FR2585860A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A COLOR TO BE USED IN A MODEL. - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PRESENT INVENTION CONCERNS A DEVICE INTENDED TO DETERMINE A COLOR TO BE USED IN A MODEL, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT INCLUDES: A DISPLAY SCREEN14, MEANS10 INTENDED TO CREATE ON THIS SCREEN A COLOR IMAGE18 OF A MODEL, MEANS20, 22, 24, 26 DESTINATIONS TO VARY THE COLOR OF AT LEAST PART OF THIS IMAGE, AND MEANS34, 32 FOR MEASURING THE COLOR OF SUCH PART OF THE IMAGE, TO PRODUCE A SET OF VALUES DESCRIBING THE COLOR CONSIDERED.

Description

i

  The present invention relates to the field of

  computer-aided, and more particularly

  on a device and a method for determining

  the color or colors to use with a given model.

  The invention has a particular utility in connection with the creation of clothing models, and it is described here by considering this application. Its usefulness is however not limited to the creation of clothing, and on the contrary it can be advantageously used in the creation

  of fittings for furniture and automobiles,

  tion of advertising illustrations and the creation of numerous

  other types of artistic models. We use here the expression

  sion "model" in a sense that encompasses all of these areas

  possible uses of the invention.

  Computer-aided design systems - for the creation of new models of clothing constitute a

  relatively recent development in the skill industry

  lement. Such a system usually includes a cathode ray screen.

  or another display screen, a computer and

  input devices such as a keyboard, graphics tablet

  that or a mouse, which are interacting with the computer

  and an operator and thanks to which the operator, aided by the

  computer, can create a two-dimensional representation on the screen

  or three-dimensional and bring it instantly

  desired changes. For example, the screen can show

  a three-dimensional representation of a human body and the operator can then clothe this representation with

  different models of clothing. It can rotate the re-

  three-dimensional presentation to bring it to different positions so as to show the selected garment model

  from different angles. The operator can make changes

  cations to the model shown on the screen, until it reaches an acceptable final model, after which the system

  save the model for future use. In the case

  From this registration process, you can use the computer

  nator to produce representations of two-dimensional pattern elements that are necessary for the realization of a

  clothing reproducing the final model.

  The color or colors of a model are usually of considerable importance, and the object of the invention is to

  provide a device and method usable with a system

  computer-aided design, or as part of such a system, for selecting and describing colors

to use with a template.

  A further object of the invention is to provide

  a device and a method for determining color of the above type which can also directly specify dyes to be used for dyeing a textile so as to

  reproduce a selected color for a model.

  The invention consists of a device intended for

  determine a color to use in a model, and what

  positive comprises a display screen as well as means intended to create on this screen a color image of a model, and means intended to vary the color of at least part of the image, up to the '' obtaining a color acceptable to the operator. In combination with these means, the device also comprises means intended for

  measure the color of a given part of the image to provide

  define a set of values describing the measured color, which can be used to select or make the fabric

  or any other material used in the manufacture of a garment

  real or any other item, from the picture

  present on the display screen.

  The invention also relates to the partial means

  culiers that we use to measure the color of a part of the image and that the device also includes

  means for using the set of des-

  color coding produced by the measuring means of

  color, to specify colorants to be used for repro-

  coat the measured color on a fabric.

  The invention further relates to associated methods for determining a color for use in a model.

  Other objects and advantages of the invention emerge

  from the following description, made in relation to

  attached drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a

device according to the invention.

  Figure 2 is a general schematic representation

  showing the color detection probe of the device of figure 1 as well as associated elements of the system

  color analysis and specification of dyes.

  Figure 1 shows a mo-

  computer-aided model, 8, an essential part of which

  is represented schematically by block 10, and which comprises

  also takes a display terminal 12 comprising a

  display screen 14, such as the screen of a cathode ray tube

  than. The part of the system represented by block 10 includes

  a programmed computer, databases and devices

  sufficient input to allow an operator to create and modify on screen 14 an image useful for

  creation of a model. Such an image can have a large

  diversity but, in the illustrated and preferred case, it includes a representation 16 of all or part

  of a human body, as well as the representation 18 of a

  ment or any other item of clothing worn by the

  body. The image of the garment, 18, is the part of the image to-

  tale which is of interest from a design point of view,

  and we can call it the model image. As has been indicated

  qué, the operator can change this image of the model, 18, and he can generally rotate it on the screen in company

  of the body image, 16, to show it in different ways

  gles, until a desired or final model is obtained. This final model can then be saved in various ways for later use in reproducing an actual garment from the model. In some cases, the system computer may be programmed to generate information from the selected final model regarding the two-dimensional shape of pattern elements to be used in the creation of a garment from the image. In the process of generating pattern element information,

  the computer can also perform an enlargement operation

  pattern reduction / reduction to select the size of the garment for which the pattern elements

must be prepared.

