JP3706662B2 - Image processing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

ｕ(ｘ，ｙ)についての解は、ニュートンの方法を使用して次の画素の色ｕ（ｘ＋１，ｙ）を取り出すための初期推定値として使用することが可能であり、１回又は２回の反復の後にはおそらく収束が起こると思われるので、画素ごとに式（３）を計算する必要はない。ニュートンの方法に関わる公式は次の通りである。
【００２５】
Ａｕ^2+Ｂｕ+Ｃ = ０ ⇒ ｕi+1 = (Ａｕi^2 - Ｃ)/(２Ａｕi+Ｂ) （４）
式中、Ａ、Ｂ及びＣは式（３）の中で挙げた二次方程式の通常の対応する部分である。しかしながら、式（４）では、ニュートンの方法により発生する誤差が不満足なものになってしまうほど分母をゼロに近付け得ることに注意すべきである。この場合、分母の値を確定するために別個の検査を実現でき、また、式（３）を解くことにより第１の原理から画素（ｘ，ｙ＋１）の値を確定できる。
【００２６】
前述の例では色の融合に関して述べられているが、色が不透明性を含むことは当業者には明らかなことであるから、その方法は不透明性について適用することもできるし、あるいは、２つのスプライン間の領域中での任意の点における色の融合とさらに組合わせることも出来る。同様に、下記の例は、本発明を簡単に説明するために、色の値に関して一般的に説明するものである。しかしながら、本発明の実施形態における例は、本発明の範囲及び趣旨から逸脱すること無く、不透明性についても等しく適用できることは、当業者には明らかであろう。
【００２７】
本発明の実施形態による方法及び装置を、たとえば、図１２に示す汎用コンピュータ１２０２（すなわち、パーソナルコンピュータ）を使用して実施することが可能である。当該技術では良く知られているように、このようなコンピュータ１２０２は典型的にはメモリ装置に結合する中央処理装置１２１０を具備する。メモリ装置は、中央処理装置１２１０を動作させるためのデータと命令を記憶する。たとえば、汎用コンピュータは一般にはデータと命令を一時的に記憶するランダムアクセスメモリ（ＲＡＭ）と、データと命令を一時的に又は永久に記憶する二次記憶装置（ハードディスクドライブＨＤＤ及びフロッピーディスクドライブＦＤＤなど）とを含む。
【００２８】
図１２に示す通り、中央処理装置１２１０は当該技術では良く知られているバス１２２２に結合している。そのようなバス１２２２は、典型的には、アドレスバス、データバス、制御信号線などを含む。このバス１２２２にはランダムアクセスメモリ１２１２と、読み取り専用メモリ１２１４と、ハードディスクドライブ／フロッピーディスクドライブ（ＨＤＤ／ＦＤＤ）１２１６と、ビデオインタフェース１２１８と、入出力（Ｉ／Ｏ）インタフェース１２２０とが結合している。ビデオインタフェース１２１８は表示装置／モニタ１２０４に出力を供給する。同様に、Ｉ／Ｏインタフェース１２２０は再生装置１２０６に接続している。再生装置１２０６はレーザービームプリンタ、ドットマトリクスプリンタなどを含んでいても良い。従って、以下に説明するように、本発明に従って複雑なブレンド及び画像を作成する方法及び装置はこのような汎用コンピュータを使用して実現可能である。
＜第１の画像処理方法による画像処理システム＞
図１０には、図１２の装置上で、前記第１の画像処理方法に従うコンピュータグラフィック画像作成システムにおいて、１つの任意のエッジから第２の任意のエッジへ、色または不透明性、あるいはその両者について融合させる方法のフローチャートを示す。この方法は次のステップを含む。ステップ１００２では、それぞれのエッジに沿った色を確定する。ステップ１００４では、エッジにより境界を規定された領域の中にある各画素の色（あるいは不透明性）についてパラメータ方程式を形成する。ステップ１００６では、そのパラメータ方程式を解いて、各々の画素の色（あるいは不透明性）を取り出す。
【００２９】
１つの任意のエッジから第２の任意のエッジへと融合させる装置１３２０及びコンピュータグラフィック画像作成システムを図１３に示す。装置１３２０は、複数のエッジから構成される入力１３０２を受信する。入力１３０２は、それぞれのエッジに沿った色（あるいは不透明性）を確定するエッジ色（あるいは不透明性）確定手段１３０４に供給される。エッジ色（あるいは不透明性）確定手段１３０４の出力は、エッジにより境界を規定された領域の中の各画素の色（あるいは不透明性）に関わるパラメータ演算式を形成するパラメータ確定手段１３０６に供給される。パラメータ確定手段１３０６の出力は画素色（あるいは不透明性）取り出し手段１３０８に供給される。画素色（あるいは不透明性）取り出し手段１３０８はパラメータ確定手段１３０６により供給されたパラメータ演算式を解いて、それぞれの画素の色を取り出し、出力画像１３１０を生成する。
＜第２の画像処理方法による画像処理システム＞
第２の画像処理方法に従うコンピュータグラフィック画像作成システムにおいて、第１の任意のエッジから第２の任意のエッジへ、色または不透明性、あるいはそれら両者について融合させる方法のフローチャートを図１１に示す。この方法は次のステップを含む。ステップ１１０２では、それぞれのエッジに沿った色を確定する。ステップ１１０４では、それぞれのエッジを対応する線分にベクトル化する。ステップ１１０６では、定義された色をその頂点において有する多角形を形成するように、それぞれのエッジから取り出した線分の対を組にする。ステップ１１０８では、頂点の定義された色から、多角形の各画素の色を確定する。
【００３０】
なお、好ましくは、ステップ１１０６は、線分の対をそれぞれのエッジに沿ったその相対距離に従って組にすることを更に含む。
【００３１】
また、好ましくは、ステップ１１０６は、線分の対をそれぞれのエッジに沿ったそのパラメータ距離に従って組にすることを更に含む。
