DE102004054548A1 - Image production method, involves producing image without additional graphical unit by using color palette which shows color applications, and storing produced image to which color palette is assigned - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves producing an image with an additional graphical unit e.g. text unit, and storing a color palette resulting from the image. The color palette shows the color applications for the image and an additional graphical unit. An image without the additional graphical unit is produced by using the color palette. The produced image to which the color palette is assigned is stored. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a digital storage medium with electronic readable control signals (B) a computer program product with a program code for producing an image.

Description

The The present invention relates to a method of generating an image, and more particularly to a method for generating a Pixel image that has a color palette associated with it, or one multiple color entries for the Image, wherein the pixel image by adding further graphical elements, without additional changes in the color palette, supplemented, can be. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a Pixel image, especially a pixel image in GIF format (GIF = Graphics Interchange Format) or a PNG image (PNG = Portable Network Graphics), which without further changes the color palette associated with this pixel image for further graphic Elements added can be.

in the It is known in the prior art to use pallet images, that is, images, to which a color palette is associated with one or more color entries for the in contains the colors used in the picture, z. B. pixel images in GIF format, thereby, that the Pixel image is generated, and this pixel image, the aforementioned color palette for the Image content is assigned. Find such pixel images in GIF format For example, preferably use on websites, which on one Web browsers are displayed, with the pixel images in GIF format then, for example, over the well-known HTML language will be provided. An example for a Such pixel image are the well-known banners used on websites to give the viewer of the website additional promotional information provide the corresponding area by the provider of the Website is advertised and rented to advertisers, thereby this usually the free provision of content on financed the website.

As mentioned above, pixel images in GIF format are generally used for such advertising banners, ie a so-called palette image, whereby according to the GIF standard a maximum of 256 colors can be assigned to a freely definable palette. More specifically, in such a pixel image, the methods used in the image are assigned to the color palette in corresponding entries in the color palette, defining either only one color entry for a monochrome image or up to a maximum of 256 color entries for a multicolor image Color entries can be selected from the available colors, such as the RGB space. After such a pixel image has been generated, there may be a need to change it subsequently, for example, by adding additional text, the approach used in the prior art being described briefly below with reference to FIGS 1 is explained.

First, in the manner described above, the pixel image is generated in the GIF format as in step S100 in FIG 1 is shown. If it is desired to add an additional text element to the existing pixel image, then that text element is selected and added to the existing pixel image, as shown in step S102. Since the original pixel image contains a color palette containing only the colors used in the original image, it is now necessary to adjust the color palette used for the original pixel image, as shown in step S104. In this step, the color palette is adjusted to not only contain the color entries for the original pixel image, but also to include the color entries required for the newly added text element, so that the overall image consisting of the original image and the additional text element new color palette results. The new image thus created is then provided with the revised GIF format color palette in step S106 for further use, for example for display on a web page.

As the above given, short description of the conventional Procedure for change of a pixel image easily shows, it is necessary here quasi-manual, for example with the aid of an image editing program, the necessary adaptation steps, in particular for production the color palette.

If one considers the basis of the 1 In more detail, the conventional approach described in connection with the above-described example of a GIF format banner, reference should be made to the following with regard to the above-described procedure according to the prior art. For a banner in GIF format, a maximum file size may be given or the situation may arise in which the GIF color palette has already filled all the color entries, ie uses color entries for all 256 possible colors. If, in this case, the existing image is to be used, for example, as a background to which a text with a certain font is to be added, which possibly goes hand in hand with an antialiasing of the edges of the letters, then, due to the necessary adaptation, those for the representation of the image change revised image required palette colors.

For the sake of simplicity, let us assume an example in which the banner only consists of a blue tone, so that in this case the optimized palette associated with that pixel image also includes only one color entry for that blue tone. If an additional text is added, at For example, laying over the blue tone that is black, then it is necessary to modify the color palette to include at least one more color entry for the color black, and optionally add more color entries in the color palette when gradations from blue to black due to font antialiasing (antialiasing for letters to improve readability).

The procedure described above to modify an existing one Pixel image thus has a number of disadvantages, with here first to name is that due to the addition of the text the pixel image, even after the GIF encoding gets bigger, so in case that the pixel image is subject to a maximum size limitation, this possibly is too big to for example, to be accepted as a banner ad. In addition is the approach taught in the prior art is disadvantageous in that here additional palette entries for the Color of the text input or the font color are required, if necessary even several entries, if, as described above, anti-aliasing is used.

In turn Another disadvantage of the procedure described above occurs then, if the original one Pixel image uses many colors, so all or almost all color entries for the palette already are occupied. In this case, it is no longer possible that the additional one Entry or the additional entries which are associated with the color of the text, added to the palette can be. Although there are possibilities to avoid these disadvantages, e.g. by superimposing two pictures with two pallets, but this is expensive and leads further to a larger storage requirement. The then with the supplement of the original one Image accompanying the textual modification of the original Color palette drops in this situation a lot more complicated than in that simple case where more color entries are to be added. In this Case must different color entries completely revised be enough space for the new entries while allowing the reordered color entries to be adjusted. This goes of course, too accompanied by a change the appearance of the original Pixel image, what a user, as a rule, also not he wishes is.

