Patent Application
20120206612
The present invention generally relates to the field of photography, and more specifically relates to the color calibration of image capturing devices.
Every camera make, model, and individual chip records color in a different way. These camera sensors do not “see” in the same way that the human eye sees, and camera manufacturers go to great lengths to manipulate the data captured by their cameras so that realistic images can be produced. However, many camera users have little knowledge of or control over the manner in which the data is manipulated.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a test target for color calibrating a camera and lens combination. One embodiment of a test target for use in color calibrating a camera and lens combination includes a first substantially flat plane, the first substantially flat plane including a first magnetic support surface, a second substantially flat plane, the second substantially flat plane including a second magnetic support surface, and a hinge connecting the first substantially flat plane to the second substantially flat plane.
The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In one embodiment, the present invention is a test target for color calibrating a camera and lens combination. Embodiments of the invention automatically account for variations in color control and color consistency at the image capture stage of the digital workflow. In particular, embodiments of the invention produce a custom camera and lens calibration in the form of an adjustment that compensates for the characteristics of the light source and the camera sensors, thereby facilitating more accurate color reproduction in the images captured.
Each of the plates 102 comprises a window 1061-1062 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “windows 106”). A card 1081-1082 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “cards 108”) is positioned within each of the windows 106. Each of the cards 108 further comprises a plurality of spectrally engineered color samples printed thereon. Although the color samples are illustrated in
In one embodiment, the support surfaces of the windows 106 (i.e., the surfaces beneath the cards 108, which are not visible in
In one embodiment, at least one of the windows 106 further includes a fade checker window 116. The fade checker window 116 comprises a cut out in the window 106 that allows an aging indicator 118 on the card 108 positioned beneath the window 106 to be viewed. In one embodiment, the aging indicator 118 comprises a strip or patch on the perimeter of the card 108 that fades or changes color when exposed to a threshold amount of ultraviolet light. When the aging indicator 118 fades or changes color, this is an indication that the card 108 should be replaced. As illustrated in
The hinge 104 allows the two plates 102 to be rotated toward one another (and into contact with one another), so that the target 100 can be folded compactly into a case for transport. In use, the hinge 104 allows the two plates 102 to be rotated away from one another to form a free-standing target in which the plurality of color samples is visible. In one embodiment, the test target 100 further comprises a tripod mount 112 positioned at a first end of the hinge 104 that allows the test target 100 to be incorporated in a variety of scene contexts.
In a further embodiment still, a gray calibration device mount 114 is also provided at an opposite second end of the hinge 104. The gray calibration device mount 114 allows a gray calibration device (e.g., a gray card or functionally equivalent device, such as the camera calibration tool disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/577,462) to be mounted to the test target 100 for adding black traps and spectral highlights.
The test target 100 cooperates with a software program to ensure that consistent color is captured from day to day and camera to camera. In particular, the software program uses images of the test target to compute color adjustments that can be incorporated into the imaging workflow with RAW image format import software. Moreover, the neutral gray target and gray ramp provided on the cards allows a user to perform in-camera white balance and visual neutrality analyses.
Although various embodiments which incorporate the teachings of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings.