  According to the invention, the design system

  computer-aided tion for the creation of models which is represented in FIG. 1 comprises means intended to create a color image on the screen 14 and means intended to vary the color of at least part of this image. Thus, the screen 14 is a color screen, so that the image 18 of the model can be represented in

  one or more colors. For example, the image of the mo-

  dele, 18, of figure 1 is represented with two different parts A and B and each of them can have the same color or a different color. The system 8 comprises a photostyle 20 which the operator can move and with which he can touch the screen 14 to identify a point or a selected part of the image on the screen. The operator can thus touch part A or part B of the image with the photostyle 20, to indicate this part. After having thus selected part A or part B, its color can be varied by operating the three manually operable buttons 22, 24 and 26 which are shown. These three

  buttons respectively control the three primary colors

  res additives, namely red, green and blue, which are used to create the color image on the screen 14. In

  assuming that the selected part of the image is the

  tie A, button 22 controls the level of the rou-

  ge appearing in the color of part A, button 24 controls the level of the green component of this color and button 26 controls the level of the blue component. Thus, by the operation of the buttons 22, 24 and 26, it is possible to present the part A in an infinite variety of colors, under the control of the operator. The system is preferably designed so that after the selection of an acceptable color

  for a part, like part A, the image having this color

  they can then be kept while varying the color of another part, until the selection of a final color for all parts of the image of the model, 18.

  When the operator has reached a choice of

  their final for each part or all the parts of the image of the model, 18, the invention ensures the measurement of this color or these colors, to give a set of values

  color description that can be used later

  to reproduce the colors considered in a garment or

an actual item.

  The color measurement means can take di-

  for forms. In one case, the measuring means can be constituted by the buttons 22, 24 and 26 with each of which are associated a scale 28 and an index 30, to assign a value to the position of each button. Because the characteristics of the color cathode ray tubes vary significantly from one tube to another, each scale 28 is preferably pre-calibrated using a color analyzer in association with the image on the screen 14, to make

  so that the values indicated by the scale and the index as-

  company coincide with an accepted standard scale of color values. So, once we have set the buttons 22, 24, 26 to obtain a desired color in an associated part of the image of the model, 18, we can read the scales 28 and

  the associated indexes 30 to obtain a set of three va-

  their color numerals defining the components

  red, green and blue of the selected color, in a

  sufficient for later reproduction.

  FIG. 1 also shows other means for measuring the color of part of the image 18. In this case, the color is measured directly on the screen 14 using a color analyzer 32 which includes a probe 34 that the operator can move. When the probe 34 is placed against the screen 14, it collects the light coming from the screen and the latter is transmitted by a light conductor 36 to the color analyzer which analyzes the light and provides a set of values defining its color. If we

  we can then transmit this set of values.

  their color definition to a specification system

  dyes which, for a given dye system, converge

  titrate the numbers into information specifying the types and quantities of dyes to be used to recreate the color

  detected on a textile or any other given material.

  The color analyzer 32 and its probe 34 can

  take various forms without going out of the widest aspects

  of the invention, and they can for example take the

  shape shown in more detail in Figure 2.

  In FIG. 2, the probe 34 surrounds the entry section 40 of the light conductor 36, the latter consisting of a flexible bundle of optical fibers having an entry face

  42. At its opposite end, or straight end on the

  gure 2, the conductor has an outlet section in

  which the fibers of the bundle are divided into three sub-

  bundles 42. A filter 44 is placed in position adjacent to the outlet face of each sub-beam, and a photoelectric cell 46 is placed on the opposite side of the filter. The filters 44 are respectively red, green and blue filters, as indicated by the letters R, G and B in FIG. 2. The output signal of each photoelectric cell 46 is amplified by an amplifier 48 and the output of each

  amplifier is connected to a measuring device 50.

  Figure 2 shows that when the input face 42 of the probe 34 is placed against the screen 14, the light emitted by the screen enters the conductor 36 and

  equal, or at least known, fractions of light cap-

  are transmitted separately to the red, green and blue filters 44. The red filter 44 transmits only the red component of the light applied to it, the green filter 44 does not

  transmits that the green component of the light assigned to it

  plicated and, similarly, the blue filter only transmits the blue component of the light applied to it. Therefore, the values indicated by the three meters 50 provide a set of three numbers which can be used to describe the detected color, and the meters are preferably calibrated so that these numbers

  correspond to an accepted standard color scale.

