CA2404126A1 - Method for virtual composition of a hybrid photo album and greeting card printed product - Google Patents

Abstract

A new computer based application of a virtual creation process specifically oriented towards the manufacturing of a professional quality printed product is disclosed. The new software system that uses a virtual model user software interface environment employs templates and interface tools and specifically allows any user, perhaps a professional in the field of greetings or in the field of photography, to easily create and compose a personalized virtual model of a printed product on a computer screen, and to automatically pre-visualize the model in real-time with required realism. The virtual model is manipulated and edited to be later transformed automatically by the software application system into a ready-to-print recto-verso, photographic quality document of a unique and new format. The initial edited virtual model comprises numerous text captions and images, namely photographs and various artwork combinations retrieved and manipulated in an easy and structured manner from a computer storage device. When using specific artwork material, applicable royalties are accounted for by the software application system for the just payment to entitled parties willingly providing such artwork for the purpose of controlled commercial distribution. The resulting hardcopy document is a new and unique self supporting, commercial grade display device, namely a professional-looking Photo Album / Greeting Card combination in a mufti-page, booklet format. With suitable digital devices such as cameras or scanners, the user can load and use his own digital images or use existing and available material proposed within the software system for the purpose of quickly, easily, and in a controlled and structured manner, edit, build, create and visualize in the new software application system environment, all or part of the virtual model before it is sent to printing equipment as a high-resolution printable file.
With minimal modifications, and with the same virtual model software interface, the product can additionally be used, in a new and appropriate and particularly professional-looking manner, as a commercial custom made CD-DVD presentation wallet of a new format, where the CD-DVD may optionally be printed and integrated into the background print of the Photo Album / Greeting Card format document.

Description

METHOD FOR VIRTUAL COMPOSITION OF A HYBRID PHOTO ALBUM AND
GREETING CARD PRINTED PRODUCT
Note: The product/method also referred to as an Album, a Photo Album Card (PAC), concatenated as a PhotoAlbumCard, an AlbumCard" as well as a Virtual Model in the body of the text.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a new all-electronic process and method specifically used to compose and visualize in a pre-production context, a model of an innovative type of recto-verso printed document with very high commercial quality and professional appearance, namely a personalized photo album and a CD-DVD presentation wallet, both anonymously concealed inside a semi-rigid custom made greeting card, the combination of which provides a much desired pleasant effect on the recipient, as it allow;
one to effectively and easily create and deliver sincere greetings, elegantly combined with photographic memories.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional photo albums have been is use since the photographic paper and the black and white and color reversal films are available, countless years ago. 'These are typically made by inserting only selected photographs - even those resulting from digital photo prints - into some sort of physical media holder, usually an album consisting of a dozen or more pages. The assembly of such an album usually requires that one pre-selects from a somewhat larger number of pictures potential candidates for a well balanced, enjoyable document that will allow one to share memorable photographically captured images for a long time, and with many people. Some people like to annotate every single photograph as well, with a humoristic note, or with text information that will otherwise be inevitably forgotten. Photographs are often "moved around" during the album preparation :step, and one wishes he could go "back and forth" between landscape and portrait formats, and even simultaneously zoom in and out choosing the best result only at the end, without having to re-do the work needlessly, not even twice. - This preparation step is skillfully addressed in a splendid manner by the new scratchpad function. - Even scissor-cut documents ,ire often included in an album designed to fully describe a past experience in pictures and words. A
small map, a theatre ticket, or a precious dried flower will find their way into the carefully crafted photo album. One can only easily assemble only a single copy of a truly unique souvenir album, unless it was planned from the very first moment that more than one copy was to be assembled. Materials for the assembly of a photo album are quite specialized items, and cannot necessarily be easily found when required. Only specialty shops provide high quality materials suitable for one's total satisfaction in such a specialized and committed project.
Greeting Cards, on the other hand, have become a very popular item, commercially available in almost every corner store. Literally thousands of different styles are available, provided one is not sold-out, or physically damaged to a point where it is unusable.
Holidays and special events, such as Christmas and mother's day, for example, only come around once a year, and that is when the most desirable greeting cards suffer from inventory depletion. Unless one plans ahead to select the perfect and appropriate greeting card, it is inevitable one will suffer some degree of frustration, more and more so, as each day passes before an important event or holiday. Overstocking some models is also a source of wasted resources.
While some past attempts at creating software environments oriented mostly at the production of children's and home made greeting cards applications were made, a complete software application that allows one to easily and efficiently create a professional-looking end-product that clearly combines and sums all the advantages and features of both previously described greeting cards and photo albums in a specialized virtual model construction and visualization environment are inexistent.
CD and DVD wallets and boxes are typically standard items manufactured and printed in high volumes.
OBJECTS AND STATEMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to allow one to create a model virtually, and pre-visualize prior to it's manufacturing, a unique recto-verso virtual model which overcomes the above described problems of presently used photo albums as well as greeting cards that can also be used as a CD or DVD presentation packaging system with only minor adaptations.
The invention empowers the computer user to create a truly new and unique end-product by the use of an innovative computer application herein described.
Additionally to the previously mentioned strong points, the advantages of producing, first a virtual model, and later a high quality recto-verso print that combines, in a concealed manner, a photo album document into a greeting card document are astonishing.
One can now elegantly blend expressions of best wishes, as traditionally formulated with plain text and images in conventional greeting cards, with a unique, personalized and genuine photo album typically containing up to a dozen, or even more, photographs that will express past feelings and joys like no other existing media can. Additional integrated software functions allow content, cosmetic and mood control of the virtual document, namely regarding text fonts and colors, individual page textures and backgrounds, picture frames, picture magnification and position (pan and zoom) control among other well known image enhancement or image processing functions. Such is the nature of this new computer-based photographic document editing system.
The present invention therefore relates to a computer system application software that runs on a regular Personal Computer (PC) hardware platform, such as those commonly found in the general public market, which computer system application software and hardware combination provides a unique interface that allows automated and structured image and database manipulations for the purpose of creating a new type of virtu;~l model further transformed to create a photographic quality printed document. The specialized computer system application software is therefore dedicated to the creation and manipulation of a virtual model that combines a photo album and a greeting card and that also allows to sum the usefulness of both into the innovative document, first in a virtual environment, and next into a commercial-quality printable format document.

2 Finally, when creating the virtual model's print file at the very end of the creation process, additional copies are available instantly, without further planning.
Most important, quality is always preserved from one printed copy of the final document to the next, since the system outputs a digital representation of the virtual model in the form of a printable file.
There are 3 main advantages of custom printing a document representing a custom edited Virtual Model, ftom a greetings card perspective, the first is necessarily related to the fact that out of the incredibly large selection of commercially available artwork, virtually unlimited in number when linked to a suitable database, any given image will never be out-of print since it's particular model is virtually construcl:ed and printed on demand. With the use of this new application system, the user can now always obtain the professional-look-and-feel printed card he desires in order to fully express his true l:eelings.
The second advantage is that the available quantity of each such item is unlimited, once again due to the fact that the end-product is printed-on-demand. As part of the, second advantage, one will also be able to fully personalize each individual document by using the proposed software system and existing templates, for example. The last main advantage of the proposed custom greeting card creation software system is related to the fact that inventories of cards do not have to be printed ahead of time, among others, eliminating the risks associated with errors of judgment, whether too low or too high quantities are kept at hand by the retailer. Again, real print-on-demand is now made more possible than ever with this new software system that provides a gratifying experience to end-users that create commercial quality products by themselves.
Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that this detailed description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, is given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is in the nature of this Software Application System to mainly achieve the following elements and goals:
1) The system uses a specialized editor comprising very useful features that dramatically increase user interface functionality, namely a scratchpad environment combined with a very powerful image positioning - pan and zoom - function;
2) The system uses a Virtual Model to represent a physical printed product of specific characteristics, namely consisting in a particular preferred embodiment, of 6 pages,

3 of which are typical of a greeting card, and 3 of which are typical of a photo album;
3) The system maintains a dual set of Digital Data, one for computations of various on-screen representations of the Virtual Model, the second for computations of a print-ready representation of same Virtual Model;

4) The system automatically converts the Virtual Model to screen-display forrr~at;

5) The system's ease of use and realistic rendering of the Virtual Model creation process make the application system useful for broad audiences composed of professionals in various fields unrelated to computers or computer assisted imaging and document composition, as well as to the general public;