【００３２】
更に好ましくは、ステップ１１０８は、多角形を一定の色の複数の領域に分割し、且つ一定の色の各領域をレンダリングすることを含む。
【００３３】
図１４には、コンピュータグラフィック画像作成システムにおいて第１の任意のエッジから第２の任意のエッジへと融合させる装置１４２０を示す。装置１４２０は、複数の任意のエッジから構成される入力１４０２を受信する。入力データ１４０２はエッジ色確定手段１４０４に供給される。エッジ色確定手段１４０４は各々のエッジに沿った色を確定し、その出力はエッジベクトル化手段１４０６に供給される。エッジベクトル化手段１４０６はそれぞれのエッジを対応する線分にベクトル化する。エッジベクトル化手段１４０６の出力は線分対整合（segment pair matching）手段１４０８に供給される。線分対整合手段１４０８はそれぞれのエッジから取り出した対ごとの線分を組にして、頂点において定義された色を有する多角形を形成する。線分対整合手段１４０８の出力は画素色確定手段１４１０に供給される。画素色確定手段１４１０は頂点の定義された色から多角形の各画素の色を確定する。画素色確定手段１４１０の出力は出力画像１４１２として供給される。
【００３４】
なお、好ましくは、線分対整合手段１４０８は線分の対をそれぞれのエッジに沿ったその相対距離に応じて組にする。あるいは、線分対整合手段１４０８は、線分の対をそれぞれのエッジに沿ったそのパラメータ距離に従って組にする。
【００３５】
また好ましくは、画素色確定手段１４１０は多角形を一定の色の複数の領域に分割し、一定の色の各領域をレンダリングする。
［複数のエッジを有する画像の処理］
本発明のさらに別の実施形態として、Microsoft Windows ３.１（商標）やより新しいバージョン、あるいは複雑なコンピュータグラフィックスのアプリケーションパッケージを作成する技術者には知られているその他の標準的なグラフィカルユーザインタフェースを有するオペレーティングシステムを実行するパーソナルコンピュータなどの標準的なコンピュータシステムにおいて、ビデオ表示装置とともにマウスやキーボードなどの対話型入力装置を使用してオブジェクトの複雑な融合を実現するシステムを提供する。
【００３６】
そこで図１５を参照すると、好適な実施例を利用して作成されたコンピュータグラフィックオブジェクト１５０１の簡単な一例が示されている。簡単な例のコンピュータオブジェクト１５０１は、白又は白に近い色を有する２つの境界領域１５０２，１５０３と、それより暗い色を有する中心領域１５０４とから構成されている。図示した色より明るい色や暗い色を任意に選択し、その色はコンピュータグラフィックスのアプリケーションパッケージにより作成可能などのような色であっても良いということは当業者には明白であろう。更に、後述の本発明の実施の形態は、不透明性についても等しく適用できることは当業者には明らかであろう。使用する実際の色は利用する装置の種類によって決まるが、一般的なコンピュータシステムは２４ビット色が可能であるので、１６００万を越える種類の色を表示できる。さらに、当該技術では知られているように、色は透明性成分をも有していて良い。
【００３７】
本実施形態に従ってこのような複雑オブジェクト１５０１を作成するときの第１のステップは、従来通りの方法で作成される複数のスプラインから構成される輪郭線フォーマットを作成する。
【００３８】
図１６には、３つのスプライン１５０７，１５０８及び１５０９が示されている。各スプライン、たとえば、スプライン１５０７は複数の制御ポイント１５１０から１５１３を有する。それらの制御ポイントをグラフィックスアプリケーションプログラムの下で個別に移動させることができ、加えて、それらの接線を対話的に編集できる接線編集部分１５１４を個別に変更することが可能である。スプラインデータの表示と編集は当業者には良く知られており、１９９０年にAddison - Wesley Publishing Company，Inc．により刊行されたFoley, Van Dam他著のテキスト「Computer Graphics : Pinciples and Practice」第２版の第１１章の中に詳細に説明されている。
【００３９】
先に説明した通り、本実施形態は第１の所定の色を有する第１のスプラインと、第２の所定の色を有する第２のスプラインとの間に任意のブレンドを作成するシステムを提供する。スプライン１５０７は第１の色（この例では白）であると独自に定義できる。スプライン１５０８は第２の色（この特定の例では黒）であると定義されており、スプライン１５０９は第１の色（再び白）であると定義できる。従って、先に述べた方法のうち一方を、２つのスプライン１５０７及び１５０８に適用し、続いて２つのスプライン１５０８及び１５０９に別個に適用することによって、図１５に示す効果を実現できる。このことは図１７により明確に示されている。図１７にはオブジェクト１５０１を作成するときに利用した３つのスプライン１５０７から１５０９に加えて図１５のコンピュータグラフィックオブジェクト１５０１も示されている。
【００４０】
さらに、図１８を参照すると、図１５のコンピュータグラフィックオブジェクト１５０１が関連するスプライン１５０７，１５０８及び１５０９に加えて示されている。この詳細図には、１５１０から１５１２のようなスプライン制御ポイントも示されている。コンピュータグラフィックオブジェクト１５０１などのオブジェクトを作成するシステムに関して、好適な形態のユーザインタフェースは、各スプライン１５０７〜１５０９上のポイント１５１０〜１５１３のようなスプライン制御ポイントの対話型操作を可能にするインタフェースである。その場合、スプラインを従来の方式により操作でき、操作後、前に説明したようなプロセスを各々のスプライン１５０７，１５０８及び１５０９に個別に適用して、対応するグラフィックオブジェクト１５０１を生成することができる。
