Patent Application
20140267425
Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not this summary. A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention are provided here for that reason, to provide an overview of the disclosure, and to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In brief and at a high level, this disclosure describes, among other things, a personal animation kit for animating personal photos within virtual scenes. In embodiments, the personal animation kit includes a digital stylus, a digital stamper, a carrying case, and an application for execution by a computing device. A user can take a photo of a person, such as the user or another person, and animate the image using the personal animation kit. In embodiments, the application brings the static photo to life, as the photo may be enhanced with animation features such as jumping, running, doing flips or karate, and the like. The personal animation kit may be used to create animation movies featuring the animated image of a person. In some embodiments, the personal animation kit provides a background designing feature for designing a customized background. In other embodiments, the personal animation kit provides template backgrounds, such as a basketball court. The digital stamper may be used to generate additional animated images that a user may create and/or select from a menu of included options, such as dribbling a basketball. Enhanced images created with the personal animation kit may be saved, emailed, or printed. The digital tools in the personal animation kit may be stored in a hard-shell storage case designed to clip onto a computing device, such as an iPad®.
Embodiments of the invention also include a digital collage creation kit for, among other things, enhancing or transforming photos into digital collages. The digital collage creation kit may include, in embodiments, a digital photo cutter, a digital stamper, a digital transforming tool, and a carrying case, such as a hard-shell carrying case or a soft pouch. A digital photo may be uploaded into the application where the digital photo cutter may then be used to “cut” away unwanted portions of the photo. In embodiments, the digital stamper then allows a user to add animated images and phrases to the image, while the digital transforming tool lets the user create photo-morphing effects like stretching and melting. A user may generate a customized background to incorporate into the collage, or may select from a variety of template backgrounds provided in the application, such as a skateboarding park. A digital collage made with the kit may be displayed in a digital gallery, distributed by emailing, or shared by printing out the display screen. A user may also store the digital tools for the digital collage creation kit in a hard-shell storage case designed to clip onto a computing device, such as an iPad®.
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein:
The subject matter of embodiments of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.
Embodiments of the invention include a personal animation kit for, among other things, animating personal photos within virtual scenes. The personal animation kit may include, in embodiments, a digital stylus, a digital stamper, a carrying case, and an application for execution by a computing device. A user can take a photo of a person, such as the user or another person, and animate the image using the personal animation kit. In embodiments, the application brings the static photo to life, as the photo may be enhanced with animation features such as jumping, running, doing flips or karate, and the like. The personal animation kit may be used to create animation movies featuring the animated image of a person. In some embodiments, the personal animation kit provides a background designing feature for designing a customized background. In other embodiments, the personal animation kit provides template backgrounds, such as a basketball court. The digital stamper may be used to generate additional animated images that a user creates or selects from a menu of included options, such as dribbling a basketball. Enhanced images created with the personal animation kit may be saved, emailed, or printed. The digital tools in the personal animation kit may be stored in a hard-shell storage case designed to clip onto a computing device, such as an iPad®.
Embodiments of the invention also include a digital collage creation kit for, among other things, enhancing or transforming photos into digital collages. The digital collage creation kit may include, in embodiments, a digital photo cutter, a digital stamper, a digital transforming tool, and a hard-shell carrying case. A digital photo may be uploaded into the application where the digital photo cutter may be used to “cut” away unwanted portions of the photo. In embodiments, the digital stamper then allows a user to add animated images and phrases to the image, while the digital transforming tool lets the user create photo morphing effects like stretching and melting. A user may generate a customized background to incorporate into the collage, or may select from a variety of template backgrounds provided in the application, such as a skateboarding park. A digital collage made with the kit may be displayed in a digital gallery, distributed by emailing, or shared by printing out the display screen. A user may also store the digital tools for the digital collage creation kit in a hard-shell storage case designed to clip onto a computing device, such as an iPad®.
Accordingly, in one embodiment, a personalized digital animation kit is provided. The personal animation kit includes an activation feature for a personal animation kit application, and at least one of the following digital input devices: a digital stylus; a digital clap board; and a digital stamper. In embodiments, the digital stylus, digital clap board, and digital stamper are configured to interact with a touch-screen surface of a computing device executing the personal animation kit application.
In further embodiments, a method of generating a personalized digital animation is provided. The method includes receiving, by a computing device having a touch-screen surface, an indication of a personal animation kit application. The method further includes executing the personal animation kit application to provide an animation environment; receiving, by the computing device, a captured user image for animation; receiving at least one input from at least one digital input tool, wherein the at least one digital input tool comprises at least one of a digital stamper, a digital stylus, and a digital clap board; assigning an armature to at least a portion of the captured user image in response to the received at least one input; assigning a silhouette corresponding to the assigned armature; extracting a cut-out portion of the captured user image corresponding to an area defined by the assigned silhouette; and animating the extracted cut-out portion of the captured user image in context of at least a portion of the digital animation environment.
