System and method of processing a digital image for user assessment of an output image product

Abstract

A system and method of processing a digital image for user assessment of an output image product intended to be generated using the digital image. The method comprises the steps of: (a) accessing the digital image using an imaging device having a viewing member; (b) selecting the output image product intended to include the digital image; (c) digitally modifying at least a portion of the digital image using the imaging device to produce a substantially accurate representation of at least a portion of the output image product; and (d) displaying, using the viewing member, for assessment by the user, the substantially accurate representation of the at least a portion of the output image product.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of processing a digital image for user assessment of an output image product intended to be generated using the digital image, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) accessing the digital image using an imaging device having a viewing member;    (b) selecting the output image product intended to include the digital image;    (c) digitally modifying at least a portion of the digital image using the imaging device to produce a substantially accurate representation of at least a portion of the output image product; and    (d) displaying, using the viewing member, for assessment by the user, the substantially accurate representation of the at least a portion of the output image product.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is a digital camera, and the step of accessing the digital image is accomplished by capturing the digital image using the digital camera.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is a kiosk, and the step of accessing the digital image is accomplished by accessing the digital image from a removable medium.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing the digital image is accomplished by scanning a visual image to produce the digital image.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing the digital image is accomplished by downloading the digital image over a communications network.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing the digital image is accomplished by accessing the digital image from a removable media.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing the digital image is accomplished by accessing the digital image from a digital camera in communication with the imaging device.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing member is a display.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing member is a printer adapted to produce a hardcopy print.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is a digital camera, and the step of selecting the output image product is accomplished by defaulting to storing a captured image in the digital camera.  
     
     
         11 . A method of processing a digital image for user assessment of an output image product intended to be generated using the digital image, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) accessing the digital image using an imaging device having a viewing member comprising a first and second display portion;    (b) selecting the output image product intended to include the digital image;    (c) digitally modifying at least a portion of the digital image using the imaging device to produce a substantially accurate representation of at least a portion of the output image of the output image product;    (d) displaying, in the first display portion, for assessment by the user, the substantially accurate representation of the at least a portion of the output image; and    (e) displaying, in the second display portion, a reference image for comparative assessment by the user.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reference image is supplied by the user.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reference image comprises an acceptable image quality.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reference image comprises substantially similar content to the content of the digital image.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reference image is supplied by a manufacturer of the imaging device.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reference image is derived from a computer generated object.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the imaging device is a digital camera, and the step of selecting the output image product is accomplished by defaulting to storing a captured image in the digital camera.  
     
     
         18 . A method of processing a digital image captured using a digital camera wherein a resolution of the captured digital image is higher than a display of the digital camera so as to provide a user with a representation of the captured image for image assessment, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) displaying the captured digital image in a display of the digital camera, the display having a predetermined resolution, the captured digital image having a test area comprised of at least a portion of the captured digital image; and    (b) displaying, using the display, the test area at a resolution between about one-half to about two times the predetermined resolution to provide the user with a representation of an output image which would be produced using an output device.    
     
     
         19 . A method of processing a digital image captured using a digital camera wherein a resolution of the captured digital image is higher than a display of the digital camera so as to provide a user with a representation of the captured image for image assessment, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) displaying the captured digital image in a display of the digital camera, the display having a predetermined resolution, the captured digital image having a test area comprised of at least a portion of the captured digital image; and    (b) displaying, using the display, the test area at the predetermined resolution to provide the user with a representation of an output image which would be produced using an output device.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of providing an indication to the user that the test area is being displayed at the predetermined resolution.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the indication is provided using the display.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of the user selecting the test area.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the test area comprises a center portion of the captured image.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of the digital camera selecting the test area in accordance with predetermined parameters.  
     
     
         25 . A method of processing a digital image captured using a digital camera to provide a user with a representation of the captured image for image assessment, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) displaying the captured digital image in a display of the digital camera, the captured digital image having a test area comprised of a portion of the captured digital image, the display having a predetermined display resolution and a first and second display portion;    (b) displaying, in the first display portion, the test area at the predetermined display resolution to provide the user with a representation of an output image which would be produced using an output device; and    (c) displaying a reference image in the second display portion for comparative assessment by the user.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the reference image comprises an acceptable image quality.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the reference image comprises a resolution substantially equal to the predetermined display resolution.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the reference image comprises a resolution ranging from about −20 percent to about +20 percent of the predetermined display resolution.  
     
     
         29 . A method of processing a digital image for user assessment of an output image product intended to be generated using the digital image, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) accessing the digital image using an imaging device having a viewing member;    (b) selecting the output image product intended to include the digital image;    (c) digitally modifying at least a portion of the digital image using the imaging device to produce a substantially accurate representation of at least a portion of the output image product;    (d) displaying, using the viewing member, for assessment by the user, the substantially accurate representation of the at least a portion of the output image product; and    (e) displaying, using the viewing member, a reference image for comparative assessment by the user.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the substantially accurate representation and the reference image are displayed simultaneously.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the substantially accurate representation and the reference image are alternately displayed.  
     
     
         32 . A computer storage product having at least one computer storage medium having instructions stored therein causing one or more computers to perform the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         33 . An imaging device for processing a digital image for user assessment of an output image product intended to be generated using the digital image, comprising: 
 (a) input means for accessing the digital image;    (b) selection means for selecting the output image product intended to include the digital image;    (c) processing means for digitally modifying at least a portion of the digital image using the imaging device to produce a substantially accurate representation of at least a portion of the output image product; and    (d) a viewing member for displaying the substantially accurate representation of the at least a portion of the output image product for assessment by the user.    
     
     
         34 . The imaging device of  claim 33 , further comprising query means for querying the user as to whether to generate the output image product.