Based on modern 1920×1080 (or more) video cameras, video cropping has become popular. Lesser resolutions (e.g., DVD 720×576) are still satisfactory and a video-picture contains exactly the perspective needed. Different sophisticated video editing software like “Sony Vegas Pro” and “Corel MediaStudio Pro” allow variable cropping, rotating and other manipulation of video streams. However, these parameters may change over a sequence by an input of the user. Those parameters are usually entered by displaying a video sequence consisting of several sub-sequences with key-frames that mark the beginning or end of those sub-sequences (BEGIN key-frame and END key-frame). Then the parameters can be chosen in a dialog-box. The system of the dialog-boxes is very basic, technically oriented and requires a lot of input-actions and is not very depictive.
Video editing systems and methods are provided that incorporates a novel way to input video cropping and rotation, despite changing parameters. The user-interface has a 3-dimensional look and feel effect that allows very simple operation. A flexible hose concept is introduced that allows positioning of objects within a video frame to be followed as the video sequence progresses. In this manner, a user can easily visualize what cropping, etc. needs to be accomplished to provide coverage of desired objections.
The above presents a simplified summary of the subject matter in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of subject matter embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of the subject matter. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the embodiments or to delineate the scope of the subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the subject matter in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of embodiments are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the subject matter can be employed, and the subject matter is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features of the subject matter can become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
a to 3f depict the editing of an adaptive cropping.
The subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter. It can be evident, however, that subject matter embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the embodiments.
Video editing solutions are provided that include a novel way to input video cropping and rotation. Video frames can be rotated, magnified (zoomed in) and/or resized according to user input (e.g., cropping).
With previous solutions, the user was forced to define the key-frames (T1, T2, T3, T4) where a transition of the cropping-function takes place. Then the user gets a respective 2-dimensional view and defines the cropping of this frame. Different input-boxes help to define all the necessary parameters. However, this user-interface is a not a very depictive representation of the video to be edited.
With depictive solutions, it is advantageous to have a 3-dimensional (spatial) timeline of the video.
The
In
A flexible hose 302 (dotted mantle) encases the video containing all the frames. The edges 312 of the flexible hose 302 behave like rubber-bands. The flexible hose 302 is dragged (by the edges 312) to fit the final frame 314 of T1 304 by, for example, a pointing device as illustrated in
After resizing the frame in T1 304, the pointing device is moved to the frame in T2 306. Again the flexible hose 302 is dragged until the final frame 316 fits the object M in T2 306. The shape of the flexible hose 302 is adapted between T1 and T2 and between T2 and T4 in a linear manner as shown in
d shows the behavior when the pointing device runs along the flexible hose 302 (in the time axis). The respective picture at Tx 318 is displayed in a 3-D view and the user can check if the final frame 320 contains all desired objects. In this case, the user moves further to T3 308 and decides to set a new final frame 322 (size and position) because the object 324 has moved to the lower edge. Again the flexible hose 302 is adapted to fit the new final frame 322 as depicted in
The user then moves the pointing device to T4 310 and fixes the final frame 326 like-wise and the flexible hose 302 shows the 3-D space used by the final frames 316, 322, 326 as shown in
To complete the editing of the variable cropping (zoom), the user can choose different transitions 402-408 of the flexible hose in the exact times T1-T4.
“Size” 504 the final frame can be resized, the proportion stays constant.
“Position” 506 the final frame is moved in that frame-plain at time Tx without changing the size.
“Rotation” 508 allows a rotation of the actual final frame. That means that the flexible house gets a twist in between two frames with different rotation.
“Time” 510—when grabbing this corner and moving horizontally along the time-axis, Tx changes. It is like browsing through the video scrolling all the frames. Other commands can be utilized as well. For example, using the scroll-wheel for the size of the frame (zoom) and/or using a right mouse button for certain action, etc. Alternatively, a keyboard can be used for the inputs. The left-right arrow keys can be used to move through the time axis. Up and down keys can be used to resize a final frame, etc. The arrow keys together with a shift key can be used to move the final frame. After the complete editing of the video, the movie is rendered in the new format and the viewer will see only the frames within the flexible hose.
This user interface is more depletive and more flexible than previous solutions. It helps the user to edit a movie in a more easy (but sophisticated) way. The flexible hose (also “flexible-zoom-hose” or “flexible-crop-hose”) gives the user a strong aspect and understanding of the movie editing. The display of the actual frame . at the pointer position—in a 3-Dimensional style—allows a quick review of the editing to be done or done.
In view of the exemplary systems shown and described above, methodologies that can be implemented in accordance with the embodiments will be better appreciated with reference to the flow charts of
What has been described above includes examples of the embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the embodiments, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IB2012/000270 | 2/15/2012 | WO | 00 | 8/13/2014 |