printed on a surface of a substrate. The pattern
10
may also be seamlessly repeated in one or two dimensions. The substrate may be a fabric or another material that is fabric-like, being relatively flexible in the transverse direction and relatively inflexible orthogonally. The substrate may be adapted to print on cloth or fabric.
FIG. 11
shows, for discussion purposes, a pattern consisting of a background
54
with an accent color
56
, groundcover
58
, mid size elements
72
, large elements
80
, edge elements
84
and a comer element
92
.
The pattern is arranged in accordance with the principles of the method shown in
FIG. 12
, a flowchart overview of the method. The method is divided into three parts, the artistic design of the camouflage
112
, pattern assembly
114
, and printing the pattern
116
.
FIG. 13
is flowchart showing each step of the artistic design of the camouflage
112
. The steps are: photographing elements
118
, selecting elements
120
, separating and classifying elements
122
, defining a color scheme
124
, and ordering the elements
126
.
The first step in artistic design of the camouflage
112
is photographing elements
118
in the selected environment. Each photograph should include at least one entire landscape feature that represents a part of the ecotone of the selected environment. The term ecotone describes a given group of plant types that occur naturally together, such as aspen/conifer or sage/juniper. A landscape feature is any plant, rock, or any other stationary part of the selected environment.
For the pattern of
FIG. 11
, landscape features are photographed as close-ups and at a distance. Where the selected environment has mainly low landscape features relative to the user, the viewer of the pattern can see landscape features farther off than a viewer can see in an environment with tall features relative to the use. Therefore, where the selected environment has mainly low landscape features, both close up and distance phonographs should be taken. Alternatively, where the selected environment has mainly tall landscape features relative to the user, mainly close up photographs should be taken.
Several photographs are taken in the selected environment under selected conditions to obtain all the desired landscape features in the desired level of daylight. The photographs may be scanned into a computer for easy manipulation with a computer graphics program.
The next step in the artistic design
112
of the pattern
10
is selecting elements
120
. Selecting elements
120
includes the following steps: selecting background
128
, selecting an accent color
130
, selecting photographic images
134
. Selecting background
128
includes reviewing all photographs of the selected environment and finding a color to represent the most dominant ground color or undergrowth color of the selected environment. The background may match the dirt color or may match the color of a ubiquitous plant.
Selecting accent color
130
also requires reviewing photographs of the selected environment. The step includes reviewing the photographs and selecting a secondary color of the soil or undergrowth. Alternatively this steps includes selecting a dominant color of the ground or undergrowth in shadow.
The step of selecting photographic images
132
includes reviewing photographs and selecting landscape features to represent the ecotone of the selected environment. An ecotone is a term describing the types of plants that occur naturally together. The photographic images
11
should be selected to represent the distinct colors and sizes present in the landscape features of the selected environment.
The step after selecting elements
120
is separating and classifying elements
122
.
FIG. 15
shows a flowchart of the steps in separating and classifying elements
122
, including separating elements
138
, cutting out interior spaces
140
, grouping elements
142
, and classifying elements
144
. Separating elements
138
includes cutting out the selected photographic image
11
from the entire photographic image, cutting along exterior boundaries
44
of the photographic image
11
.
The next step, grouping the elements
142
includes dividing the photographic images into groups by color, shape and texture, putting like images together. The final step in separating and classifying elements
122
is classifying elements
144
.
Each separated photographic image
11
is classified as groundcover
58
, mid-size element
72
or large element
80
, depending on the size of each image relative to the other images in the pattern
10
. The classification of each photographic image depends on the selected environment.
Generally, common low growing plants or rocks would be groundcover
58
. For example in one embodiment, the groundcover
58
is made up of photographic images
11
of small shrubs. In another embodiment, the groundcover
58
could be clumps of grass, rocks, or low growing herbs. Which photographic images are selected as groundcover
58
depends on the size and types of plants present in the selected environment.
Mid-size elements
72
may range from grasses to trees, depending on the selected environment. In the illustrated embodiment of a sagebrush environment, the mid-size elements
72
are small bushes. In an alternative embodiment of a conifer/aspen ecotone, the mid-size elements
72
may be photographic images
11
of aspen trees. The selection of mid-size elements
72
depends on the features in the landscape. For example, groundcover
58
in one embodiment may be a mid-size element
72
in another.