  Instead of being transmitted to measuring devices 50,

  or in addition, the output signals from amplifiers 46 may

  can be converted to numeric values and a data processor can use these numeric values for additional purposes. Such analog-to-digital converters are shown at 52 in Figure 1 and they provide a digital set of three color definition numbers to a processor 54, which may be the system processor

  computer-aided model design, 8.

  The processor 54 of FIG. 2 is associated with a

  database 56, stored in a computer memory

  tor, which provides information describing a given system

  dyes. Processor 54 is programmed to process

  ter the numerical values describing a color, which are provided by the digital-analog converters 52, in

  association with information about a colo system

  which is provided by the database 56, to produce

  re a set of dye specifications, 58, describing the type and amount of dye to be used to recreate on a given type of material the color that is described by

numerical values.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can

  can be made to the device and process described and

  shown, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

  1. Device for determining a color to be used in a model, characterized in that it comprises: a display screen (14), means (10) intended to create on this screen a color image (18) of A model,   means (20, 22, 24, 26) for varying the cost   their of at least part of this image, and means (34, 32) for measuring the color of said part of the image, to produce a set of values describing the color considered.   2. Device according to claim 1, charac-   se in that the display screen is the screen (14) of a cathode ray tube, and in that the means intended to measure   the color of said part of the image consists of an ins-   measuring instrument (32) in which the light emitted by the   said part of the image is transmitted separately by several color filters (44) and in which the amount of light passing through each of the filters is detected to produce   one corresponding to the values of the set.   3. Device for determining a color to be used in a model according to claim 2, characterized   in that the different filters (44) of the measuring instrument   sour color include red, green and blue filters.   4. Device for determining a color to be used in a model according to claim 2, characterized   in that the measuring instrument comprises a probe (34) for   before being positioned manually, which can be brought to any part of the screen to capture a color in   view of its measurement by the rest of the instrument.   5. Device for determining a color to be used in a model according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a light conductor (36) constituted by a bundle of optical fibers connected to the probe, this light conductor comprises a divided outlet section   in several sub-bundles (42) of optical fibers, and each   each of these sub-beams emits light which it directs towards the respective one of the filters (44).   6. Device for determining a color to be used in a model according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (38) which react to the   seems to values describing color by producing a specific   specification of dyes to be used to reproduce the measured color of said part of the image on a dyed fabric   in accordance with this specification of dyes.   7. Device for determining a color to be used in a model according to claim 6, characterized   in that the means (38) for producing a specific   dyes include a data processor (54) for processing the set of values describing the color, in association with information relating to a set of   coloring systems (56) which resides in a computer memory   to produce the specification for dyes.   8. Device for determining a color to be used in a model according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for varying the color of at least part of the image comprise a set of manually adjustable control elements (22, 24, 26), each of these elements regulating an associated component of the color of said part of the image, and the means intended to measure the color of said part of the image include means (28, 30) which are associated with each of the manually adjustable control elements, so as to assign a value to the associated color component, in accordance with the position of   the manually adjustable control element.   9. Method for determining a color to use   in a model, characterized in that it includes the operations-   following steps: we establish a mo-   computer-assisted model, including a visualization screen   sation (14), a color image (18) of a model is created on the screen, the color of at least part of this image is varied, until an acceptable color is obtained   for this part, and we measure the acceptable color of the-   so-called part of the image, to produce a set of values that describe this color.   10. Method for determining a color to be used in a model according to claim 9, characterized in that the operation of measuring the acceptable color of said part of the image is carried out using an instrument (34, 32) which measures directly acceptable color on the screen.   11. Method for determining a color to be used in a model according to claim 9, characterized in that   that the computer-aided model design system   tor comprises a set of manually adjustable control elements (22, 24, 26), each of these elements adjusts an associated component of the color of said part of the image and these manually adjustable control elements are used to vary the color at the neck = s of the operation consisting in varying the color of at least part of the image, and the operation consisting in measuring the acceptable color is carried out by assigning a value to each of the color components, in accordance with the position of the associated element   among the manually adjustable control elements.   12. Method for determining a color in a mo-   plate according to claim 9, characterized in that it uses   getting the set of values describing the color to recreate   the acceptable color on a material used in the manufacture   cation of a real article corresponding to the image of the model.