6) The system automatically converts the Virtual Model to a print-ready file format.
More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a software system organized in three modules: 1 ) The System Database Module, accessed by 2) The User Interface Input Manager Module, that performs the Virtual Model editing as well as computer screen display functions, and finally, 3) The Virtual Model Builder Module that performs real-time construction and rendering of the Virtual Model 'both on-screen through user-interface functions for user-interface purposes as well as for the generation of the printable output file used for the creation of a multi-page printed product, namely a recto verso photo album and greeting card combination.
Generally speaking, three types of objects are being manipulated by the software system when building a virtual model, these are: 1 ) images (photographs and artworks), 2) displayed strings of text, and 3) decorative visual elements. Composition parameters define the precise relationships between the objects. The objects are visually rendered: a) as individual images, as groups of individual images, as virtual models of individual pages, or as virtual models of PhotoAlbumCards (groups of pages) on the computer screen during virtual model composition, and b) as an electronic print-ready representation of the PhotoAlbumCard virtual model suitable to produce a mufti-page recto-verso printed product.
LRO, LRI and HRO File Formats: The user interface functions herein described manipulate (objects) lower resolution LRO and LRI images as they are presented on the computer screen for rendering purposes typically with a resolution of seventy love (75) pixels per inch, while a corresponding set of high resolution images (HRO) is manipulated and linked into a virtual model in the background by the Virtual Model Builder Module, as the printable representation of the virtual model is constructed automatically by the software system with a typical resolution of three hundred (300) dots per inch, defining the HRO format. Same first low resolution images - typically 75 pixels per inch -are also used as low resolution icon size displays of objects in appropriate user interface screens.
Moreover, the software system herein described automatically manipulates and transforms digital images to required media related resolutions and sizes.
Accordingly, the file formats are described in the following table (typical values):
Low Resolution Object - LRO: typically 400x300 pixels at 75 pixels per inch;
Low Resolution Icon - LRI: typically 140x100 pixels at 75 pixels per inch;
High Resolution Object - HRO: typically 2000x1500 pixels at 300 dots per inch.
Note: the above mentioned HRO, LRO and LRI image sizes and resolutions values are given as references only in a context where the typical computer display screen desktop size used in the preferred embodiment is approximately 800x600 pixels. These values will inevitably increase as the technologies both of display screens and printers evolve to provide better (higher) resolutions in the future.
Generally speaking, it is understood that images that are not part of a Virtual Nlodel are directly fetched from the Database by the User Interface Functions and displayed on the PC Screen by same User Interface Functions. The Virtual Model Builder firstly builds, and then secondly also uses the User Interface Functions to display the images of PhotoAlbumCards (or pan and zoomed sections of them) on the PC Screen.
Module 1: System Database Module: This first module is capable of accessing thousands of objects, part of which, images are stored and manipulated in three different LRO, LRI and HRO formats. Also accessible within the database are character strings, namely text captions, as well as an additional large number of objects such as backgrounds, watermarks, textures (leather, cloth, etc.), borders and logos, also accessible by the herein described various software functions in the herein defined HRO, LRO or LR.I
image display formats. Within the scope of this invention, and in a non-restrictive manner, objects are defined as visual display elements of the virtual model.
Module 2: User Interface Input Manager Module: As the name implies, the User Interface Input Manager Module is primarily used to receive user input in various forms and in order to do so, also to directly display "unassembled" libraries of digitai~ images (interactive screen displays composed of buttons and text input fields, but also those of collections and catalogs of artworks, photographs and decorative visual elements. ~~11 these "unassembled" images are different from those of the Virtual Model real-time representations. The User Interface Input Manager Module always displays the I,RO and LRI image format files from the database, as the corresponding low resolutions are sufficient to provide the required image high-quality on a computer screen.
Also, besides the "Photo Album Cards Catalog", the "Page Edit Functions", the "Library Access Functions", and the numerous "other" functions available within the User Interface Input Manager Module, two in particular are worth mentioning,: 1 ) The "ScratchPad Library" function that automatically modifies/updates the necessary Composition Parameters in order to allow one to navigate within a highly speciali:~ed, new and unique, work environment that automatically tracks and structures and hence greatly simplifies the virtual manipulation of a sub-set of pre-selected digital images (a,. well as their accompanying captions, among others) during the Virtual Model creation process involving repetitive and iterative image transformations such as zooming, panning and cropping as well as select, cut and paste operations between all possible image destination windows within the digital Virtual Model creation and edit process. Also worth mentioning: 2) a Dynamic Image Edit Frame User Interface is a sophisticated "Image Pan and Zoom" function that allows one to very easily position, or pan and select exactly and only a desired section of an original image file, and again, that automatically modifies the Composition Parameters that will ensure that only that selected part of image file will be displayed "automatically resized" into the desired destination window in a "full-frame"
size by the Virtual Model Builder Module in the required HRI, LRO and LRl display formats. This Pan and Zoom function works in conjunction with the Scratch Pad.
Library Environment.
Module 3: Virtual Model Builder Module: This third Module is a sophisticated, fully user-transparent and automatic, Photo Album Cards virtual model builder - only feeding on the database, not writing in it. The Virtual Model Builder Module is a powerful, fast and efficient rendering process. Through the User Interface Input Manager, Virtual Model Builder is a module capable of providing and maintaining an additional layer of control above all the aforementioned objects located within the system database structure in order to allow the initial construction as well the perpetual dynamic reconstitution and immediate rendering of all catalogued Photo Album Cards virtual models as well as of their individually constructed pages. Within this module, a high level software layer c~~mbines "on demand" and "on the fly" all required HRO, LRO and LRI individual objects and existing relational links - the composition parameters - between all individual objects in order to temporarily re-create the Photo Album Card virtual model here described as part of the invention, where each Photo Album Card virtual model (of this preferred embodiment) is typically composed of approximately fifty linked objects, using a table of about fifty elements known as composition parameters.
Such a dynamic process approach where the Photo Album Card virtual model reconstruction is only temporary is highly beneficial in terms of global database size, as mostly a very compact Compositions Parameters table grows with an increasing number of different Photo Album Cards virtual models based on a given initial and unique set of images (in HRO, LRO and LRI formats), or objects, fixed in time, whatever the manipulations on each individual object (part of the initial set of images) may be, as initial object is never duplicated, only accessed with a specific and possibly different set of composition parameters. On the contrary, in a similar initial set of images context, an approach where each new Photo Album Card virtual model is saved as a completely new file, containing a complete new set of edited objects (initial images), each time a new Photo Album Cards is constructed, will necessarily require faster corresponding storage device capacity increases as database size will grow more rapidly as number of "new files copies" of Photo Album Cards virtual models increases, at same given Photo Album Card count rate in time on a given storage device. Smaller database size is also useful to achieve time savings during repetitive data transmission and backup operation purposes on data.
Note: The dynamic model building process allows the user to always change his rr~ind and easily "go back" during image editing processes, because an image is never altered, only displayed partly if so desired.
Moreover, as part of the aforementioned unique set of images, the Virtual Model Builder Module maintains control over a dual set of Data. Firstly, in this preferred embodiment, it continuously builds and outputs a representation of the Photo Album Cards virtual models finished product on the user screen interfaces in real-time, one-page-at-a-time, low-resolution (LRO and LRI - depending on the target screen area), on-screen, representation of the Photo Album Card virtual model using "composition parameter"
linked objects (images, strings of text, decorative visual elements), as virtual model is constructed in a digital format and as various composition parameters, relational links and edited objects evolve during the virtual model construction process.
Secondly, as the second part of the aforementioned "dual set of Data" function of the Virtual Model Builder, module also "builds on the fly" and outputs a print-read~~ virtual representation of the same Virtual Model, but this time from the HRO file structure, a High Resolution set of Data, in order to provide a high quality printout representation of Virtual Model, in the form of an output file suitable for direct feed to a printer system. Again, the print-ready file reconstruction is temporary in order to limit database size increase to a minimum.
The Virtual Model Builder Module also contains a user-transparent font display engine function that continuously temporarily generates objects containing text fonts and colors in a manner suitable for on-screen representation of the very compact ASCU text strings gathered through the user interface "edit" related functions of the system.
While the Photo Album Cards virtual models finished product printing process itself is not part of this invention disclosure document, it is interesting to note that by carefully selecting the composition and the materials of the various layers of the sandwich bonded construction surfaces of the medias of the herein described physical product, one can obtain different effects such as thickness - rigidity - and surface finish -rough textured, smooth, matte or glossy - variations and combinations in order to optimize the high quality perception of the printed end-product. Such printed media can typically be paper or plastic film, without excluding other commonly available printing or laminating rigid or semi-rigid media.
Moreover, the described System, composed namely of the aforementioned User Interface Input Manager Module, of the Virtual Model Builder Module, as well as of the System Database Module functions, is specifically designed to allow a "non-specialized"
user to easily upload, use and control the model objects automatically and transparently in order to be able to compose and edit virtual models of Photo Album Cards in an environment specifically designed for the continuous and realistic real-time visualization of the virtual model representing the end-product in a pre-manufacturing context.
LIST OF FIGURES
Note: figs 21 to 29 have corresponding equivalent figs. numbers indicated in [brackets]
1) Six-Page Photo Album / Greeting Card hybrid end-product concept 2) Four-Page Photo Album / Greeting Card hybrid end-product Concept 3) Eight-Page Photo Album / Greeting Card hybrid end-product Concept 4) CD-DVD Wallet Adaptation of Original Six-Page Concept 5) Typical Windows Disposition on Front Cover Page Virtual Model and Corresponding Printed Page 6) Typical Windows Disposition on Back Cover Page Virtual Model and Corresponding Printed Page