Large elements
80
may be photographic images
11
of tall grass clumps, herbs, bushes, trees, rocks or any other landscape feature that dominates the selected environment. In the illustrated environment, photographic images
11
of large sagebrush are the large elements
80
in the pattern. In another embodiment of a juniper/sage forest, the large elements
80
would be the image of juniper. The photographic images
11
selected as large elements
80
also depend on the other landscape features in the selected environment. Mid-size elements
72
in one embodiment may be large elements
80
in another embodiment. For example, in a pattern
10
representing a sagebrush/juniper environment, sagebrush may be the mid-size element
72
. In a pattern
10
representing a sagebrush and small bush environment, the sagebrush images may be the large elements
80
.
FIG. 16
is a flowchart of the steps for pattern assembly
114
, including laying elements
146
, selecting edge and corner elements
148
, and splitting and placing corner and edge elements
150
.
As shown in
FIG. 17
, the steps of laying elements
146
are: placing background
152
, smearing accent color
154
, placing groundcover
156
, placing mid size elements
158
, placing large elements
160
, masking bases of elements. The placing background step
152
includes laying the background
54
as the first layer of the pattern
10
. Smearing accent color
154
includes reviewing selected environment, as captured in photographs, and placing the accent color
56
to create an appearance of shadow and texture that reflects the ground or background foliage of the selected environment.
In the illustrated pattern
10
, placing groundcover
156
includes evenly distributing the groundcover
58
over the background
54
, in a density that approximates the density of groundcover in the selected environment. Alternative embodiments may have unevenly distributed groundcover
58
to match the groundcover of the selected environment. In other embodiments, where the selected environment has no low growing plants or other groundcover, the pattern
10
lacks groundcover
58
altogether.
In the illustrated pattern, the next step, placing mid-size elements
158
, includes distributing the mid-size elements
72
farther apart relative to the groundcover
58
, with more space between each mid-size element
72
than between each groundcover
58
. The spacing of the mid-size elements
72
matches the spacing of mid-size landscape features in the selected environment. The mid-size elements
72
are spaced close together relative to the groundcover
58
in patterns
10
where the selected environment has a higher density of mid-size landscape features than groundcover features.
Each mid-size element
72
obscures any overlapping portion of groundcover
58
that lies directly behind and above the mid-size element
72
. Each groundcover
58
that lies below and directly in front of the base
74
of a mid-size element
72
obscures the overlapping portion of the mid-size element
72
.
The next step of laying elements
146
is placing large elements
160
. The large elements
80
are spaced to match the density and distribution of large landscape features in the selected environment. A large element
80
obscures any mid size elements
72
or groundcover
58
that overlap and lie above the base
82
of a large element
80
. A large element
80
is obscured by any overlapping mid-size elements
72
or groundcover
58
with bases
74
,
76
that lie below the base
82
of the large element
80
.
The final step of laying elements
146
is masking exposed bases of mid size and large elements
72
,
80
to continue creating synthetic perspective. Where the base
74
of a mid-size element
72
is exposed, a groundcover
58
is brought below and overlapping the base
74
of a mid size element
72
. This step is repeated until the base
74
of the mid size element
72
is obscured to the point a base of a mid-size landscape feature would be hidden by surrounding vegetation in the selected environment. These same steps are followed to mask an exposed bases
82
of large elements
80
, using either groundcover
58
or mid-size elements
72
, matching the features that surround large landscape features in the selected environment.
In some selected environments, some or all of the bases
74
,
82
of the large elements
80
and mid-size elements
72
may not require masking. For instance, in the case of a conifer forest as the selected environment, no other plants grow around the base of certain conifers. Where the bases of landscape features are exposed, the masking step is skipped.
The next step in pattern assembly
114
is selecting edge and corner elements
148
. A number of edge elements
84
should be selected to ensure that all four edges of the pattern
10
are repeatable. In the illustrated embodiment, a range of distinct sizes of edge elements
84
have been selected. At least one corner element must be selected. In the illustrated embodiment, a large element
80
is selected to be a corner element
148
. In alternative embodiments, the corner element
148
may be groundcover
58
, background
54
, mid-size element
72
or a large element.
Splitting and placing edge and comer elements
150
includes splitting the edge elements
84
into two halves
88
,
90
and the corner elements
92
into four quadrants
94
,
96
,
98
,
100
. One half
88
of the edge element
84
is placed at one edge
85
and the other half
90
is placed at the edge
86
opposite the first edge, creating a pattern
10
that repeats at the edge, as shown in FIG.
8
B. The four quadrants
94
,
96
,
98
,
100
of the comer are positioned in alignment with the four corners
102
,
104
,
106
,
108
of the pattern
10
. The positioning of the four quadrants
94
,
96
,
98
,
100
creates a pattern
10
that repeats at the corners, as shown in FIG.
9
B.