In yet another embodiment, a personal animation kit may include one or more of the following digital input devices: a digital stamper, and a digital stylus. The personal animation kit may further include a personal animation kit application configured to generate an animation environment for display on a touch-screen surface of a computing device executing the personal animation kit application. Further, the personal animation kit application may be configured to: (1) receive an indication of a captured user image; (2) in response to a first user interaction with at least a portion of the animation environment, apply an armature to at least a portion of the captured user image; (3) in response to a second user interaction with at least a portion of the animation environment, apply a silhouette to a portion of the captured user image corresponding to the applied armature; and (4) generate an animated scene comprising the portion of the captured user image included in the silhouette.
With reference now to the figures, apparatus, methods, and systems for providing a personalized digital animation kit are described in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Various embodiments are described with respect to the figures, in which like elements are depicted with like reference numerals.
Referring initially to
Computing device 12 may include hand-held devices, consumer electronics, general-purpose computers, more specialty computing devices, touch-pad computing devices, touch-screen computing devices, and the like. Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general context of computer code or machine-useable instructions, including computer-useable or computer-executable instructions such as program modules, being executed by the computing device 12. The computing device 12 typically includes a variety of computer-readable media, which may be any available media that is accessible by the computing device 12, such as computer storage media that stores computer-executable instructions for executing by the computing device 12. In one embodiment, computing device 12 is a touch-screen device having a camera, such as an iPod Touch®, iPad®, and/or an iPhone® device provided by Apple® Inc.
As shown in the example of
The memory 14 includes computer-storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory that may be removable, non-removable, or a combination thereof. The computing device 12 also includes one or more processors 16 that read data from various entities such as the memory 14 or the I/O components 22. The presentation component(s) 18 present data indications to a user or other device, such as a display device, speaker, printing component, vibrating component, and the like. The I/O ports 20 allow the computing device 12 to be logically coupled to other devices, while the I/O components 22 may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, printer, wireless device, and a controller, such as a stylus, a keyboard and a mouse, a natural user interface (NUI), and the like.
Turning now to
With reference to
As discussed above, embodiments of the personal animation kit 26 may include a digital stamper 34, which may be used to add additional enhancements and/or animated effects based on contacting the touch-screen display 38 of the computing device 36. In the example of
Turning now to the example of
Accordingly, after receiving the selection and/or application of the armature 68, embodiments of the application apply the silhouette 70 to cut out a portion of the captured image (in this instance, a human image) from the original background, retaining as little of the original background space as possible around a perimeter of the captured, human image. In some embodiments, the captured image is any desired figure for animation, such as a dog or other animal. As shown in
In additional embodiments of the invention, an animation sequence may be selected and/or activated to automatically animate the cut-out portion of the full-body photo 40, such as selecting a dancing scene on a dance floor, where the cut-out portion of the full-body photo 40 is automatically animated, as in
In embodiments, the personal animation kit 26 includes a personal animation kit application that, upon execution by the computing device 36, is configured to provide animated personal photos within virtual scenes. In further embodiments, the personal animation kit 26 includes an activation feature for such a personal animation kit application. The activation feature may include an activation code and/or an activation indicator, such as a web page, website URL, or other indicator of a resource from which a user may access one or more features of the application. In some embodiments, user interaction with the activation feature enables and/or activates a personal animation kit application retrieved by using the activation feature, and/or a personal animation kit application associated with the activation feature. In further embodiments, a non-user-specific application, such as a Crayola ColorStudio HD™, is downloaded from an external source, and the specific features for the personal animation kit application may then be activated and/or “unlocked,” by an activation feature. In this instance, the activation feature may involve touching a component included in the user-specific kit to the touch-screen of the computing device 36 running the non-user-specific application. For example, a user may download ColorStudio HD™ to a computing device 36, and then touch a digital stamper included in a user-specific personal animation kit 26, such as the digital stamper 34 of
Upon enabling/activation, the personal animation kit application may be accessed, retrieved from, downloaded, and/or otherwise interacted with via a source separate from the personal animation kit 26. For example, the personal animation kit application may be accessed and/or downloaded from a website, a database, a data store, or any other external source that may provide applications. An example of an external source is the online iTunes® store.