7) Typical Windows Disposition on Message Page Virtual Model and Corresponding Printed Page

8) Typical Windows Disposition on Photo Page Virtual Model and Corresponding Printed Page

9) Typical Step by Step Virtual Model Creation Process

10) Example of a center CD holding cutout shape and edge retainers

11) Edit and View Front Cover Page User Screen Interface l 1b) Photo Library Image Select User Screen Interface

12) Edit and View Back Cover Page User Screen Interface 12b) Select from Photo Album Cards Catalog User Screen Interface

13) Edit and View Message Page User Screen Interface 13b) Scratch Pad Library Image Select User Screen Interface

14) Edit and View Photo Page User Screen Interface 14b) Edit and Position Image - PAN & ZOOM - User Screen Interface

15) Software System Overview

16) Real-Time Display of Virtual Model - Page Edit Mode

17) Real-Time Display of Select from Artwork, Photo or Scratchpad Libraries MUSIs

18) Typical User Interface Navigation Between the 9 Main User Screen Interfaces

19) Common Image Display Windows Dimensions and Aspect Ratios

20) Artworks Library Image Select User Screen Interface 2l ) Photo Albums Cards Catalog Screen Shot [ fig. 12b ]
22) Photo Library Screen Shot [ fig. l lb ]
23) Edit Front Cover Page Screen Shot [ fig. 11 ]
24) Edit Back Cover Page Screen Shot [ fig. 12 ]
25) Edit Message Page Screen Shot [ fig. 13 ]
26) Edit Photo Album Pages Screen Shot [ fig. 14 ]
27) Artwork Library Screen Shot [ fig. 20 28) Scratch Pad Library Screen Shot [ fig. 13b ]
29) Image Position Pan & Zoom Screen Shot [ fig. 14b ]
30) Point Of Sales Product Advertisement Poster BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 present the concept of a greeting card and a photo album respectively printed on the recto and verso sides of the same sheet of paper an appropriately scored for desired folding.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 present the typical image and text boxes dispositions on the various page types of the virtual model, as well as of the physically printed end-product.
Figure 9 presents the virtual model creation process.
Figure 10 shows one possible embodiment of a punched CD holder first represented on a Photo Album Card Virtual Model, and second, as punched on a physic<~l end product.
Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 present the four User Screen Interface "Page Edit"
functions that allow a user to construct the virtual model by filling-in the various fields respectively corresponding to the four different Page Types , namely, the Front Page, the Back Page, the Message Page, as well as all 3 individually edited Photo Album Pages of of a Photo Album Card Virtual Model.
Figures llb, l3b,and 20 present the 3 User Screen Interfaces "Select from :Library"
functions used to transfer images respectively from the Photo Library, the Scratch Pad Library, and the Artworks Library into the PhotoAlbumCards Display Fields.
Figure 12b presents the PhotoAlbumCards "Select from Catalog" User Screen Interface that allows one to browse through all of the user's existing Photo Album Cards. Virtual Models in order to access, visualize and edit their respective contents.
Figure 14b presents the PAN & ZOOM User Screen Interface that very easily allows one to precisely select only a desired part of an image (of any orientation) and to "stretch"
and "position" only the selected part of the image into a given (currently edited) Photo Album Card Virtual Model Window of known Type, orientation, aspect ratio a.nd final dimensions, corresponding to an existing and chosen Page Type selection.

Figure 15 Presents the 3 main Software System Application Modules, as well as each module's main functions and general structure in the context of this software application.
Figure 16 presents the concept of computer split-screen dual display areas of which one side is used as a virtual model display area, while the other is essentially an editor interface.
Figure 17 presents the concept of screen content swap in order to directly access image libraries during image selection processes.
Figure 18 shows the 9 individual screen (and half screen) combinations used in the 9 main User Screen Interfaces (MUSI- ) along with the major navigation links commonly used in the Software Application Environment during the Photo Album Card Virtual Model building process.
Figure 19 Shows 6 different and currently implemented Window Types found in the Photo Album Card Virtual Model Editing environment.
Figure 20 - see fig. 1 1b.
FIG. 21 a 30 - Screen Shots of the current embodiment - see LIST of FIGURES
above.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the photographic quality printed six page document resulting from the virtual creation process herein described, showing all 4 page types used to define both the virtual model and the corresponding resulting physical document, namely one front cover page 1, one back cover page 2 and one message; page 3, all on the same side of the document in the pre-folded state, the greeting card side, here named the recto side. Also seen, on the verso side, three distinct photo pages 4, 5 a~ld 6 that make up the photo album - (picture book). The folded views lc, and 1d show that the end-product resembles a greeting card when not yet deployed. The deployed view 1e of the verso side of the print is shown as a stand-alone self supporting semi-rigid display device.
The printed PhotoAlbumCard end-product formats are possibly very varied. The preferred embodiment is a square or parallel edge type, 6-page document, 6 inches wide by 8 inches high, once folded. The corresponding unfolded printed dimensions are 8 inches by 18 inches. Smaller versions as well as larger ones are also described as one as small as 3 inches high by 2 inches wide, the format of a business card, or a credit card, once folded;
or one as large as a 16 inches wide by 20 inches high poster, once folded. The corresponding unfolded dimensions of the small and the large formats are respectively 3 by 6 inches, and 20 by 48 inches. Also, Aspect ratios are defined as variable, and so are page/panel edge shapes that can range from straight to curved, from circular/oval to triangular, to name only these. One possible example embodiment with 6 pages consisting of triangles is one where the three panels fold together into a pyramid (not illustrated) exposing one printed side (recto) "outside", and the other (verso) "inside"
the pyramid.
Another example embodiment consists of three round or oval shape panels (7 and 8) composing the typical 6-page format, each pmel only joined by a short edge, in effect composing a "3-panel-or-6-pages-pearl-string" effect (see fig 1 f). All PhotoAlbumCard formats can be simply and easily folded or unfolded in a shape/configuration that makes them a self supporting display item.
In the preferred embodiment, the recto and verso sides of both the virtual model and the corresponding printed end-product result from the creation process executed within the environment herein described is illustrated on figures 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, and 1 e. A total of four different page layouts are used as templates for the display of visual information. The first is a front page 1 typically located at the right end of the printed media, so that when the media is folded as shown in figs 1 c, 1 d and 1 e, the effect of a greeting card is reproduced, the front page 1 acting as a cover page. The back page 2 is typically printed between the Front 1 and the message page 3 , this last one being printed at the opposite end with respect to the front page 1 of recto side, again all three pages 1, 2 and 3 arranged to resemble a traditional greeting card when folded as illustrated in figs lc, and 1d. These combined three page types constitute the recto side of the Six-Page Photo Album /
Greeting Card hybrid end-product embodiment as herein described and illustrated in fig. la.
Various decorative visual elements such as a simulated leather texture band 79 may be integrated into the virtual model to provide variety and personalization possibilities.
FIG. 1b. shows the verso side of the Six-Page Photo Album / Greeting Card hybrid end-product embodiment, where all three represented pages 4, 5 and 6 are of the same type, namely a photo page 4 . It is understood that a photo page and a corresponding photo page Window may be distributed over more than one single center panel 7 , or side. panel 8 to constitute a Panoramic 9 Photo Page.
FIG. lc. shows how the recto side of the end-product printed document appears to the recipient as a regular greeting card when unopened or when only partially unfolded - the greeting card illusion is perfect while pages 2 and 3 (or 4 and 5 - same idea) are held together and while page 6 is not yet seen by the observer. As with a regular greeting card, when viewed from the front, the front page 1 and the message page 3 are sequentially and initially exposed when the printed document is normally unfolded. Further unfolding is required to expose the contents of the internal pages 4, S and 6, the pages constituting the Photo Album part of the printed product .
FIG. 1d. also shows how the recto side of the end-product printed document appears to the recipient as a regular greeting card. When viewed from the back, the back page 2 is the only one exposed when the printed document is normally manipulated and sequentially opened (unfolded).
Note 1: Sport/school/corporate events will require a trophy/diploma adaptation to the greeting card design. With proper image content on at least page 1 or 2 into, a "trophy/diploma card" is obtained, with the other pages contributing in their respecaive and preferred manner to the documented celebration.
FIG 1 e. shows the panels 7 and 8 containing the internal photo spread and corresponding text captions that appear as a genuine surprise to the recipient, edited as a set of 3 photo pages 4, 5 and 6 conveying a great deal more sentiments than ones possible to express only with a typical greeting card.