【００４１】
以上概要を述べたような複雑なオブジェクトを作成する原理を他の構成へと容易に拡張することができる。たとえば、次に図１９を参照すると、４つのスプライン１５２０から１５２３を有するさらに複雑なシステムでも全く同じように容易に作成できることがわかる。それぞれのスプライン１５２０から１５２３は所定の色を有するものと個別に定義でき、上述のプロセスを隣接する１対のスプラインに個別に適用することができる。組となるのはスプライン１５２０とスプライン１５２１、スプライン１５２１とスプライン１５２２、スプライン１５２２とスプライン１５２３である。それらのスプライン１５２０から１５２３を、先に説明したように対話形式で個別に操作することができる。
【００４２】
一例を挙げると、スプライン１５２０が白い色であると定義されており、スプライン１５２１は黒、スプライン１５２２も黒、そして、スプライン１５２３は白であるとそれぞれ定義されている場合、結果として得られるオブジェクト１５２４はスプライン１５２０からスプライン１５２１にかけての白から黒への融合と、それに続くスプライン１５２１からスプライン１５２２にかけての黒色の帯と、さらにその後のスプライン１５２２からスプライン１５２３にかけての黒から白への第２の融合とから構成される。
【００４３】
図２０にはさらに精巧な例を示す。この場合、オブジェクト１５２９は２つのスプライン１５３０、１５３１から構成されている。２つのスプライン１５３０、１５３１も同様に対話形式で編集でき、得られるオブジェクトはスプライン１５３０からスプライン１５３１への融合を含む。このとき、スプライン１５３１の内部領域１５３３は一定の色、好ましくはスプライン１５３１と同じ色であると定義することができる。生成される最終オブジェクト１５２９はきわめて満足しうる特性をもつことがわかった。
【００４４】
本発明のもうひとつの実施の形態を、図２３を参照して説明する。図２３は、色における不透明性（あるいは透明な成分）の融合を表す図である。第１のコンピュータグラフィックオブジェクト１６００は、例えばスプライン１６０２及び１６０３，１６０４により構成されている。第２のグラフィックのオブジェクト１６０１及び市松模様の背景１６０５は、第１のグラフィックのオブジェクト１６００の背後に並置され、不透明性の程度は、図示されているように勾配となり、融合されている。
【００４５】
この例では、スプライン１６０２は白色で最大限不透明であり、スプライン１６０３は最大限透明、スプライン１６０４もまた白色で最大限不透明である。明瞭にするために、スプライン１６０２及び１６０３，１６０４は、スプライン１６０２，１６０３，１６０４それぞれの位置を示す誇張した点線で図２３に示されている。スプライン１６０２と１６０３のあいだでは、第１のグラフィックオブジェクト１６００は、スプライン１６０２における最大限不透明な白さから、スプライン１６０３における最大限の透明さへと融合している。同様に、スプライン１６０３とスプライン１６０４との間では、第１のグラフィックオブジェクト１６００は、スプライン１６０３における最大限透明な状態からスプライン１６０４における最大限不透明で白い状態へと融合している。好ましくは、各スプライン１６０２，１６０３，１６０４は、予め定められた色と不透明性を有し、スプライン１６０２，１６０３，１６０４の各対の間では、色と不透明性の両方が融合する。
【００４６】
図２１に、コンピュータグラフィックオブジェクトを構成する方法の流れ図を示す。ステップ２１０２では、複数の対話形式で編集可能なスプラインを提供する。ステップ２１０４では、各々のスプラインが対応するスプライン色を有するように定義する。ステップ２１０６では、対のスプラインの間で融合を行う。融合は、実質的に、その対の第１のスプラインのスプライン色からその対の第２のスプラインのスプライン色への融合である。スプラインの数は３つであり、且つ第１のスプラインと第２のスプラインはほぼ同じ色であるのが好ましい。対のうち第１の対は第１のスプラインから第３のスプラインへの融合を含む。第２の対は第２のスプラインから第３のスプラインへの融合を含む。
【００４７】
好ましくは、スプラインのうち第２の複数のスプラインはそのスプライン色を有している。
【００４８】
また好ましくは、スプラインの数は４つであり、そのうち第１のスプラインと第２のスプラインはほぼ同じスプライン色である。対のうち第１の対は第１のスプラインから第３のスプラインへの融合を含む。対のうち第２の対は第１のスプラインから第２のスプラインへの融合を含む。第３の対は第２のスプラインから第４のスプラインへの融合を含む。
【００４９】
また好ましくは、スプラインの中の少なくとも１つのスプラインは内部領域を形成し、その内部領域もその少なくとも１つのスプラインのスプライン色を有するように定義される。
【００５０】
対話形式で正規の方法により編集できるスプラインのシステムを構成することによって無数の複雑なオブジェクトを作成でき、その場合、各スプラインは事前に定義済の色（不透明性）を有し、所定のスプラインの対ごとにその間の融合をレンダリングすることは当業者には自明である。スプラインを連続して対話形式で編集し、編集が終わるごとにスプラインを再レンダリングすることにより、きわめて複雑なオブジェクトを作成するシステムが実現できる。
【００５１】
ステップ２１０６は、図１０又は図１１のいずれかに示されているブレンドを作成する方法に従って実現可能である。
【００５２】
