Method of modifying facial images, makeup simulation method, makeup method, makeup support apparatus and foundation transfer film

Abstract

New findings such as the highlight theory which determine the impression of a face are utilized for the technique of modifying a photographed facial image and the makeup technique. A method according to the present invention includes determining a desirable face desired by a person who is subjected to facial modification or makeup, and performing image processing like shape-merging on an original facial image or an image of a face of the subject person based on the desirable face to thereby prepare images of selectable modified faces.

1 . A facial image modifying method comprising the steps of determining a desirable face, and causing an original facial image to approach an image of said desirable face through image processing to acquire a modified facial image.  
     
     
         2 . A makeup simulation method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) determining a desirable face and performing image processing on an image of a face of a subject person based on said desirable face, thereby forming images of imagined post-makeup faces;    (b) displaying said imagined post-makeup faces, prepared in said step (a), on a monitor screen or the like and selectively determining from said displayed imagined post-makeup faces an ideal post-makeup face said subject person desires; and    (c) deriving a makeup procedure from an image of said ideal post-makeup face, determined in said step (b), based on a previously set makeup program.    
     
     
         3 . A makeup simulation method for executing makeup simulation based on shading states of a face, comprising the steps of: 
 (e) determining a desirable face and performing image processing on an image of a face of a subject person based on said desirable face, thereby forming images of imagined post-makeup faces;    (f) displaying said imagined post-makeup faces, prepared in said step (e), on a monitor screen or the like and selectively determining from said displayed imagined post-makeup faces an ideal post-makeup face said subject person desires;    (g) performing image processing to segment an image of said ideal post-makeup face, determined in said step (f), to a plurality of areas in regard to bright areas and dark areas;    (h) acquiring color data for said segmented areas obtained in said step (g); and    (i) determining foundations to be applied on individual areas based on said color data for those areas, acquired in said step (h), and a previously set foundation program.    
     
     
         4 . The makeup simulation method according to  claim 2  or  3 , further comprising a step of preparing a plurality of model faces and determining said desirable face based on said model faces.  
     
     
         5 . A makeup method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) determining a desirable face and performing image processing on an image of a face of a subject person based on said desirable face, thereby forming images of imagined post-makeup faces;    (b) displaying said imagined post-makeup faces, prepared in said step (a), on a monitor screen or the like and selectively determining from said displayed imagined post-makeup faces an ideal post-makeup face said subject person desires;    (c) deriving a makeup procedure from an image of said ideal post-makeup face, determined in said step (b), based on a previously set makeup program; and    (d) applying makeup on said face of said subject person in accordance with said makeup procedure derived in said step (c).    
     
     
         6 . A makeup method for applying makeup based on shading states of a face, comprising the steps of: 
 (e) determining a desirable face and performing image processing on an image of a face of a subject person based on said desirable face, thereby forming images of imagined post-makeup faces;    (f) displaying said imagined post-makeup faces, prepared in said step (e), on a monitor screen or the like and selectively determining from said displayed imagined post-makeup faces an ideal post-makeup face said subject person desires;    (g) performing image processing to segment an image of said ideal post-makeup face, determined in said step (f), to a plurality of areas in regard to bright areas and dark areas;    (h) acquiring color data for said segmented areas obtained in said step (g);    (i) determining foundations to be applied on individual areas based on said color data for those areas, acquired in said step (h), and a previously set foundation program; and    (j) separately applying foundations, determined in said step (i), on said face of said subject person in association with said individual areas.    
     
     
         7 . The makeup method according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 (k) printing said image of said ideal post-makeup face, segmented into a plurality of areas in regard to bright areas and dark areas in said step (g) in  claim 3 , in an actual size of said face of said subject person;    (l) cutting individual areas from a printed image obtained in said step (k) to prepare a pattern mask for foundation; and    (m) executing separate application of foundations in said step (j) in  claim 6  using said pattern mask prepared in said step (l).    
     
     
         8 . The makeup method according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 (n) projecting said image of said ideal post-makeup face, segmented into a plurality of areas in regard to bright areas and dark areas in the image processing in said step (g) in  claim 3 , in an actual size on said face of said subject person; and    (o) executing separate application of foundations in said step (j) in  claim 3  based on said image projected in said step (n).    
     
     
         9 . A makeup method for applying makeup based on bright and dark states of a face, comprising the steps of: 
 (A) determining a desirable face and performing image processing on an image of a face of a subject person based on said desirable face, thereby forming images of imagined post-makeup faces;    (B) displaying said imagined post-makeup faces, prepared in said step (A), on a monitor screen or the like and selectively determining from said displayed imagined post-makeup faces an ideal post-makeup face said subject person desires;    (C) performing image processing to segment an image of said ideal post-makeup face, determined in said step (B), to a plurality of areas in regard to bright areas and dark areas;    (D) acquiring color data for said segmented areas obtained in said step (C);    (E) determining foundations to be applied on individual areas based on said color data for those areas, acquired in said step (D), and a previously set foundation program;    (F) printing foundations, determined in said step (E) in association with said plurality of areas segmented in regard to bright areas and dark areas in said image processing in said step (C), on a thin base material to prepare a foundation transfer film; and    (G) transferring foundations, printed on said foundation transfer film prepared in said step (F), on said face of said subject person to thereby apply foundations, associated with said individual areas, on said face of said subject person.    
     
     
         10 . A makeup method comprising the steps of: 
 (H) determining a desirable face and performing image processing on an image of a face of a subject person based on said desirable face, thereby forming images of imagined post-makeup faces;    (I) displaying said imagined post-makeup faces, prepared in said step (H), on a monitor screen or the like and selectively determining an ideal post-makeup face desired by said subject person from said displayed imagined post-makeup faces;    (K) printing an image of said ideal post-makeup face, determined in said step (I), on a thin base material using foundations to prepare a foundation transfer film; and    (L) transferring foundations, printed on said foundation transfer film prepared in said step (K), on said face of said subject person to thereby apply said foundations on said face of said subject person.    
     
     
         11 . The makeup method according to any one of  claims 5  to  10 , further comprising a step of preparing a plurality of model faces and determining said desirable face based on said model faces.  
     
     
         12 . A makeup support apparatus for use in the makeup simulation method as recited in any one of  claims 2  to  4  or in the makeup method as recited in any one of  claims 5  to  11 , comprising: 
 image storage means for storing images of a plurality of model faces;  
 image pick-up and input means for imaging and inputting a face of a subject person;  
 a monitor for displaying a necessary image; and  
 processing means capable of performing a process of causing an image of said face of said subject person to approach a desirable face already determined to thereby form images of imagined post-makeup faces, a process of displaying said imagined post-makeup faces on a screen of said monitor, and a process of deriving a makeup procedure from a determined ideal post-makeup face.  
 
     
     
         13 . The makeup support apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said processing means further performs a process of segmenting said determined ideal post-makeup face to a plurality of areas in regard to bright areas and dark areas, a process of acquiring color data for said segmented areas, and a process of determining foundations to be applied on individual areas based on said acquired color data for those areas.  
     
     
         14 . A foundation transfer film for use in separate application of foundations, said foundation transfer film having foundations printed on a thin base material in regard to bright areas and dark areas on a face.