Note 2: Left/Right or Top/Bottom orientation is possible, and so are upside down orientations.
Also, Photos 4, 5 and 6 can be combined into only one photo 9 if desired.
Transparent text is used to create special effects - such as self standing calendar cards.
Holes (not shown) can be pre-punched to hang product on wall. Slots 89 of various configurations can be punched in many locations to insert and retain one or more CDs, or any other flat item that can be suitably held in place by a set of retaining mechanisms 89.
Such mechanisms are typically disposed on the external edge of the item to be held, or at the very center of it (Fig. 10), as commonly done in the case of a CD.
Possible scored, punched or cutout shapes, or combinations of the three mechanisms/shapes are a};tremely varied in both configurations. One such innovative CD retaining mechanism/shape combination is shown on fig. 10. Additional components such as clips (not shown) or other types of fasteners or holders (shown on Fig. 4 ) can be used to provide enhanced CD (or other item) retaining and protective functions.
Various Decorative Elements 90 may be added to match the cutout shapes 89.
Note 3 : When cut to final dimensions, the relative proportions and dimensions of the left and right flaps may be varied to avoid overlapping their respective surfaces and to still create weight/balance bearing surfaces as part of the self supporting "display" mode shown in fig. 1e. Also, Different decorative and functional effects may be created by independently varying each flap's proportions and shapes - ex space shuttle -flaps = wings and round nose cut @ center panel, integrating an extra set of cutouts used for holding a physical part such as a coin, a credit card, or a photo print as examples.
As previously stated, a CD-DVD wallet configuration is created (virtually as well as physically) by providing additional cutouts directly inserted (Fig. 1e and 10) into one of the pages of the PhotoAlbumCard, in order to retain and protect the CD-DVD
part 50. The CD or DVD 50 can furthermore be printed to match the displayed picture of a corresponding retaining page. Holding mechanisms can also be added, first represented in the virtual model, then included in the physical product itself, glued, fastened in a variety of manners to physically retain one or more CD-DVDs inside the physical product.
FIG.1 f) shows an embodiment referred-to as the Pearl-String 6-page Configuration of PhotoAlbumCard, one that benefits of all the features of a square type PhotoAlbumCard, but where the panels 7 and 8 are cut with a circular or ova 1 shape, except for the portions left uncut and used as hinges between the panels. In such an embodiment. In the. Virtual Model, in the Virtual Model Editing User Interface Software System, as well as in print, at least some image display windows are oval (or round) in order to match the external perimeter shape of the panels. In this context, the dimension and shape of the edges of the Panels 7 and 8 are arbitrary, and so are the shapes of the windows where the images are displayed. In this particular embodiment, the Pan and Zoom function F83 is adapted with an oval (or circular) Dynamic Image Edit Frame User Interface 92, as required.
for the editing of the curved edge Virtual Model.
FIG 2 shows the same PhotoAlbumCard (greeting card - photo album) end-product concept applied to a four page folded document, also clearly resembling a traditional greeting card when unopened. Page 1 is a front cover page, page 2 is a back cover page, page 3 is a message page, and page 4 is a Photo Page.
FIG 3 shows an eight page version of the end-product where the photo album would now spread on at least the four verso pages. Page 1 is a front cover page, Page 2 is the back cover page. Two Message Pages 3 are shown, but one only could be used, leaving the other for a page 8 Photo Page (not shown). Pages 4, 5, 6, and 7 are now used as Photo Pages.
FIG 4 depicts an alternate 10 page concept, same as the original 6 page concept , with two additional panels A and B - containing a total of 4 pages - added top and bottom from one (or more, for example to hold more than one CD - not illustrated) of the panels (7 or 8) of the original 6 page PhotoAlbumCard concept. The overall size and format is adyusted to be able to insert and snug fit a regular CD format and to allow the use of a common CD
envelope C, a CD holder mechanism D, as well as an attached transparent pouch E.
Note again that the Virtual Model and the printed document edges may very well be other than straight and parallel to add some fantasy to the design. The Virtual Model may also be adapted to various die cut shapes, including cutout holes of various shapes and purposes, such as wall hanging holes, CD retaining slots (see fig 10) or other decorative cutouts.
Panels A and B may optionally incorporate a Tear-off mechanism that will allow one to remove the panels in order to obtain a conventional PhotoAlbumCard after the panels removal operation is performed.
FIG S illustrates an example of three different possibilities and combinations of background patterns, picture frames and orientations, as well as the concept of multipurpose image display areas and composition parameters variations on a sin~;le Front Cover Page.
Note 4: Additional windows of variable size and position can be incorporated into the Virtual Model Editing Software System but are currently not implemented. Such windows can be used to arbitrarily superimpose images anywhere on the virtual model, in the manner of an add-on image over any given window or windows. The "image add-on"
function (not shown) shall be closely related to the Pan & Zoom function F83 in terms of User-Interface logic.
Fig. 5a. Presents an embodiment of a printed front cover page where the main image display field 10 , as well as the multipurpose display field 12 are surrounded with solid line frames 13 . All 10, 12 and 13 elements are represented as solid elements drawn on top of the full-bleed (edge to edge printed) background illustration 11 .
Note 5: display fields 10, 11, 12, 14 can be used to display text, texture images, logos and watermarks (always displayed as images) or any other object as herein defined in the SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Section Of this document. All the display fields can be considered as multipurpose display fields in that particular aspect.
Note 6: Display fields are equivalent to windows in the text of this document.
'Vindows and display fields are exactly the same thing, an area where objects are displayed, or where only part of objects are displayed, for example when the "pan and zoom"
function F83 is used to crop and enlarge an image in a given window.
FIG. 5b. Presents a full-bleed background image display field 11 and transparent display field 14.
FIGS 6, 7 and 8 present various visual element dispositions available in the system's templates effectively resulting from the composition parameters settings of the individual page attributes, namely on the Back Cover Page, on the Message Page and on the Photo Page.
FIG. 6 Presents a back cover page 2 with solid line frames 13 around image-display field 15, around text areas 12, all superimposed on a full bleed image display field 11.
FIG 7. Message Page. All objects 14 composition parameters are set: to transparent and superimposed over a full bleed image display field 11.
FIG. 8. Shows typically available image display fields 10, 11, 12 and 15 as well as possible picture arrangements obtained by dialog box 46. The background image 11 is selectable in a pop-up menu (not illustrated).
FIG. 9 depicts the independent step by step creation process involved in the creation of both the greeting card pages 1, 2 and 3 on the recto side of the virtual model (left side column of fig. 9), and the photo album pages 4, 5 and 6 on the verso side of the virtual model (right side column of fig. 9).
Note that steps are interchangeable in terms of execution order, since the 4 shown edit loops (1) Greeting Card Page Edit Loop, 2) Image Edit Loop, 3) Photo Album Page Edit Loop, and 4) Image Edit Loop ) may be repeated as often as necessary to build the; Virtual Model before the High Resolution Printable Format Output File 30 is generated.
Note:
Both Image Edit Loops are identical in Form and Function.
The first step involves loading high resolution images 25 onto the computer storage device in order to make the images 25 accessible to the Page Edit Functions F19, F80, F81 and F82, first in the Photo Library Screen 21, and once previously selected, in the Scratch pad screen 20.
Note that Artworks Libraries are selectable but not uploadable since they involve royalty payment issues. Future embodiments will allow the user to upload Artwork libraries in a controlled and structured manner.
The next step involves Function F73 that lets one choose an existing PhotoAlbumCard to edit, or to create a new PhotoAlbumCard with blank template pages where no images are yet placed, no text captions exist, and where the scratchpad is empty.
Once the PhotoAlbumCard is chosen (or created), the user chooses which page of the Virtual Model he desires to Edit first. Depending on the chosen page, one of the four (F19, F80, F81, or F82) Page Edit Functions are activated. These functions correspond to editing (setting Composition Parameters ofj individual Page Types belonging either to the Greeting Card Edit Loop or belonging to the Photo Album Edit Loop.
The four functions control input of elements such as Individual Page Layout and Page Windows Count, Text input and Font Selection, as well as general Decorative Elements selection. The four functions also permit access to four more (F20, F21, F22 and F83) individual Image Edit Functions, those four more functions that allow controlled Image import from various sources (transformed or not) into each individual Window oil a given Page. The four more functions correspond to the Image Edit Loops and also have the effect of setting Composition Parameter values of the Virtual Model.
The individual functions, as well as their corresponding actions (as depicted in Fig. 9) are explained in a distinct section of this document and need not be discussed here.
Once the Creation and Editing process of the Virtual Model is complete, the user needs to activate the Print File Generator function F88 in order to produce the corresponding printable output file 30.
FIG. 10 presents a possible embodiment of a CD 50 holder mechanism. First represented virtually as an object in the Virtual Model 48, then punched physically in a panel 7 or 8 of the Photo Album Card.
The retainer mechanisms 89 can be only scored and punched (as illustrated) in order to provide the desired retention force on the CD, or they can additionally be composed of additional components (not shown).
FIG 11 represents the Front Cover Page Edit and Display Screens described in the section explaining the software function F19.
FIG l lb represents the Photo Library Image Select User Screen Interface described in the section explaining the software function F21.
FIG 12 represents the Edit and View Back Cover Page User Screen Interface described in the section explaining the software function F80.
FIG 12b represents the Select from Photo Album Cards Catalog User Screen Interface described in the section explaining the software function F73.
FIG 13 represents the Edit and View Message Page User Screen Interface described in the section explaining the software function F81.
FIG 13b represents the Scratch Pad Library Image Select User Screen Interface described in the section explaining the software function F20.
FIG 14 represents the Edit and View Photo Page User Screen Interface describf;d in the section explaining the software function F82.
FIG 14b represents the Edit and Position Image - PAN & ZOOM - User Screen Interface described in the section explaining the software function F83.