先に説明した通り、本発明のこの実施形態における方法は汎用コンピュータを使用して実現できる。この方法に従ってコンピュータグラフィックオブジェクトを作成する装置を図２２に示す。装置２２２０は、たとえば、汎用コンピュータを使用して実現可能である。ユーザは装置２２２０に、特に対話型編集可能スプライン生成手段２２０４に入力２２０２を供給する。対話型編集可能スプライン生成手段２２０４はユーザ入力を受信して、複数の対話形式で編集可能なスプラインを生成する。対話型編集可能スプライン生成手段２２０４の出力はスプライン色定義手段２２０６に供給され、スプライン色定義手段２２０６は各々のスプラインが対応する１つのスプライン色を有するように定義する。スプライン色定義手段２２０６の出力はスプライン対融合作成手段２２０８に供給される。スプライン対融合作成手段２２０８は対ごとのスプラインの間で融合を行い、その融合は、実質的に、その対の第１のスプラインのスプライン色からその対の第２のスプラインのスプライン色への融合である。スプライン対融合作成手段２２０８の出力は、装置２２２０の出力である画像２２１０である。前述のように、スプライン対融合作成手段２２０８は図１３の装置１３２０又は図１４の装置１４２０を使用して実現可能である。
【００５３】
以上、本発明の若干の実施例をわずかな変形を加えつつ説明したが、それらの実施例は、さらに別の変形を加えて本発明の範囲から逸脱せずに実施できることは当業者には自明である。
【００５４】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明の画像処理装置及び方法によれば、コンピュータグラフィックによる画像の複雑な融合を実現できる。
【００５５】
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】複雑なブレンドの異なる形態を示す図である。
【図２】複雑なブレンドの異なる形態を示す図である。
【図３】複雑なブレンドの異なる形態を示す図である。
【図４】２つのエッジの中の画素をパラメータ形態で示す図である。
【図５】スプラインエッジのベクトル化のプロセスを示す図である。
【図６】第１の一連のベクトル化エッジを整合させるプロセスを示す図である。
【図７】ベクトル化スプラインエッジからの四辺形の形成を示す図である。
【図８】四辺形の一連の一定の色の領域への分割を示す図である。
【図９】四辺形の色を確定するプロセスを示す図である。
【図１０】好ましい実施例に従って画像の中で複雑なブレンドを作成する方法を示す流れ図である。
【図１１】本発明の別の実施例に従って画像の中で複雑なブレンドを作成する方法を示す流れ図である。
【図１２】汎用コンピュータを示すブロック線図である。
【図１３】好ましい実施例の方法に従って実現される画像の中で複雑なブレンドを作成する装置を示すブロック線図である。
【図１４】別の実施例に従って実現される画像の中で複雑なブレンドを作成する別の装置を示すブロック線図である。
【図１５】本発明のさらに別の実施例に従って作成されるべき複雑オブジェクトの一例を示す図である。
【図１６】図１５のオブジェクトを構成するために利用されるスプラインのフォーマットを示す図である。
【図１７】図１５のオブジェクトの構成のプロセスを示す図である。
【図１８】図１５のオブジェクトの構成のプロセスを示す図である。
【図１９】本発明のさらに別の実施例の他の形態のスプラインへの拡張を示す図である。
【図２０】本発明のさらに別の実施例の他の形態のスプラインへの拡張を示す図である。
【図２１】さらに別の実施例に従ってコンピュータグラフィックオブジェクトを構成する方法の流れ図である。
【図２２】図２１の方法に従ってコンピュータグラフィックオブジェクトを構成する装置を示すブロック線図である。
【図２３】色における不透明性の融合を表す図である。
【符号の説明】
２０、２１...エッジ、２３...画素、２９...四辺形、３１−３４...線分、１３０２...入力、 １３０４...エッジ色確定手段、１３０６...パラメータ確定手段、１３０８...画素色取り出 し手段、１３１０...画像、１３２０...装置、１４０２...入力、１４０４...エッジ色確定手段、１４０６...エッジベクトル化手段、１４０８...線分対整合手段、１４１０...画素色確定手 段、１４１２...画像、１４２０...装置、２２０２...入力、２２０４...対話形式編集可能スプライン生成手段、２２０６...スプライン色定義手段、２２０８...スプライン対ブレンド作成手段、２２１０...画像、２２２０...装置[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to blending from a first data value to a second data value, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for implementing complex fusion within an image in a computer graphics image processing system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Modern computer graphic image processing systems often need to blend color or opacity. The color data or opacity data takes a first value at the first data point and takes a second value at the second data point, between the first data value and the second data value. It is preferable from an aesthetic point of view that the data points are a series that increases or decreases monotonically between the first data value and the second data value.