The step after laying elements
146
is printing the pattern
116
. The step of printing the pattern
116
includes: selecting color groups
164
, sorting elements portions
166
, selecting palette
168
, color separating
170
, ordering colors
172
, and printing
174
. Selecting color groups
164
includes choosing the most frequent colors within the entire landscape.
The next step, sorting elements
166
includes determining which elements belong in each color group. A color group is a set of portions of the pattern
10
that share a similar coloring. For example, a portion of all the large elements
80
may share a similar coloring and be grouped together as a color group. Alternatively, every portion of the large elements
80
in the pattern
10
may be of distinct colors and be placed in unique color groups. Portions of background
58
, mid-size elements
72
, and large elements
80
may all share a similar color, and be placed in the same color group. For example the background
58
, mid-size elements
72
, and large elements
80
may all have a dark brown color on a stem portion of the photographic image. The stems would then make up a dark brown color group.
Selecting the palette
168
includes selecting a single color to represent each color group. For example, the most common color in the color group may be chosen to represent the entire group. Alternatively, all colors in the color group may be combined to form a composite color of the color group.
The next step, separating colors
170
, includes isolating each color group of the pattern
10
from the other color groups in the pattern, creating a single color image for each color group.
Ordering colors
172
includes reviewing the pattern
10
in conjunction with the photographic images
11
of the selected environment and determining the order of dominance of the colors, the most dominant color being the color which appears to be in the foreground relative to other colors in the pattern
10
. The single color images should be placed in order of least dominant color to the most dominant color.
Printing the pattern
10
includes printing each singe color image on a substrate. The single color images are printed in order from least dominant color to the most dominant color. Printing may also include printing the pattern repeatedly in one or two dimensions. The substrate may be any substrate adapted for printing on fabric or the fabric itself
FIGS. 19-21
show examples of single color images in black. In the illustrated embodiment
FIG. 19
is a single color image
176
, printed as the fifth layer on a substrate.
FIGS. 20 and 21
are single color images
178
,
180
and are printed as layers seven and ten, respectively, in the illustrated embodiment.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Claims
- 1. A camouflage comprising:a pattern comprising an organization for pattern elements arranged in the pattern and an ecotone motif corresponding to a selected environment; photographic images of discrete landscape features corresponding to ecotones representative of the selected environment; the photographic images ordered in a synthetic perspective relationship; the photographic images placed as pattern elements according to the organization and adapted for imprinting on a substrate; and wherein the organization includes photographic images ordered into classes by size, and ordered by class in the pattern from small to large.
- 2. The camouflage of claim 1, wherein the synthetic perspective comprises:a reference image that is also a photographic image, the reference image lying in a reference plane; a photographic image that lies in a plane behind the reference plane and is masked by a portion of the reference image that overlaps the photographic image; and another photographic image that lies in a plane in front of the reference plane and masks a portion of the reference image that overlaps that photographic image.
- 3. The camouflage of claim 2 wherein the reference image has a base, wherein the base is masked by a photographic image.
- 4. The camouflage of claim 1, wherein the photographic images have interior boundaries which define interior spaces, allowing background images to show through the interior spaces of foreground images.
- 5. The camouflage of claim 1, wherein the photographic images are selected to represent various sizes of discrete landscape features present in the selected environment.
- 6. The camouflage of claim 1, wherein the photographic images are selected to represent colors and textures corresponding to discrete landscape features.
- 7. The camouflage of claim 1, wherein one of the pattern elements is a background, with a color selected to match a dominant ground color of the selected environment.
- 8. The camouflage of claim 7, wherein the background is smeared with an accent color, selected to match a secondary ground color of the selected environment.
- 9. The camouflage of claim 8, wherein the pattern is organized with the background forming a first layer of the pattern, photographic images of low growing plants forming a second layer, photographic images of small shrubs forming a third layer, and photographic images of large bushes forming a fourth layer.
- 10. The camouflage of claim 9, wherein the pattern is further organized with photographic images of low growing plants substantially evenly distributed a comparatively smaller distance apart, and photographic images of small bushes overlaid thereby and distributed a comparatively larger distance apart.
- 11. The camouflage of claim 1, wherein the pattern includes corner elements and edge elements rendering the pattern a repeating image.
- 12. The camouflage of claim 1, further comprising a substrate, and wherein the pattern is seamlessly repeated across a surface of the substrate.
- 13. The camouflage of claim 12, wherein the pattern is seamlessly repeated in two dimensions.
- 14. The camouflage of claim 1, further comprising a substrate, and wherein the pattern is printed on a substrate.
- 15. The camouflage of claim 14, wherein the substrate comprises a material formed to be comparatively flexible in a transverse direction and comparatively inflexible orthogonally to the transverse direction.
