Media-editing application with multiple resolution modes

Abstract

For a media-editing application, some embodiments provide a method for creating a media presentation that combines several media clips. During an editing process to define a particular media project, the method receives a first set of edits to the particular media project while the media-editing application is in a first resolution mode that uses content stored at a first resolution to generate the particular media project. The method receives a selection of a user interface tool to modify the resolution mode. The method switches to a second resolution mode that uses content stored at a second resolution to generate the particular media project without interrupting the editing process. After switching to the second resolution mode, the method receives a second set of edits to the same particular media project during the same editing process to define the particular media project.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory machine readable medium storing a media-editing application for execution by at least one processor, the media-editing application comprising sets of instructions for:
 receiving instructions to generate a particular image for a media presentation using image data from one or more source media files;   identifying a setting that specifies whether to use low-resolution image data or high-resolution image data for generating the particular image;   for each source file used to generate the particular image, identifying a file storage location for a version of the source media file at the specified resolution from a data structure that stores references to both a high-resolution version of the source file and a low-resolution version of the source file; and   rendering the particular image using images of the specified resolution from the source media file.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions to generate the particular image are the same instructions irrespective of the setting. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the media presentation is a user-created presentation that specifies (i) a particular set of images from the source media files to use for outputting an image at a particular time in the media presentation and (ii) how to combine the images in the set. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the media presentation specifies to combine a first image from a first source media file and a second image from a second source media file in a blend operation that uses pixels from both the first and second images. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the set of instructions for rendering the particular image comprises sets of instructions for:
 identifying a requested resolution for the generated image;   retrieving a decoded version of an image from a source media file at the specified resolution;   identifying a pixel transform attached to the retrieved image that specifies a transform between an image space of the requested output image and a pixel space of the retrieved image; and   applying the pixel transform to the retrieved image to modify the resolution of the retrieved image.   
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the set of instructions for applying the pixel transform comprises a set of instructions for applying a function that comprises (i) an inverse of the identified pixel transform and (ii) a second pixel transform for transforming between the image space of the requested output image and a pixel space defined by a display area for the image. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the received instructions for generating the particular output image comprise an application of an effect to a source image, the effect comprising a parameter specified in the image space of the requested output image. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the set of instructions for applying the pixel transform to the retrieved image comprise sets of instructions for:
 applying the pixel transform to the parameter to transform the parameter to the pixel space of the retrieved image;   applying the effect to the image at the specified resolution to generate a modified version of the image at the specified resolution; and   using the pixel transform to scale the modified version of the image to the requested output resolution.   
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the set of instructions for applying the pixel transform to the retrieved image comprise sets of instructions for:
 using the pixel transform to scale the modified version of the image to the requested output resolution; and   applying the effect to the image at the output resolution.   
     
     
         27 . A method for preparing an image for rendering as part of a composite presentation, the method comprising:
 reading an encoded image from a storage device;   decoding the image to generate a pixel buffer comprising a plurality of pixel values describing the image;   storing the plurality of pixel values in a data structure for the image along with a pixel transform that specifies a transform from an image space defined by a requested output image size and a pixel space defined by a size of the pixel buffer.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the data structure for the image further stores a colorspace for the image and a domain of definition for the image that specifies a portion of the pixel buffer for use in an output image. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the pixel transform is for use when rendering an output image using the pixel buffer. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein storing the plurality of pixel values in the data structure along with the pixel transform comprises:
 identifying a setting that indicates the size of the pixel buffer;   automatically specifying a particular pixel transform to use based on the setting and the requested output image size; and   storing the particular pixel transform in the data structure.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein different pixel transforms are specified for a plurality of different pixel buffer sizes. 
     
     
         32 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method comprising:
 receiving instructions to generate a particular image for a media presentation using image data from one or more source media files;   identifying a setting that specifies whether to use low-resolution image data or high-resolution image data for generating the particular image;   for each source file used to generate the particular image, identifying a file storage location for a version of the source media file at the specified resolution from a data structure that stores references to both a high-resolution version of the source file and a low-resolution version of the source file; and   rendering the particular image using images of the specified resolution from the source media file.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein generating the particular image is the same irrespective of the setting. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the media presentation is a user-created presentation that specifies (i) a particular set of images from the source media files to use for outputting an image at a particular time in the media presentation and (ii) how to combine the images in the set. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the media presentation specifies to combine a first image from a first source media file and a second image from a second source media file in a blend operation that uses pixels from both the first and second images. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein rendering the particular image comprises:
 identifying a requested resolution for the generated image;   retrieving a decoded version of an image from a source media file at the specified resolution;   identifying a pixel transform attached to the retrieved image that specifies a transform between an image space of the requested output image and a pixel space of the retrieved image; and   applying the pixel transform to the retrieved image to modify the resolution of the retrieved image.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein applying the pixel transform comprises applying a function that comprises (i) an inverse of the identified pixel transform and (ii) a second pixel transform for transforming between the image space of the requested output image and a pixel space defined by a display area for the image. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein generating the particular output image comprises an application of an effect to a source image, the effect comprising a parameter specified in the image space of the requested output image. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein applying the pixel transform to the retrieved image further comprises:
 applying the pixel transform to the parameter to transform the parameter to the pixel space of the retrieved image;   applying the effect to the image at the specified resolution to generate a modified version of the image at the specified resolution; and   using the pixel transform to scale the modified version of the image to the requested output resolution.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein applying the pixel transform to the retrieved image further comprises:
 using the pixel transform to scale the modified version of the image to the requested output resolution; and   applying the effect to the image at the output resolution.