[0003]
As the level of computer capabilities available to general users as desktop workstations and personal computers has increased, so has the level of complexity of application programs that can be used to process complex computer graphic images. Therefore, products such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator (trademark) and Quark Express (trademark) enable the creation of complex images through an interactive editing process. These images can be very complex and can be constructed by overlaying multiple layers with different degrees of transparency.
[0004]
Along with the need to create complex and impressive images, it is also necessary to create such images quickly and at low cost. Furthermore, it is generally necessary to be able to create complex computer graphic objects that have extremely complex properties and gradually merge.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing method and apparatus for fusing data in a complex manner.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
According to the first aspect,
An image processing method for creating a fusion from a first arbitrary edge to a second arbitrary edge in a computer graphic image processing system comprising:
Determining the color of each of the first and second edges;
Forming a parameter equation for the color of each pixel in the region bounded by the first and second edges;
Solving the parameter equation and deriving the color of each of the pixels.
[0007]
According to the second aspect,
A method for creating a fusion from a first arbitrary edge to a second arbitrary edge in a computer graphic image processing system comprising:
A first determining step for determining the color of each of the first and second edges;
A vectorization step of vectorizing each of the first and second edges into a corresponding line segment;
Combining the pair of line segments corresponding to each of the first and second edges so as to form a polygon having a predefined color at the vertex;
A second determination step of determining a color for each pixel of the polygon from a color defined at the vertex.
[0008]
Also, according to the third aspect,
An image processing apparatus for creating a fusion from a first arbitrary edge to a second arbitrary edge in a computer graphic image processing system comprising:
Edge color determining means for determining the color of each of the first and second edges;
Parameter determining means for forming a parameter equation relating to the color of each pixel in the region bounded by the first and second edges based on the edge color determined by the edge color determining means;
Pixel color deriving means for deriving the color for each pixel by solving the parameter equation formed by the parameter determining means.
[0009]
Also, according to the fourth aspect,
In an image processing apparatus for creating a fusion from a first arbitrary edge to a second arbitrary edge in a computer graphic image processing system,
Edge color determining means for determining the color of each of the first and second edges;
Vectorizing means for vectorizing each of the first and second edges into corresponding line segments;
Based on the line segment vectorized by the vectorization means, the pair of line segments from each of the first and second edges is formed so as to form a polygon having a defined color at its vertex. Line segment pair combination means to be paired;
Pixel color determining means for determining a color for each pixel of the polygon from the color defined at the vertex based on the polygon formed by the line segment pair combining means.
[0010]
Also, according to the fifth aspect,
An image processing method for composing a computer graphic object,
Generating a plurality of interactively editable splines;
Defining each of the splines to have a corresponding spline color;
Creating a fusion between the plurality of spline pairs substantially from the first spline color of one of the plurality of spline pairs to the second spline color.
[0011]
Also, according to the sixth aspect,
An image processing method for composing a computer graphic object,
Generating a plurality of interactively editable splines;
Defining each spline to have a corresponding spline color;
Determine the color of each of the splines, form a parameter equation for the color of each pixel in the region bounded by each of the spline pairs, and solve the parameter equation to derive the color of each of the pixels And a step of performing fusion between each pair of splines.
[0012]
Also, according to the seventh aspect,
An image processing method for composing a computer graphic object,
Generating a plurality of interactively editable splines;
Defining each of the plurality of splines to have a corresponding spline color;
Determining the color of each of the splines, vectorizing each of the splines into a corresponding line segment, and vectors from each of the splines to form a polygon having a predefined color at its vertex A combination step of combining the line segments obtained by the converting means, and a polygon color determination step of determining each color of the polygon from the predefined colors at the vertices. And fusing in a process.
[0013]
Also, according to the eighth aspect,
A device comprising a computer graphic object,
Interactive editable spline generation means for generating a plurality of interactively editable splines;
Spline color defining means for defining each of the splines generated by the interactive editable spline generating means so as to have one corresponding spline color;
Based on the spline color defined by the spline color defining means, between the spline pairs, substantially from the first spline color of the pair to the second spline color of the pair. And spline pair fusion means.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0015]
A series of complex blends is shown in FIGS. An object 1 shown in FIG. 1 has an outer boundary line 2 and an inner boundary line 3. For example, when the outer border 2 is red and the inner border 3 is desired to be yellow, the color between the two borders is progressive from one edge to the next. A change, that is, a gradient is preferred from an aesthetic point of view. For example, if boundary 3 is yellow, when moving outward toward boundary 2, a series of orange-yellow pixels appears first, followed by a series of orange pixels, followed by a series of red An orange pixel appears and eventually reaches a boundary defined as red. A series of gradient lines 4 and 5 were drawn to show the color outline between the two edges, but these outlines 4 and 5 have a constant color.
[0016]
In the second object 7 shown in FIG. 2, a gradient between the edge 8 and the edge 9 is required. In this example, it is desired to derive a transparency or opacity gradient such that edge 8 is maximally opaque and edge 9 is maximally transparent. That is, the pixels between those edges are fused from maximum opaque to maximum transparent. The contour lines 10 and 11 are provided in this case also to indicate pixels having a certain opacity.
[0017]
FIG. 3 shows a third object 14 representing the fusion process. The object 14 has a first edge 15 and a second edge 16 transformed into a single point 16. Again, it is desirable for the pixels between those edges to form a gradient between the values of edge 15 and edge 16. For example, the outlines 17 and 18 form a line of a certain color.
[System Overview]
Next, the first image processing method will be described with reference to FIG.