Figure 15 represents the Software System Overview where the 11 functions composing the core of the Virtual Model based user interface are pictured and linked.
The input to the system mainly consists of images (JPEG or other format), Page Templates (BMP or other format), Text (ASCII or other format), as well as Composition Paramenters Data (many formats, including binary).
The software process herein described involve a plurality of software functions, namely user interface screens, input and output display, user interface definition, as well as countless computer data processing algorithms. The current embodiment uses in a non-restrictive manner, a mix of browser based DHTML protocols in a client-server configuration using JI-ITML, JPEG, GIF, ASCII and binary data. Alternatively, in a standard PC configuration, the user interface may run OS based specific APIs functions to achieve I/O and display.
The output of the system mainly consists of JPEG and BMP file formats, the first for on-screen display, the second for print-ready file creation. These outputs are defined as HRO, LRO and LRI file formats in this current invention description document.
All these previously described file formats are only an example of the current preferred embodiment and should not constitute any kind of limitation in the invention disclosure process, as many other file formats can provide the same end-result to thos skilled in the art of programming.
Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 are examples of the flow of information between software modules and functions in the case of 2 main/principal interactions that user makes in the process of creating/editing photo album card. See related functions and module descriptions.
FIGS. 18 to 30 see brief description section ALBUM CARD MAIN USER INTERFACE SCREENS AND KEG SOFTWARE
APPLICATION FUNCTIONS
The herein described personal virtual Album Card model creation and management software applications program simplicity and corresponding user interface ease of use are obtained by the very limited number of main user interface screens, nine (9) in total, and by the simplicity and usefulness of the key software functions, of which aforementioned there are eleven (11) such functions, as it will be further demonstrated.
The aforementioned 9 Main User Screen Interfaces (hereinafter named with the acronym MUSI- ) are identified A to I and define most of the user interface environment, as other existing screens are of secondary importance, such other screens need not be detailed here as they are typically small pop-up screens or pull down menus of very common usage; Regarding the 9 MUSI- screens, the numbers herein used besides the Screen Name refer to screen areas (individual or double) as described in the _LIST OF
ELEMENTS of this document and as shown on the descriptive figures. As an example, in this nomenclature, the screen MUSI-A is exactly the same as the screen 17 display of area 73, and the screen MUSI-B is exactly the simultaneous screen 17 display of areas 18 and 19, and so on.
The nine main user screen interfaces are:
MUSI-A - 73 - Select from Photo Album Cards Catalog User Screen Interface [Fig 12b]
MUSI-B -18 and 19 - Edit and View Front Cover Page User Screen Interface [Fig I 1 ]
MUSI-C - 18 and 80 - Edit and View Back Cover Page User Screen Interface [Fig 12]
MUSI-D - 18 and 81 - Edit and View Message Page User Screen Interface [Fig 13=~
MUSI-E - 18 and 82 - Edit and View Photo Pages (1, 2 and 3) User Screen Interface [Fig 14]
MUSI-F - 2I - Photo Library Image Select User Screen Interface [Fig 1 1b]
MUSI-G - 22 - Artwork Library Image Select User Screen Interface [Fig 20]
MUSI-H - 20 - Scratch Pad Library Image Select User Screen Interface [Fig 13b]
MUSI-I - 83 - Edit and Position Image - PAN & ZOOM - User Screen Interface [Fig 14b]
SYSTEM FUNCTIONS:
11 Functions grouped in 2 out of 3 existing modules. The first 9 functions are the Main User Screen Interface managers corresponding to each of the MUSI-A, -B, -C, -D, -E, -F, -G, -H and -I screens, more precisely, to their individual screen display areas: 73, 19, 80, 81, 82, 21, 22, 20 and 83. Accordingly, these 9 functions are identified as the screen number with the leading letter F (for Function), as listed next. The last 2 functions are used for the Dual Data (LRO, LRI and HRO) Virtual Model Representation.
Module-1: System Database Module (23):
0) The database management functions are well known to the experts in the field of computer programming and need not be further described.
Module-2: User Interface Input Manager Module (33):
1) F73 User Interface PhotoAlbumCard Catalog Screen Area Manager 2) F19 Virtual Model Front Cover Page User Interface Edit Screen Area Manager 3) F80 Virtual Model Back Cover Page User Interface Edit Screen Manager 4) F81 Virtual Model Message Page User Interface Edit Screen Manager 5) F82 Virtual Model Photo Album Page User Interface Edit Screen Manager 6) F21 Photo Library User Interface Edit Screen Area Manager 7) F22 Artwork Library User Interface Edit Screen Area Manager 8) F20 Scratch Pad User Interface Edit Screen Area Manager 9) F83 Image Pan and Zoom Edit User Screen Interface Manager Module-3: Virtual Model Builder Module (28):
10) F34 Screen Image Generator Function 11) F88 Print File Generator Function Various other functions are also used within this herein described software application, but are considered common and well known to those expert in the art of computer programming and hence need not be further described in this document.
Also, Other well known possible, not yet implemented, image processing functions will remove red eyes or vary color tints, or control picture brightness or sharpness, just as examples.
PHOTO ALBUM CARD CREATION PROCESS
The user first needs to start running the Album Card creation software application program on his computer. This is done in the usual manner, for example by double clicking on the application's icon. The current embodiment employs a much used and well known, to those skilled in the art, browser based environment, as illustrated by screen shots in figures 21 to 29.
The computer where the invention is programmed may be stand alone, meaning that all or part of the software and artwork database is locally present on a storage device, such as a hard-disk, or, on the opposite, all or part of the software and artwork database is :remotely accessed through known networking devices such as cables and modems, fiber optics and any other network communication means. Without causing any limitation, the Internet is a preferred means of digital information transfer in the preferred embodiment of this invention.
Note: In the text of this document, the words select, press and click a button on the screen are used interchangeably to describe the action of using a pointing device such as a mouse and of pressing a button on the mouse to make a selection or an input into the herein described software functions.
Very often, such function, property or image selections, are made by clicking directly on the property or function corresponding user screen interface button, or alternatively via pull-down menus. Also, keyboard shortcuts or command line entries may be employed as inputs to the system (currently not implemented).
It is understood that devices such as mouse wheels can be used advantageously to replace or assist mouse clicks. Such examples are zoom as well as pan control operations, like in fig. 14b, where one may select and control object 91 in the terms illustrated by arrows 84 and 85 corresponding to desired actions on the objects, or inputs to the system by using the Dynamic Image Edit Frame User Interface 92.
Numbers refer to specific descriptive Elements illustrated on descriptive figures and listed in the "List of Elements"
Photo Album Catalog Manager Function (F73) The user enters the software application program in the welcome screen MUSI-A-[fig 12b], also called the Photo Albums Catalog Page. This screen MUSI-A-7 ~
is also conveniently accessed via the Navigational bar 37 from all 4 Page Edit user interface screens MUSI-B, C, D and E of this program, as just herein previously defined, and as later described.
Once screen MUSI-A - 73 is displayed, the user may want to upload some images or photographs into one of the categories of the Photo Libraries of the application software.
To do so, he selects the Photo Library Button 60 on the screen. Button 60 is a direct link to screen 21 (described later), the Photo Library Image Select User Interface Screen MUSI-F
depicted on [Fig. l 1b].
Once screen MUSI-F - 21 is displayed, the next step involves setting-up an optional user-defined category within the user's custom photo library environment.
Category management, more precisely, creation, renaming and deleting is respectively obtained by pressing buttons 54, 55 and 56. Category selection for image management is dome with a click on button 57. Image management, more precisely, uploading, moving and deleting is respectively obtained by pressing buttons 51, 52 and 53. A click on button 51 will allow the user to browse his computer storage devices to upload images into the photo library database in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.
(note artwork is supplied and not uploadable).
Image upload is done in high resolution (herein defined as the HRO format) typically between 1 Megapixel and 4 Megapixels, in digital format, as per current personal computer standards. At this image upload time, the Photo Library Manager Function (F21) automatically and transparently creates both LRO and LRI low resolution files for on-screen manipulations.
When done with uploading his images, the user goes back to screen MUSI-A-73 by pressing button 59 or 32.
Via new album button 68 user creates an empty Album Card Template to be filled.
Pressing Edit 66 starts editing mode.
Editing mode is available for each of the 6 pages via buttons 32 on areas 37.
All Photo Album Card Virtual Model Representing Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 rnay now be edited in any desired order.
Edit Front Cover Page (F19):
The Front Cover Page uses function F 19 to manage the user interface and page editing process.
Front Cover Picture orientation is selected by pressing select picture orientation buttons 38.
39.
Front and Back Cover design including colors are selected in buttons located in area Other parameters will be added later. Examples are: Font and color of the text (not illustrated).
Next comes the Cover Photograph or artwork selection process:
Press photo library button or ScratchPad or Artwork button in area 40 to access available images from three different sources in order to bring them directly into the desired page into the image display field 10 or 15, automatically set by buttons 38.
Press on images 43 or 36 to directly import the images into Virtual Model Display screen 18.
Then, if desired, press position photo button (in area 40) to pan and zoom using screen MUSI-I.
Next, type text into the two input fields (area 41) designed to receive the Title text captions.
Press update button 32 to display text changes on the left side of the screen, on screen area 18 .
Page is complete at this point, select another page by pressing buttons 32 in area 37.
Edit Back Cover Page (F80):
The Edit Back Cover Page uses function F80 to manage the user interface and page editing process.
Picture orientation is selected by pressing select picture orientation buttons Next comes the Back Cover Photograph or artwork selection process:
Press photo library button or ScratchPad in area 40 to access available images from two different sources in order to bring them directly into the desired page into the image display field 10 or 15, automatically set by buttons 38.
Press on images 43 or 36 to directly import the images into Virtual Model Display screen 18.
Then, if desired, press position photo button (in area 40) to pan and zoom using screen MUSI-I.
Next, type text into the single input field (area 41) designed to receive the text caption.
Press update button 32 to display text changes on the left side of the screen, on screen area 18 .
Page is complete at this point, select another page by pressing buttons 32 in area 37.