- 16. An apparatus comprising:a substrate comprising a material having an aspect ratio of thickness to area corresponding to a textile fabric, and having a presentation surface corresponding to the area thereof; a surface pattern applied to the substrate and comprising: pattern elements with an ecotone motif corresponding to a selected environment; photographic images of distinct landscape features selected from images of scenes of ecotones representative of the selected environment; and the photographic images ordered in a synthetic perspective relationship; and wherein one of the pattern elements is a background, with a color selected to match a dominant ground color of the selected environment.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the synthetic perspective comprises:a reference image that is also a photographic image, the reference image having a base and lying in a reference plane; a photographic image that lies in a plane behind the reference plane and is masked by a portion of the reference image that overlaps the photographic image; and another photographic image that lies in a plane in front of the reference plane and masks a portion of the reference image that overlaps that photographic image.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the reference image has a base and the base is masked by a photographic image.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the photographic images have interior boundaries which define interior spaces and wherein the interior spaces reveal background photographic images to show through the interior spaces of foreground photographic images.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the photographic images are selected to represent distinct sizes of discrete landscape features.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the photographic images are ordered into classes by size, and ordered by class in the pattern in the order of small to large.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the photographic images are selected to represent the distinct colors and textures of discrete landscape features.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the background is smeared with an accent color, selected to match a secondary ground color of the selected environment.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the pattern is organized such that the background forms a bottom layer of the pattern, photographic images of low growing plants form a second layer, photographic images of small shrubs form a third layer, and photographic images of large bushes form a fourth layer.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the pattern is further organized with nearly evenly scattered photographic images of low growing plants, sparsely overlaid with photographic images of small bushes.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the pattern includes corner elements and edge elements positioned to render the pattern repeatable.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the pattern is seamlessly repeated across a surface.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the pattern is seamlessly repeated in two dimensions.
- 29. A camouflage comprising:a pattern comprising an organization for pattern elements arranged in the pattern and an ecotone motif corresponding to a selected environment; photographic images of discrete landscape features corresponding to ecotones representative of the selected environment; the photographic images ordered in a synthetic perspective relationship; the photographic images placed as pattern elements according to the organization and adapted for imprinting on a substrate; and wherein the pattern includes corner elements and edge elements positioned to render the pattern repeatable.
- 30. The camouflage of claim 29, wherein the synthetic perspective comprises:a reference image that is also a photographic image, the reference image lying in a reference plane; a photographic image that lies in a plane behind the reference plane and is masked by a portion of the reference image that overlaps the photographic image; and another photographic image that lies in a plane in front of the reference plane and masks a portion of the reference image that overlaps that photographic image.
- 31. The camouflage of claim 30 wherein the reference image has a base, wherein the base is masked by a photographic image.
- 32. The camouflage of claim 29, wherein the photographic images have interior boundaries which define interior spaces, allowing background images to show through the interior spaces of foreground images.
- 33. The camouflage of claim 29, wherein the photographic images are selected to represent various sizes of discrete landscape features present in the selected environment.
- 34. The camouflage of claim 29, wherein the organization includes photographic images ordered into classes by size, and ordered by class in the pattern from small to large.
- 35. The camouflage of claim 29, wherein the photographic images are selected to represent colors and textures corresponding to discrete landscape features.
- 36. The camouflage of claim 29, wherein one of the pattern elements is a background, with a color selected to match a dominant ground color of the selected environment.
- 37. The camouflage of claim 36, wherein the background is smeared with an accent color, selected to match a secondary ground color of the selected environment.
- 38. The camouflage of claim 37, wherein the pattern is organized with the background forming a first layer of the pattern, photographic images of low growing plants forming a second layer, photographic images of small shrubs forming a third layer, and photographic images of large bushes forming a fourth layer.
- 39. The camouflage of claim 38, wherein the pattern is further organized with photographic images of low growing plants substantially evenly distributed a comparatively smaller distance apart, and photographic images of small bushes overlaid thereby and distributed a comparatively larger distance apart.
- 40. The camouflage of claim 29, further comprising a substrate, and wherein the pattern is seamlessly repeated across a surface of the substrate.
- 41. The camouflage of claim 40, wherein the pattern is seamlessly repeated in two dimensions.
- 42. The camouflage of claim 29, further comprising a substrate, and wherein the pattern is printed on the substrate.
- 43. The camouflage of claim 42, wherein the substrate comprises a material formed to be comparatively flexible in a transverse direction and comparatively inflexible orthogonally to the transverse direction.
US Referenced Citations (7)