<First Image Processing Method>
The two splines 20 and 21 shown in FIG. 4 have arbitrary properties. For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, for convenience, it is assumed that the graphic objects are stored in the computer system in the form of splines. Therefore, it is desirable to perform the fusion between the two arbitrary splines 20 and 21. In this first method, in order to determine the color of an arbitrary point (x, y) in the region between the splines 20 and 21, the splines 20 and 21 are defined by parameters according to a conventional method, and (px (X, y) values including (t), py (t)) and (qx (t), qy (t)) are obtained. When t is in the range of 0 to 1, the spline parameter format is the standard format for the cubic function of t. An arbitrary point (x, y) 23 in the region between the two splines 20, 21 can be defined in terms of parameters to be equivalent to the point (u, t) according to the following equation: U is in the range of 0 to 1.
[0018]
x (u, t) = px (t) + (qx (t) -px (t)) u (1)
y (u, t) = py (t) + (qy (t) -py (t)) u (2)
If the splines 20, 21 are each defined to be a constant color, the color of an arbitrary point (x, y) depends only on u. It is therefore necessary to solve for u for the given x and y values for equations (1) and (2).
[0019]
However, it is difficult to solve the expressions (1) and (2) including cubic parametric equations unless p and q are linear functions. Furthermore, the resulting color solution is not defined as a visual appearance of the area between the edges, but as defined by “t”, which is only an artificial variable of the spline representation used to represent the edges. Become.
<Second Image Processing Method>
Therefore, as a second image processing method, in order to simplify the calculation of the color of each point between the splines 20 and 21, both the spline edges 20 and 21 are first vectorized into line segments. The process of vectorizing splines into line segments is known to those skilled in the art of computer graphics programming. For example, two methods are described in the second edition of the text "Computer Graphics: Pinciples and Practice" by Foley et al. Published in 1990 by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., leading in Massachusetts. The first vectorization method described on pages 487 to 488 of Foley's text breaks down the approximation of the spline by a short line segment by dividing the spline into a plurality of equally spaced parts of the parameter. Is to get. A second vectorization method for vectorizing a spline is described on pages 511 to 514 of Foley's text and includes recursive subdivision into multiple parts of the spline. This segmentation results in a series of line segments.
[0020]
As an example, vectorization of splines 20 and 21 into a series of line segments 31 and 32 is shown in exaggerated form in FIG. If the two splines 20 and 21 are vectorized into the corresponding line segments 31 and 32, the ends of the respective line segments of the splines 20 and 21 are paired with each other. Several methods can be used to create a pair at the end of a line segment. The first assembly method is that a point (px (t), py (t)) corresponding to a predetermined value t at the end of one line segment by vectorization of one edge 20 is on the other edge. The end points of the line segments 31 and 32 are matched on the parameters along the two splines 20 and 21 so as to be paired with the points (qx (t) and qy (t)). Subsequently, the same process is executed for the end points of each line segment by vectorization of the edge 21. However, this scheme does not use the visual appearance of the area between the edges, but utilizes a function defined by “t” which is only an artificial variable of the spline representation used to represent the edges.
[0021]
Therefore, as a preferred method for creating a set of edges, the relative lengths along the edges 20 and 21 are used. First, the length of each line segment of the edges 20 and 21 shown in FIG. 6 is calculated. Starting from the edge 20, for example, each end 33 of each line segment 31 is examined, and the relative distance from one end of the edge 20 is calculated along the line segment approximating the edge 20. Subsequently, corresponding points 34 having the same relative distance along the line segment representing the edge 21 are calculated, and the points 33 and 34 are paired. If this is the end of edge 29, then this process is repeated for each line segment approximating edge 21. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to create a set of end points of line segments that approximate the line segments 20 and 21.
[0022]
In FIG. 7, as a result of repeating the same process for the edge 21, the region between the two edges has been converted into a series of quadrilaterals 26. Thus, the vectorization of the two edges and the subsequent set of points along the vectorization reduces the above problem from a cubic parameter problem to a set of adjacent quadrilaterals 26. In each quadrangle 26, equations (1) and (2) are maintained independently, and the parametric function of p and q is reduced to a linear function of t per partition. Hereinafter, the quadrilateral 26 is called using the term “sliver”. Once the region between the two splines has been converted to a series of slivers (assuming it is desired to render the region between the two splines), two rendering methods can be performed.
<First rendering method>
A preferred form of rendering “sliver” 29 in the form of corresponding pixels is shown in FIG. Since the colors at each of the four corner points of the sliver 29 are known, the constant color regions 40-43 can be determined by dividing each side 45, 46 into several equal intervals. The number of intervals depends on the difference in color between the two edges 47 and 48. Each region 40 to 43 is one region of a certain color and can be individually scan converted using conventional techniques. If the final image is to be rendered with multiple color passes in a full color imaging system, the above process may be performed using a separate color component at each edge, resulting in a constant Often, regions 40-43 of fairly large color are generated.
<Second rendering method>
Another form of rendering each sliver shown in FIG. 9 determines, for example, the sliver 29 that intersects the current scan line 27 and the pixels between the edges 28, 25 of that sliver 29. Next, the color of each pixel between the edges 28 and 25 is determined by interpolation. The single sliver 29 has vertex coordinates as shown in FIG. Constants ax, ay and bx, by are determined from vectorization of splines into line segments and subsequent sliver formation. To test whether a pixel scan line intersects a sliver, the minimum x coordinate and maximum x coordinate of the four points defining each sliver 29 are determined and the scan line 27 is in the sliver 29. It is only necessary to determine whether or not it is located.