Note: Logos for brand names of commercial partners or other companies , as well as artwork copyright acknowledgements are automatically inserted into provided fields at the bottom of the back cover. Barcode is also provided in the same area of the of the virtual and printed products.
Edit Message Page (F81):
The Message page uses function F81 to manage the user interface and page editing process.
Using area 40, select decorative image or artwork or picture to be reproduced top and bottom of the text message areas.
Type text into the input field 41 designed to receive the Message text.
Other functions providing variations on page style and colors as well as fonts may be implemented through menus labeled as decorative artwork pulled down in a menu behind area 40.
Press update button 32 to display changes on the left side of the screen, on screen area 18.
Page is complete at this point, select another page by pressing buttons 32 in area 37.
Edit Photo Album Page (F82):
All 3 Photo Album Pages 4, 5, and 6 use the same edit environment , that of Function F82 to manage the user interface and page editing process.
Using buttons located in area 46, independently for each of the photo Pages 4, 5 and 6, select one of the 5 offered picture arrangements on given page currently edited. Each photograph in the picture arrangement is numbered from 1 to 4 (current maximum), in order, from left to right, and from top to bottom, as displayed in fig. 26.
Next comes the Photographs selection process, repeated for each of the pictures located on the Page, and identified by their corresponding identification niumber:
Select and Import images.
For each individual window, press photo library button or ScratchPad button in area 40 to access available images from two different sources in order to bring them directly into the desired page into the image display fields 10 or 15, automatically set by buttons in area 46.
Press on images 43 or 36 to directly import the images into Virtual Model Display screen 18.
The system automatically crops all next selected pictures according to aspect ratios corresponding to selected page arrangements, as adjustments of each image's portrait and landscape is automatic and combined with pan and zoom function (screen MUSI-I-83) for ease of use, as next described.
Then, if desired, press position photo button (in area 40) to pan and zoom using screen MUSI-I-83.
Next, type text into the text input fields (areas 41) designed to receive the photo text captions.
Press update button 32 to display text changes on the left side of the screen, on screen area 18 .
Page is complete at this point, select another page by pressing buttons 32 in area 37.
ScratchPad Function (F20):
The ScratchPad Page uses function F20 to manage the user interface process.
The scratchpad area is individually attached to each single album. The scratch pad page is a storage area for all images previously placed in a given album, and is empty when a user starts editing a new album.
In a currently edited Photo Album Card virtual model, the software "scratchpad"
function automatically memorizes and manipulates (on RAM) in a new manner the complete virtual model consisting of a previously selected (imported but currently unused) set of (inactive) objects as well as currently selected (active) images as well as all (in both cases) their associated composition parameters.
All scratchpad images 36 and 43 are shown in the LRI format, un-cropped in the ScratchPad screen 20. Each image is accompanied with it's own field 44.
In the current embodiment, the scratchpad recognizes and keeps track of only six (6) different PhotoAlbumCard image windows (W1 to W6 display areas) of given sizes and proportions - also known as aspect ratios (see fig. 19 - a, b, c, d, a and f ). In the current embodiment, only six different windows are defined and used throughout the whole Photo Album Card Virtual Model different Pages.
Note: The terms Window and Window Display Area are used interchangeably with Display Field and all mean exactly the same thing: a designated area where objects (images) are displayed either directly from the Database as individual image:;
on the screen, or as representations of the Virtual Model, by the Virtual Model Builder Module, more precisely on screen by function F34 , and in print-ready format by function F88.
The ScratchPad provides a very powerful cut and paste capability, since, for each selected image, the album's scratchpad function will attach and transport the image's text caption and will also remember individual composition parameters and specifically, most important, exact corresponding cropped image sizes when an image is cropped and zoomed and is then transported from one window type (of given size and aspect ratio) to a second same type (same aspect ratio and dimensions) window of the same Photo Album

21 Card and even to one on a different page of the same Photo Album Card. If the second window is of a different type, the scratchpad function will apply either default parameters (maximize the picture area in the window), or if the image was previously placed and edited in the second window type, the appropriate previous composition parameters of the image in the window type. Accordingly, the user only crops and dimensions an image once for a given Window Type in a given Virtual Model. Also, transported means that the image is actually removed (cut) from it's initial window, to be displayed (paste) into the second one. This convenient feature allows no unwanted image duplication within the same PhotoAlbum.Card Virtual Model.
Cut and paste of images during the Virtual Model creation process is made extremely simple and efficient, as one can also change picture arrangement 46 or Type (Fig. 19) and still preserve the ScratchPad's memorized pan and zoom adjustments for each individual picture automatically inserted and present in the scratchpad environment.
Also, as an added feature to the ScratchPad function, one image can be brought many times into the scratchpad area to provide pan and crop variations as well as text variations as different images are selected, different end results are imported into the card locations.
See FIG. 19 for more information about the W 1 to W6 display areas.
See FIG. 13b description for more information about specific Scratch Pad :Function features.
Note: More specifically, but without limitations towards future embodiments of the Virtual Model, the six Window Types adapted to the current Screen and to the six page format booklet, each page of which measures 6 inches by 8 inches. The six windows (see FIG. 19) current "on paper" dimensions are:
W 1 (a): 1530 pix. - 5.1 in. x 3.56 in. with a corresponding x 1068 pix. aspect ratio (height /

width) of : 1.4 to 1;

W2 (b): 1014 pix. - 3.38 in. x 4.78 in. with a corresponding x 1434 pix. aspect ratio (height / width) of : 0.7 to 1;

W3 (c): 1530 pix. S.1 in. x 1.78 in. with a corresponding x 534 pix. - aspect ratio (height /

width) of : 2.8 to W4 (d): 1698 pix. - 5.66 in. x 7.36 in. with a corresponding x 2208 pix. aspect ratio (height / width) of : 0.8 to l;

WS (e): 1698 pix. - 5.66 in. x 3.46 in. with a corresponding x 1038 pix. aspect ratio (height / width) of : 1.6 to l;