Regarding The prior art can be thus summarizing that this is a change an original one Pixel image by adding one or more other graphical elements, for example of text elements, only with large ones Effort and use allows.

outgoing from this prior art is therefore the present invention the task of making it possible a pixel image with associated color palette after its creation without big ones Effort and essentially automatically at least one more complete graphic element to be able to.

These The object is achieved by a method according to claim 1, a method according to claim 6 and a pixel image according to claim 12.

• (a) Erzeugen des Bildes mit zumindest einem zusätzlichen graphischen Element;
• (b) Speichern der sich aus dem im Schritt (a) erzeugten Bild ergebenden Farbpalette, die die Farbeinträge aufweist, die die Farbeinträge für das Bild und das zumindest eine zusätzliche graphische Element aufweist;
• (c) Erzeugen des Bildes ohne das zumindest eine zusätzliche graphische Element unter Verwendung der im Schritt (b) gespeicherten Farbpalette; und
• (d) Speichern des im Schritt (c) erzeugten Bildes, dem die im Schritt (b) gespeicherte Farbpalette zugeordnet ist.

The present invention provides a method of generating an image associated with a color palette having one or more color entries for the image, comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating the image with at least one additional graphical element;
• (b) storing the color palette resulting from the image generated in step (a) having the color entries comprising the color entries for the image and the at least one additional graphical element;
• (c) generating the image without the at least one additional graphical element using the color palette stored in step (b); and
• (d) storing the image generated in step (c) to which the color palette stored in step (b) is associated.

• (a) Bereitstellen des existierenden Bildes, das durch das oben beschriebene erfindungsgemäße Verfahren erzeugt wurde; und
• (b) Hinzufügen des zumindest einen weiteren graphischen Elements zu dem im Schritt (a) bereitgestellten Bild, wobei die dem im Schritt (a) bereitgestellten Bild zugeordnete Farbpalette neben den Farbeinträgen für das Bild die Farbeinträge für das zumindest eine weitere graphische Element enthält.

The present invention further provides a method of modifying an image by adding at least one further graphical element to the existing image, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing the existing image generated by the inventive method described above; and
• (b) adding the at least one further graphical element to the image provided in step (a), wherein the color palette associated with the image provided in step (a) contains, besides the color entries for the image, the color entries for the at least one further graphical element.

Further The present invention provides a pixel image that has a color palette associated with one or more color entries for the image, wherein the color palette associated with the image further comprises one or more color entries for at least contains a graphic element, which will be added to it after creating the image can.

In one aspect, the present invention further provides a digital storage medium electronically readable control signals that can interact with a programmable computer system so that the inventive method is performed.

According to one In another aspect, the present invention provides a computer program product with program code stored on a machine-readable carrier for carrying out the method according to the invention, if the program product runs on a computer.

In turn In another aspect, the present invention provides a computer program with program code for execution of the method according to the invention, when the program runs on a computer.

According to one preferred embodiment becomes the additional image used to create the image graphic element arranged in a monochrome area of the image.

Preferably this is the additional one graphic element around a text element, which is to be modified used in the image further graphic element and the additional Element of the same type and, preferably, essentially of same size.

The Image is preferably in GIF format, so the associated Color table has a maximum of 256 color entries, wherein the inventively stored Color table for a color entries for the Picture as well as additional color entries for the extra includes graphic element.

The present invention thus provides an approach to palletizing images, z. B. images in GIF or PNG format, subsequently without changing the Change palette automatically to be able to. According to one preferred embodiment is this for this GIF image generated along with a sample text, this text preferably not over a gradient of the background image (GIF image) is, but the area is preferably monochrome. Then it will be out of this Overall picture (consisting of the GIF picture / background picture and the sample text) stored palette with the color entries and then the GIF image again, but now without the sample text, but with the previous one Processing step stored palette generated. This will generates a GIF image which is for a later one addition of additional Text elements provided without further modification of the palette becomes.

is a change of the GIF image at a later time Time desired, so then only the individual font is added without that changed the palette would have to for example for all black texts the required palette colors already in the initial one stored palette are included. Furthermore, the data size is now only insignificantly different from the one in the first step was calculated with the example text, provided that the sample text is in essentially similar (in terms of length) to the added Text is.

Based the attached drawings are preferred embodiment of the following present invention closer explained. Show it:

1 a flowchart showing a conventional method for changing an existing pixel image in GIF format; and

2 a flow chart of the method according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment.

Based on 2 Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail, in which case, as in the introduction to the description, the explanation is based on an example of an advertising banner, which is an image in GIF format, which has only one color. In order to prepare such an advertisement banner for a subsequent, automatic change, for example by the addition of a desired text, the present invention teaches a novel approach, which is much simpler than the approach known from the prior art and in particular without the use of Image editing programs for changing the palette is feasible, especially by untrained users.