Embodiments of the personal animation kit 26 further include an application that provides a first tier of options available to a user upon purchase of the personal animation kit 26, and a second tier of options available to the user upon “unlocking” a full mode of the personal animation kit 26. In one example, a user may purchase the personal animation kit 26, which may include an application that enables the user to access a “try me” mode of the product. The “try me” mode may allow, for example, a user to import only one photo and utilize a limited number of stamps and/or backgrounds, etc. In another example, the user may “unlock” a full mode of the purchased personal animation kit 26 to activate additional options such as access to additional backgrounds and stamps, the ability to import multiple photos, and other features of the personal animation kit 26 that may be limited and/or restricted based on which mode a user is executing. In one embodiment, a digital stamper 34 is used to unlock additional features of the personal animation kit 26. In other embodiments, the digital stamper 34, or another component included in the personal animation kit 26, may be used to activate and/or unlock a particular mode of the application, such as a limited mode or a full mode. In one embodiment, a particular user interaction screen associated with the personal animation kit application may be presented to a user for activation of the personal animation kit application and/or features. For example, additional enhancement options corresponding to the use of one or more of the digital tools may be enabled based on activation of the personal animation kit application.
In some embodiments of the invention, a personal animation kit may be used to automatically apply at least a portion of an armature to a selected image, for automatic identification of a particular portion of the captured image, application of a silhouette, and retrieval of the portion of the captured image within the silhouette for subsequent animation. In further embodiments, an armature having a predetermined human shape may be applied to a captured user image, such as a predetermined human armature that may be manually or automatically applied to a human body in a captured image, depicted in association with an animation environment. In one embodiment, one or more predetermined armature templates may be provided to a user for selection and application to a captured user image. As such, a user may identify the best-fitting armature that corresponds to the portion of the user image that the user desires to animate. In yet another embodiment, a personal animation kit application may be used to automatically identify a portion of the captured user image for assigning a best-fitting armature, from a set of one or more template armatures. In embodiments, the selected portion of a personal image may be automatically animated in response to selection and assignment of an armature and silhouette.
Referring next to
As shown in
Referring next to
At block 152, an outline is assigned to the identified skeleton structure. For example, a silhouette may be assigned to an armature associated with a full-body photo of a user. In one embodiment, a silhouette and/or outline assigned to an armature and/or identified skeleton structure may be adjusted to increase or decrease a cut-out portion of a user image. For example, for animation of a user walking in a particular animation scene, the user may desire to closely cut out the user's image, minimizing the area between the full-body image and the silhouette. In another embodiment, a user may wish to include at least a portion of the original background of the photo surrounding the full-body image of the user. As such, the user may maximize the area between the full-body image and the silhouette border. As will be understood, while the cutting out of a full-body image is described herein, any selected portion of a user's captured image may be assigned an armature, associated with a silhouette, and extracted to provide a cut-out portion of the original image for use in an animation scene. As such, at block 154, a selected image is extracted corresponding to the assigned outline and/or silhouette, for use in a personal animation environment/scene that animates the cut-out portion (i.e., the extracted, selected image).
Turning now to
Embodiments of the digital collage creation kit 78 include an application that provides a first tier of options available to a user upon purchase of the digital collage creation kit 78, and a second tier of options available to the user upon “unlocking” a full mode of the digital collage creation kit 78. In one example, a user may purchase the digital collage creation kit 78 with an application that enables the user to access a “try me” mode of the product that allows a user to import only one photo and utilize a limited number of stamps and/or backgrounds, etc. In another example, the user may “unlock” a full mode of the purchased personal animation kit 26 to activate additional options such as access to additional backgrounds and stamps, the ability to import multiple photos, and other features of the digital collage creation kit 78 that may be limited and/or restricted based on which mode a user is executing. In one embodiment, a digital stamper 34 is used to unlock additional features of the digital collage creation kit 78.
As shown in
In manipulating photos in the digital collage creation environment 87, a digital transforming tool 82 may interact directly with the touch-screen display 86 to generate a variety of stretching, swirling, melting, morphing, blending, smearing, swiping, image twisting, color changing, pixelating, and/or smudging effects with regard to the digital content being altered on the touch-screen display 86.
With reference to
In
Having generated a cut-out edge 118 around the desired portion of the user photograph 116, the user may also eliminate unwanted portions of the background behind the user's image from the collage, as shown in
With reference now to
The following U.S. patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/788,371 (Attorney Docket Number HALC.178959), entitled “Digital Coloring Tools Kit with Panoramic View and Create-to-Destroy Interactive Features” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/788,381 (Attorney Docket Number HALC 0.178960), entitled “Digital Fashion Portfolio and Green Screen Animation Kit.”
Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/788,349, filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled “Personalized Digital Animation and Digital Collage Creation Kit,” having Attorney Docket No. 178958, and is related by subject matter to concurrently filed U.S. application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Digital Collage Creation Kit,” having attorney Docket No. HALC.204554, the entirety of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61788349 | Mar 2013 | US |