W6 (f): 822 pix. x 2.74 in. x 3.46 in. with a corresponding 1038 pix. - aspect ratio (height /

width) of : 0.8 to 1;

To understand the scratchpad function from a systems perspective, the following description is provided:
The Scratchpad Function essentially assists user in managing photos and images during the creation / editing process of a PhotoAlbumCard.
List of actions related to the Scratchpad Function:

22 1 ) Action:
Select image from Photo Library.
Effect on Scratchpad:
Same image is registered and tracked (not copied) in the scratchpad area, bringing the same image twice from the library into the Album Card creataes two instances of the same image in the sctratchpad area that can be independently manipulated and displayed.
2) Action:
User Changes Pan and Zoom of an image in any AlbumCard Window.
Effect on Scratchpad:
The new Pan and Zoom Parameters are updated in the corresponding image in the scratchpad area. This happens independently for each individual window type.
3) Action:
User Changes Text Caption below an image in the AlbumCard.
Effect on Scratchpad:
The new text caption is updated in the corresponding image in the scratchpad area.
Text Caption is independent of the window type, as the text will follow the image earned into any window type.
4) Action:
User selects an image from the scratchpad area to place it into an AlbumCard Window.
Effect on Scratchpad:
There are two possible cases:
First case: If user selects an image already present in the AlbumCard, that image will be transported (moved) from the current window location within the AlbumCard to the new window location currently edited. This action corresponds to the well known "two step cut and paste" action, but in this implementation, executed not with two, but with a single action.
Second case: If user selects an inactive image, one not currently displayed (or placed) in any window of the AlbumCard, the image is simply placed from the ScratchPad to the desired Window and becomes an active image of the AlbumCard.
In both first and second cases, the text captions and the Pan and Zoom Composition Parameters are attached to the image, and follow that image in the AlbumCard.
Hfowever, if the window type is one where the image has not yet been placed, then the Pan and zoom parameters are defaulted to display maximum possible image area (full frame) :however always keeping displayed image area orientation correspondence to window requirements (orientation). Once the Pan and zoom adjustments (Composition Parameters) are defined for the new window type, they remain memorized for further image displacements into same window type.

23 Also, again in both cases, w hen an image (B) is overlaid, meaning that a new image (A) is placed on top of a previously displayed image (B) in a given window, the image (B) remains together with it's text caption (common for every window type) and Pan and Zoom parameters (unique for every window type) in the scratchpad area, as an inactive image (B) ready for placement in the same AlbumCard and in any window type.
Pan and Zoom Function (F83):
The Pan and Zoom Page uses function F83 to manage the user interface process of any given PhotoAlbumCard Virtual Model.
A powerful tool, the "Dynamic Window Representation Frame" is superimposed on any selected image to directly visualize the area to be displayed in any given window of the edited PhotoAlbumCard, and at the same time to compute and automatically rf;cord the Composition Parameters of the image in the window.
The Pan and Zoom Composition Parameters are individually attached to each single image present in the PhotoAlbumCard, as well as it's corresponding Scratchpad of the PhotoAlbumCard Virtual Model. Also, additionally, a different set of Pan and Zoom Parameter exists not only for each image, but also for each single window type where the image was (inactive) or is (active) displayed in any given PhotoAlbumC',ard Virtual Model.
In the current preferred embodiment, there are 6 such window types, accordingly, there are 6 sets of pan and zoom parameters for each active or inactive image present in the scratchpad of the AlbumCard.
When displayed in an Album and edited in terms of favorite pan and zoom adjustments for a given display window, the pan and zoom composition parameters will be memorized and the image will be displayed over and over with the same "pan and zoom"
when moved around the Album between windows of the same type, until the values are changed for that particular window type. Changing the pan and zoom adjustments for one window type does not affect the composition parameters of the other window types.
When not previously displayed in a given window type, the default Pan and Zoom Composition Parameters maximize the possible size of the Dynamic Window Representation Frame. This means that the largest possible Dynamic Window Representation Frame is applied to the edited image as a default value. This also means that sometimes, like in the occurrence shown in Fig. 14b, only part of the original image can be displayed when there is a mismatch in orientation (portrait/landscape) bet,veen the original image and the currently chosen display window - the edited display window determines ( as it automatically corresponds to ) the aspect ratio of the Dynamic Window Representation Frame. To show as much as possible of a given image surface area, one must match the orientations of both the source image and the display window.
1 ) Also, without file duplication, only using composition parameters, one additional particularly of the Pan and Zoom powerful cropping function implementation within the scratchpad environment allows one to edit an image so that only the exact selected (and displayed within the Frame 92 ) detail of a given photograph will find it's way, fully resealed automatically, to the total area of a given type display area (window) in the Virtual Model.

24 2) Also, pan and zoom function preserves exact required display area (window) aspect ratio as relative image dimensions are changed by zooming in or out.
Furthermore, the image or image portion is resealed at a "full frame"
dimension when pasted into a Photo Album Card window of given dimensions and aspect ratio, independently of the dimensions and aspect ratio of the original uncut image. Also, the full size initial image is always preserved and available, as the original image is never altered, since editing parameters are applied to crop the image "on the fly" every time the visualization process of an image or of a complete virtual model takes place.
Pan and Zoom returns the user selected cropping parameters to the User Interface Input Manager Module 33 for a given image and a given window.
Virtual Model Builder (28):
This structure controls the visual feedback on the PC screen 17, namely using screens 18 and 73, of the product being created, as well as the final generation of the print ready file 30.
This Module comprises two main functions, F34 and F88.
Screen Image Generator Function (F34):
This function is part of the Virtual Model Builder Module 28.
This function composes a realistic bitmap image specifically adapted for display on the PC Screen, with sufficient detail, of a virtual PhotoAlbumModel given Page as it is manipulated by a user.
Each time a virtual representation of an Album Page requires an update, the function fetches the latest (up to date) Composition parameters, text data and Raw Image data directly from the database describing the content of the page and precisely composes and places each element of that page for current Model Visualisation.
Output from this function is either in LRO or LRI formats, depending on the target screen.
Print File Generator Function (F88):
This function is part of the Virtual Model Builder Module 28.
This function composes a realistic bitmap image specifically adapted for the transfer to a high resolution digital printer, with sufficient detail, of a virtual PhotoAlbumModel given Page as it is manipulated by a user.
Output from this function is always in HRO format.
Each time the virtual representation of an Album Page is satisfactory to the user, the F88 function fetches the latest (up to date) Composition parameters, text data and Raw Image data directly from the database describing the content of all the pages of the PhotoAlbumCard and precisely composes and places each element of that Virtual Model into two distinct bitmap files. The two resulting bitmap files each contain three pages, respectively representing the Virtual Model of the Greeting Card Pages (l, 2, and 3) in the first file, and the three pages representing the Virtual Model of the Photo Album Pages (4, and 6) in the second file.
Those two bitmap files used in the production process will print the Virtual Model corresponding recto-verso sides onto a single semi-rigid physical support (typically a paper media). A subsequent folding operation results in the obtention of the herein described (booklet format) six-page Greeting Card / Photo Album Hybrid end-result as a personalized, commercial grade consumer product.

