Computer implemented methods for generating engraved images for works of art

Abstract

A method of producing an engraved image on a computer screen includes loading an image to be engraved and converting the image into a high contrast image using at least two colors. The first lighter color is used for the lighter portions of the high contrast image and a darker color is used for the darker portions of the high contrast image. Mixing of the colors is based on the luminance level of the image. A plurality of lines are drawn over the high contrast image with variations in the plurality of lines drawn being a function of the luminance of the underlying image.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for producing a digital representation of an engraved image on an electronic visual display, comprising:
 allowing a user through a user interface to individually draw a plurality of discrete digitally represented lines appearing over a digital image of varying luminance displayed on an electronic visual display, each of the plurality of lines comprised of a visible line portion at least partially surrounded by an affected area portion, the affected area portion defining an area that extends at least partially around the visible line portion, at least one of a width of the visible line portion and a width of the first affected area portion of each of the plurality of lines being automatically varied according to a luminance value of the digital image and according to predetermined parameters that determine at least one of the width of a visible line portion along a length of each visible line portion and the width of each affected area portion along the length of each affected area portion according to the luminance value of the digital image; and   automatically controlling the spacing between each of the plurality of lines as each affected area of each subsequently drawn line engages an affected area of a previously drawn line by causing the affected area of the subsequently drawn line to abut the affected area of the previously drawn line to form a digital engraving representative of the digital image according to the luminance of the digital image.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising automatically adjusting a position of the subsequently drawn line to be substantially parallel to a previously drawn line. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein each affected area portion has a constant width along its respective length and wherein each affected area of adjacent lines abut one another along their length so that there are no gaps between adjacent affected areas and wherein the widths of the plurality of visible line portions vary according to the luminance of the underlying digital image to form a digital engraving representative of the digital image. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising allowing a subsequently drawn line to cross over a previously drawn line. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising combining the previously drawn line with the subsequently drawn line so that the visible line portion of the subsequently drawn line appears to be integrated with the visible line portion of the previously drawn line and the affected area of the previously drawn line is combined with the affected area of the subsequently drawn line. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising dividing the previously drawn line into two lines proximate an intersection of the previously drawn line and the subsequently drawn line and forming a new affected area around each of the two lines so that the subsequently drawn line is spaced from two line segments according to the affected areas of the two lines and the subsequently drawn line. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising allowing the user to select and delete any previously drawn line without affecting the property or position of any subsequently drawn line. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising allowing the user to select and delete any subsequently drawn line without affecting the property or position of any previously drawn line. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising allowing a user to delete a portion of one or more of the plurality of lines and automatically reforming any remaining portions of the plurality of lines with a visible line portion and an associated affected area. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising automatically varying at least one of a thickness of each line and a spacing between each line according to the luminance of the digital image and user selected parameters as the plurality of lines are discretely drawn by the user. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising varying the width of the visible line portion each of the plurality of lines wherein the width of the visible line portion is greater in areas of lower luminance of the digital image and the width of the visible line portion less in areas of higher luminance of the digital image. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising varying the width of the affected area of each of the plurality of lines wherein the width of each affected area is greater in areas of higher luminance of the digital image and the width of each affected area is less in areas of higher luminance of the digital image. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising maintaining a uniform width of the visible line portion of each of the plurality of lines. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising receiving data from the user input to create the plurality of lines and wherein the user input controls at least one of the width of the visible line portion of each of the plurality of lines and the width of the affected area portion of each of the plurality of lines. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising converting the digital image into a high contrast, two color image based on the luminance of the digital image, the two color image comprising pixels of a first lighter color and pixels of a second contrasting darker color other than black and white, wherein lighter areas contain proportionately more pixels of the first color and darker areas contain proportionately more pixels of the second color. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising creating a marked area appearing over the digital image defining an area within which the plurality of lines can only be drawn. 
     
     
         37 . A system for producing a digital representation of an engraved image on an electronic visual display, comprising:
 a computer comprising an electronic visual display and a user input device configured for controlling a cursor on the display, the computer receiving input from the user input device to individually draw a plurality of discrete digitally represented lines appearing over a digital image of varying luminance displayed on an electronic visual display, each of the plurality of lines comprised of a visible line portion at least partially surrounded by an affected area portion, the affected area portion defining an area that extends at least partially around the visible line portion, at least one of a width of the visible line portion and a width of the first affected area portion of each of the plurality of lines being automatically varied according to a luminance value of the digital image and according to predetermined parameters that determine at least one of the width of a visible line portion along a length of each visible line portion and the width of each affected area portion along the length of each affected area portion according to the luminance value of the digital image; and   the computer automatically controlling the spacing between each of the plurality of lines as each affected area of each subsequently drawn line engages an affected area of a previously drawn line by causing the affected area of the subsequently drawn line to abut the affected area of the previously drawn line to form a digital engraving representative of the digital image on the display according to the luminance of the digital image.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the computer automatically adjusts a position of the subsequently drawn line to be substantially parallel to a previously drawn line. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein each affected area portion has a constant width along its respective length and wherein each affected area of adjacent lines abut one another along their length so that there are no gaps between adjacent affected areas and wherein the widths of the plurality of visible line portions vary according to the luminance of the underlying digital image to form a digital engraving representative of the digital image on the display. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the computer receives data from the user input device to create the plurality of lines and wherein the user input device controls at least one of the width of the visible line portion of each of the plurality of lines and the width of the affected area portion of each of the plurality of lines.