According to the invention is in a first step S200, the pixel image of the banner in GIF format together with an additional Sample text generated. For example, the pixel image is a blue one Rectangle, where the example text should have a black color.

For this Image, the resulting color palette is stored in step S202, where this color palette is then the color entry blue for the background (Pixel image) as well as the color entry black for the color of the sample text contains.

Subsequently, the pixel image of the banner is generated again, but this time without the example text, so that only the blue image (banner ad) is generated. Unlike in the prior art here is not now associated with this image Instead, the color palette for the image and the additional text, as previously shown and cached, is assigned to this image, as shown in step S204. The pixel image thus generated is then provided together with the color palette in step S206. The image of the advertising banner provided in step S206 thus already contains all the necessary color palette information for the text possibly to be added later, ie in addition to the information concerning the image itself also information concerning the color entries in the palette for possibly to be added text elements.

To at any time after the pixel image has been deployed With the modified color palette, you may want to have a text too be added to the banner that has been provided should. In step S208, the text to be added is then selected, by the dashed connection between steps S206 and S208 It should be indicated that these two steps are not in close time Sequence must occur, but at any time after deployment in step S206 performed can be. After selecting the text to be added in step S208, this is simply added to the existing image, so that the modified image results, as shown in step S210. This adding requires no further change the color palette, which already exists with the required entries for the text to be added.

According to the invention can be thus in an easy way an existing banner without huge Effort by adding modify other elements. Although in the above embodiment a pixel image has been described with a color to which a text element added with a different color It should be emphasized that the present invention is of course not to this embodiment limited is. In the pixel image Of course it can too to trade and replace a complex structure with multiple colors a text element can also different text elements with different colors are inserted. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the insertion of text elements limited, but can be general on adding any graphic Elements, such as other picture elements or the like, extended become. In that case, would then the color entries associated with the corresponding graphic element in the Pallet already stored initially and with the original one Picture without additional stored graphical element.

So far the original one Pixel image subjected to a size restriction is, as it is the case with the advertising banners described above often If so, this can be done by keeping the original one Image is generated along with the sample text, so that the size is one does not exceed predetermined size. After generating the pixel image without the sample text, this becomes have a reduced size, however, if the selected text to be added becomes is about the same size as the one used initially Sample text for creating the modified color palette will be up essentially no enlargement of the Size of itself finally adjust the resulting modified image.

Even though above preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in terms of the GIF format, It is obvious that the present invention is not limited to this format is limited is. Rather, the present invention may preferably be used with all Pixel images are used in which the ones used in the images Colors over a color palette are defined.

Depending on the circumstances, the inventive method in hardware or Software to be implemented, the implementation being on a digital storage medium, z. As a floppy disk, a CD or a DVD, with electronically readable control signals, which interact with a programmable computer system can, that the corresponding procedure is carried out. In general exists The invention thus also in a computer program product on a machine readable carrier stored program code for carrying out the method according to the invention, when the computer program product runs on a computer. With others In words Thus, the invention can be considered as a computer program with a program code to carry out the process can be realized when the computer program is up a computer expires.

Claims (12)

A method of producing an image associated with a color palette having one or more color entries for the image, comprising the steps of: (a) generating (S200) the image with at least one additional graphical element; (b) storing (S202) the color palette resulting from the image generated in step (a), having the color entries for the image and the at least one additional graphical element; (c) generating (S204) the image without the at least one additional graphical element using the color palette stored in step (b); and (d) storing (S206) the image generated in step (c) to which the color palette stored in step (b) is associated. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step (a) arranging the at least one additional graphic element in a monochrome area of the image. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one additional graphical element a Text element is. Method according to one the claims 1 to 3, in which the color palette stored in step (b) contains the color entries for the Picture as well as additional color entries for the at least one extra includes graphic element. Method according to one the claims 1 to 4, in which the image is in GIF format, so that the associated Color table has a maximum of 256 color entries. A method of modifying an image by adding at least another graphic element to the existing image following steps: (a) providing (S206) the existing one Image obtained by a method according to one of claims 1 to 5 was generated; and (b) adding (S208) the at least one further graphic element to that provided in step (a) Image with the image assigned to the image provided in step (a) Color palette next to the color entries for the Picture the color entries for the contains at least one more graphic element. Method according to claim 6, where the added to the picture at least one more graphic element and that when creating of the existing image used at least one additional one graphic elements of the same type. Method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one further graphical element and the at least an additional have substantially the same size graphic element. Digital storage medium with electronically readable Control signals that way with a programmable computer system can work together that the method according to a the claims 1 to 8 executed becomes. Computer program product with on a machine readable carrier stored program code for performing the method according to a the claims 1 to 8, when the program product runs on a computer. Computer program with program code for carrying out the Method according to one the claims 1 to 8 when the program runs on a computer. Pixel image that has a color palette assigned to it the one or more color entries for the Image, wherein the color palette associated with the image further one or more color entries for at least contains a graphic element, which will be added to it after creating the image can.