KEYWORDS
User inputs: keyboard entries and mouse clicks to choose, define and select the individual objects as well as all parameters composing a Virtual Model defined within the herein described Software Application System. Objects are defined namely as displayed text strings, images, more specifically photographs, artworks and logos, but also individual cover designs, backgrounds, watermarks, and borders. Composition Parameters are used in albums and in individual pages to combine objects and to define variations such as windows orientations, windows dimensions, image dimensions, displayed image opacity, displayed aspect ratios, individual object pan and zoom variables, and as said, to control model construction and display in terms of numerous definitions of relationships between objects on a given page and in a given virtual model as required by any virtual model known to those experts in the field of computer graphics.
Object: Individual Visual Display Element of the Virtual Model ;
There are 3 types of Objects in the present embodiment:
1) Images, triplicated by system and stored in 3 media specific image file fornrats:
HRO (typ.2000x1500pixels), LRO(typ.400x300pixels) and LRI
(typ.140x 1 OOpixels). Photographs, artworks are defined as images. In our context, images can be indiscernibly called pictures. Images are rendered in the virtual model in specific display fields (or windows). One object may contain display fields (windows) where other objects are rendered (displayed), forming a composite image, literally composed by the virtual model builder function. The model builder function is used to build single pages as well as albums comprising various pages.
2) Displays of strings of text - raw ASCII data processed and converted to HRO, LRO and LR.I image formats; Displays of strings of text are rendered with or without backgrounds and frames in the virtual model in individual display fields (or windows).
3) Decorative Visual Elements, best described as "other" images, they may very well be photographs and artworks, sometimes subdued or very pale, in HRO, LR_O and LRI file type again positioned and displayed in precise display fields (windows) locations, and typically used as backgrounds, textures or watermarks, among others.
Virtual Model Composition Parameters: The complete set of relationships between user inputs, objects and specific variables used in the software user-interface construction environment and realistic on-screen rendering of the virtual model of each PhotoAlbumCard. Composition parameters are typically stored independently of the active or inactive status of a given object; this key feature is very useful in the scratchpad "memory" functionality.
Various model composition parameters control individual attached object appearance within a selected page form structure (5 photo + 2 front cover + 2 back cover +1 message =
-only- different page types in the described preferred embodiment).
C',omposition Parameters control the transformation and the manipulation of images in HRO, LRO and LRI image formats when building relationships between the objects to be rendered as a Virtual Model representation.
The virtual model creation process employs built-in functions and several layers of software control over the virtual model . Each digital image carries it's own set of Composition Parameters defining itself uniquely and precisely in a predetermined set of circumstances, such as when selected in specific window types. Each Virtual Model of a given Album Page also carries it's own set of Composition Parameters, at a higher hierarchical level;
Virtual Model Composition Parameters control namely:
(1) arrangement of individual album page templates (page layout type) and windows in terms of windows count as well as windows type (dimensions and orientations);
(2) album decorative visual elements windows definition and selection, including cover design, image and text fields frames as well as text fonts and styles;
(3) individual edited image pan and zoom (crop) values as well as attached text captions corresponding to individual window types, and totally independent of page layouts used in current virtual model display;
(4) format manipulation and transformation of digital images and other objects to required media related resolutions and sizes;
(5) other numerous object attributes.

List of elements Used on Fig. No. (ref. only) 1) Front Cover Page area of Photo Album Card Virtual Model 1 2 11 18 19 2) Back Cover Page area of Photo Album Card Virtual Model 1 2 12 18 19 3) Message Page area of Photo Album Card Virtual Model 1 13 18 19 4) Photo Page No. 1 (right photo page) area of Photo Album Card Virtual Mo<lel 5) Photo Page No. 2 (center photo page) area of Photo Album Card Virtual Modell 2 6) Photo Page No. 3 (left photo page) area of Photo Album Card Virtual Model 1 7) Central Panel of Printed Photo Album Card 1 8) Side Panel of Printed Photo Album Card 1 9) Large Photo surface of Photo Album Card Virtual Model Verso Side 1 10) Display field shown here as one used for the display of a portrait orientation image 11 ) Display field typically used for background or decorative elements S 6 7 12) Opaque display field - mainly for text display, also used for decorative elements and logos 5 6 8 13) Solid Line Frame Surrounding display field 5 6 14) Transparent display field - mainly for text display, also used for decorative;
elements and logos 5 7 15) Display Field shown here as one used for the display of a landscape orientation image 5 6 8 16) PC Computer 11 1 1b 12 12b 13 13b 14 14b 16 17 20 17) PC Computer screen - typ. 1024 x 768 pixels resolutionl l 1 1b 12 12b 13 13b 14 14b 16 17 20 18) Virtual Model User Interface Visualization Screen Areal 1 ---- 12 ---- 13 --~-- 14 ---19) Virtual Model Front Cover Page User Interface Edit Screen Area[F19 - 15]

20) Scratch Pad User Interface Edit Screen Area [F20 - 15] 10 13b 17 18 21 ) Photo Library User Interface Edit Screen Area [F21 - I 5] 10 11 b 17 18 22) Artwork Library User Interface Edit Screen Area [F22 -- 15] 10 17 18 20 23) System Database Module 15 16 17 24) Text Data ASCII Format 15 16 17

25) High Resolution and low resolution HRO, LRO, LRI image Data in JPEG Format 14 b 15 16 17

26) Background or Decorative Elements Data 15 16 17

27) Virtual Model Composition Parameters Data in ASCII and Binary Formatl5 16

28) Virtual Model Builder Software Module D~'1-~ 15 16 17

29) High resolution Virtual Model Representation in HRO Format 15

30) High Resolution Print-Ready Output File 15

31) User Interface Input Dialog Box Areas - includes 38, 39, 40, 41 and 46 input fields 16 17

32) User Input Buttons to Update/Cancel/ Select Function or Command. Click Appropriate Buttons to Accept and Update Model or to Cancel Command and return to previous screen in either case 1111b121313b1414b16171820

33) User Interface Input Manager Module 15 16 17

34) Screen Image Generator Function (also named F34 - for consistency reasons)

35) Low resolution Virtual Model Representation in LRO Format 15 16 17

36) Low Resolution Photo Image Representation in LRI Format l 1b 13b 14b 17 18

37) General Purpose Navigational Bar Area - Provides/Confirms Information about Name of Current Page Edit Screen (Function), User name, Document/Model name, etc. Changes Accept/Update and Cancel Buttons 32, as well as other Individual Direct Access Buttons useful to quickly jump to desired Page Edit Screens, as well as Back to the Top - Photo Albums - Welcome/Catalogue Screen and other miscellaneous functions access buttons. 11 11 b 12 13 13b 14 14b 16 17 18 20

38) Picture Orientation Control Icons 11 12

39) Cover Design MiniScreen pop-up Icon 11

40) Select # and Edit Photo and Artwork incl pan&zoom & red eyes& image processing functions Box Area 11 12 13 14 18

41 ) Text Input Box 11 12 13 14

42) Category Selection and Image Count Display Box ~l 1b 20

43) Low Resolution Artwork Image Representation in LRI Format 13b 17 18 20

44) Image infornlation area; Text Caption Presence Indicator, text caption content, destination page indicator, and Multiple Category Allocation Checkbox. Also, image usage indicator as text color =black indicates no usage; =wed indicates usage in some Album Card. Also, when "all" categories is selected, text displayed is category; when unique category is selected, text displayed is filename of image.
See#45. l 1b 13b 20

45) Vanishing Information Caption - typically contains same type of information as #44; alternately or concurrently or complimentarily used when more convenient than 44 alone. 1 1b 13b 20

46) Picture Arrangement Dialog Box @ Photo Page 14

47) Photo and Description Dialog Box @ Photo Page

48) Virtual Model NA

49) Scrollbar 1 1b 13b 17 20

50) CD-DVD Disk 1

51) Photos Upload Button l 1b

52) Photos Move Button l 1b

53) Photos Delete Photos Button l 1b

54) Photos New Category Button 1 1b

55) Photos Rename Category Button l 1b

56) Photos Delete Category Button 1 1b

57)Photos Category Select Pull-down Menu l 1b

58)Welcome Username Display Message 12b

59)Photo Album Button 12b

60)Photo Library Button 12b

61)User Help Button 12b

62)User Home Button 12b

63)User My Account Button 12b

64)User Logout Button 12b

65)Album Preview Button 12b

66)Album Edit Button l 2b

67)Album Rename Button 12b

68)Album New Button 12b

69)Album Copy Button 12b

70)Album Delete Button 12b

71 Scratch Pad Button 12b ) 18

72)Print / Purchase Button 12b

73)User Interface PhotoAlbumCard Catalog Screen Area [ F73 - 15 ] 1.2b 18

74)Low resolution Virtual Model Representation in 12b LRI Format 15

75)Image on Album Cover in LRI Format 12b

76)Album Cover Background Image in LRI Format 12b

77)Image of Album Cover Text Display Area in LRI Format12b

78)Album Name as Filed (Named/Stored) in User Database in Default Screen Font Format 12b

79)Simulated Leather Texture Band Decorative Visual 1 Element

80)Virtual Model Back Cover Page User Interface Edit Screen [ F80 - 15 ] 10 12 16

81)Virtual Model Message Page User Interface Edit Screen[ F81- 15 ] 10 13 16 17 18

82)Virtual Model Photo Album Page User Interface Edit Screen[ F82 - 15 ] 10 14 16

83)Edit-Position Image Pan and Zoom Edit User Screen Interface[ F83 - 15 ] 14b 18

84)Window displacement indicating arrows 14b

85) Relative size of image varies but aspect ratio remains constant in order to preserve "b"
format (or type) -see fig.

-in all resolutions and absolute image sizf;s (LRO, LRI
and HRO) 14b

86)Position Buttons allow direct 92 "Window" displacement14b on 91 area

87)Zoom Buttons allow direct window scaling with features14b described in 85.

88)Print File Generator Function (also named F88 -- 15 for consistency reasons)

89)Item Retaining Device - cutout shape or physically1 a added component

90)Example of a printed image corresponding to the 1 a shape of Element 89

91)LRO representayion of complete image 25 14b

92) Dynamic Image Edit Frame User Interface -equivalent in aspect ratio to edited window 14b

Claims