[0023]
Given a pixel 30 having coordinates (x, y), the value of u that determines the color of that pixel is the solution of the following quadratic equation.
[0024]

The solution for u (x, y) can be used as an initial estimate for retrieving the next pixel color u (x + 1, y) using Newton's method, once or twice. Since it is likely that convergence will occur after the iteration, it is not necessary to calculate equation (3) for each pixel. The formula for Newton's method is:
[0025]
Au ^ 2 + Bu + C = 0 ⇒ ui + 1 = (Aui ^ 2-C) / (2Aui + B) (4)
Where A, B and C are the usual corresponding parts of the quadratic equation given in equation (3). However, it should be noted that in equation (4), the denominator can be close to zero such that the error generated by Newton's method is unsatisfactory. In this case, a separate test can be realized to determine the denominator value, and the value of the pixel (x, y + 1) can be determined from the first principle by solving equation (3).
[0026]
Although the foregoing example has been described with respect to color fusion, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that colors include opacity, so the method can be applied for opacity, or two It can also be combined with color fusion at any point in the region between the splines. Similarly, the following examples generally describe color values in order to briefly describe the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the examples in the embodiments of the invention are equally applicable to opacity without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
[0027]
The methods and apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention can be implemented using, for example, a general purpose computer 1202 (ie, a personal computer) shown in FIG. As is well known in the art, such a computer 1202 typically includes a central processing unit 1210 coupled to a memory device. The memory device stores data and instructions for operating the central processing unit 1210. For example, a general-purpose computer generally has a random access memory (RAM) that temporarily stores data and instructions, and a secondary storage device (such as a hard disk drive HDD and a floppy disk drive FDD) that temporarily or permanently stores data and instructions. ).
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 12, the central processing unit 1210 is coupled to a bus 1222, which is well known in the art. Such a bus 1222 typically includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like. Random access memory 1212, read only memory 1214, hard disk drive / floppy disk drive (HDD / FDD) 1216, video interface 1218, and input / output (I / O) interface 1220 are coupled to this bus 1222. Yes. Video interface 1218 provides output to display / monitor 1204. Similarly, the I / O interface 1220 is connected to the playback device 1206. The reproduction apparatus 1206 may include a laser beam printer, a dot matrix printer, or the like. Thus, as described below, a method and apparatus for creating complex blends and images in accordance with the present invention can be implemented using such a general purpose computer.
<Image Processing System Using First Image Processing Method>
FIG. 10 shows the color and / or opacity from one arbitrary edge to the second arbitrary edge in the computer graphic image creation system according to the first image processing method on the apparatus of FIG. The flowchart of the method to fuse is shown. The method includes the following steps. In step 1002, the color along each edge is determined. In step 1004, a parametric equation is formed for the color (or opacity) of each pixel in the region bounded by the edges. In step 1006, the parameter equation is solved to extract the color (or opacity) of each pixel.
[0029]
An apparatus 1320 and a computer graphic image creation system for fusing from one arbitrary edge to a second arbitrary edge is shown in FIG. Device 1320 receives input 1302 comprised of a plurality of edges. The input 1302 is supplied to an edge color (or opacity) determination means 1304 that determines a color (or opacity) along each edge. The output of the edge color (or opacity) determination unit 1304 is supplied to a parameter determination unit 1306 that forms a parameter calculation expression related to the color (or opacity) of each pixel in the region defined by the edge. . The output of the parameter determination unit 1306 is supplied to a pixel color (or opacity) extraction unit 1308. A pixel color (or opacity) extraction unit 1308 solves the parameter calculation expression supplied by the parameter determination unit 1306, extracts the color of each pixel, and generates an output image 1310.
<Image Processing System Using Second Image Processing Method>
FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of a method of fusing color or opacity, or both, from a first arbitrary edge to a second arbitrary edge in a computer graphic image creation system according to the second image processing method. The method includes the following steps. In step 1102, the color along each edge is determined. In step 1104, each edge is vectorized into a corresponding line segment. In step 1106, pairs of line segments taken from each edge are paired to form a polygon having the defined color at its vertex. In step 1108, the color of each pixel of the polygon is determined from the defined colors of the vertices.
[0030]
Preferably, step 1106 further includes pairing the line segment pairs according to their relative distances along each edge.
[0031]
Also preferably, step 1106 further includes pairing the line segments according to their parameter distance along each edge.
[0032]
More preferably, step 1108 includes dividing the polygon into a plurality of regions of constant color and rendering each region of constant color.
[0033]
FIG. 14 illustrates an apparatus 1420 for fusing from a first arbitrary edge to a second arbitrary edge in a computer graphic image creation system. Device 1420 receives input 1402 comprised of a plurality of arbitrary edges. The input data 1402 is supplied to the edge color determination unit 1404. The edge color determination unit 1404 determines the color along each edge, and the output is supplied to the edge vectorization unit 1406. Edge vectorization means 1406 vectorizes each edge into a corresponding line segment. The output of the edge vectorizing means 1406 is supplied to a segment pair matching means 1408. The line segment pair matching means 1408 forms a polygon having the color defined at the vertex by pairing the line segments for each pair extracted from each edge. The output of the line segment pair matching unit 1408 is supplied to the pixel color determination unit 1410. Pixel color determining means 1410 determines the color of each polygonal pixel from the color defined at the vertex. The output of the pixel color determination unit 1410 is supplied as an output image 1412.
[0034]
Preferably, line segment pair matching means 1408 pairs line segments according to their relative distances along each edge. Alternatively, the line segment pair matching means 1408 pairs line segments according to their parameter distance along each edge.
[0035]
Preferably, the pixel color determining unit 1410 divides the polygon into a plurality of regions having a certain color and renders each region having the certain color.
[Processing images with multiple edges]
As yet another embodiment of the present invention, Microsoft Windows 3.1 (TM), newer versions, or other standard graphical users known to engineers creating complex computer graphics application packages In a standard computer system such as a personal computer executing an operating system having an interface, a system is provided that realizes complex fusion of objects using an interactive input device such as a mouse or keyboard together with a video display device.
[0036]
Referring now to FIG. 15, there is shown a simple example of a computer graphic object 1501 created using the preferred embodiment. A computer object 1501 in a simple example is composed of two boundary areas 1502 and 1503 having white or a color close to white, and a central area 1504 having a darker color. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any color that is lighter or darker than the colors shown is arbitrarily selected and can be any color that can be created by a computer graphics application package. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present invention described below are equally applicable to opacity. The actual color used depends on the type of device used, but a typical computer system is capable of 24-bit colors, so it can display over 16 million types of colors. In addition, as is known in the art, colors may also have a transparency component.
[0037]
The first step in creating such a complex object 1501 according to the present embodiment creates an outline format composed of a plurality of splines created by a conventional method.
[0038]
In FIG. 16, three splines 1507, 1508 and 1509 are shown. Each spline, eg, spline 1507, has a plurality of control points 1510-1513. These control points can be moved individually under the graphics application program, and in addition, the tangent editing portions 1514 that can interactively edit their tangents can be individually changed. The display and editing of spline data is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and was added in 1990 to Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. Is described in detail in Chapter 11 of the second edition of the text "Computer Graphics: Pinciples and Practice", published by Foley, Van Dam et al.
[0039]
As described above, this embodiment provides a system for creating an arbitrary blend between a first spline having a first predetermined color and a second spline having a second predetermined color. . Spline 1507 can be uniquely defined to be the first color (white in this example). Spline 1508 can be defined as a second color (black in this particular example) and spline 1509 can be defined as a first color (again white). Therefore, by applying one of the above-described methods to the two splines 1507 and 1508 and subsequently separately applying the two splines 1508 and 1509, the effect shown in FIG. 15 can be realized. This is clearly shown in FIG. FIG. 17 also shows the computer graphic object 1501 of FIG. 15 in addition to the three splines 1507 to 1509 used when creating the object 1501.
[0040]
Further, referring to FIG. 18, the computer graphic object 1501 of FIG. 15 is shown in addition to the associated splines 1507, 1508 and 1509. In this detailed view, spline control points such as 1510 to 1512 are also shown. For systems that create objects, such as computer graphic objects 1501, a preferred form of user interface is an interface that allows interactive manipulation of spline control points, such as points 1510-1513 on each spline 1507-1509. In that case, the spline can be manipulated in a conventional manner, and after the manipulation, the process as described above can be individually applied to each spline 1507, 1508, and 1509 to generate a corresponding graphic object 1501.
[0041]
The principle of creating a complex object as outlined above can be easily extended to other configurations. For example, referring now to FIG. 19, it can be seen that a more complex system having four splines 1520-1523 can be created just as easily. Each spline 1520-1523 can be individually defined as having a predetermined color, and the above process can be applied individually to a pair of adjacent splines. The sets are a spline 1520 and a spline 1521, a spline 1521 and a spline 1522, and a spline 1522 and a spline 1523. These splines 1520-1523 can be individually manipulated interactively as described above.
[0042]
In one example, if spline 1520 is defined as white, spline 1521 is defined as black, spline 1522 is defined as black, and spline 1523 is defined as white, the resulting object 1524 is defined as white. Is a white to black fusion from spline 1520 to spline 1521, followed by a black band from spline 1521 to spline 1522, and then a second black to white fusion from spline 1522 to spline 1523. Consists of
[0043]
FIG. 20 shows a more elaborate example. In this case, the object 1529 is composed of two splines 1530 and 1531. Two splines 1530, 1531 can be edited interactively as well, and the resulting object includes a fusion of splines 1530 to splines 1531. At this time, the inner region 1533 of the spline 1531 can be defined as a certain color, preferably the same color as the spline 1531. The final object 1529 that was generated has been found to have very satisfactory properties.
[0044]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the fusion of opacity (or transparent components) in color. The first computer graphic object 1600 includes, for example, splines 1602, 1603, and 1604. The second graphic object 1601 and the checkered background 1605 are juxtaposed behind the first graphic object 1600, and the degree of opacity is gradient and fused as shown.
[0045]
In this example, spline 1602 is white and maximally opaque, spline 1603 is maximally transparent and spline 1604 is also white and maximally opaque. For clarity, splines 1602 and 1603, 1604 are shown in FIG. 23 with exaggerated dotted lines indicating the location of splines 1602, 1603, 1604, respectively. Between splines 1602 and 1603, the first graphic object 1600 has merged from maximum opaque white in spline 1602 to maximum transparency in spline 1603. Similarly, between splines 1603 and 1604, the first graphic object 1600 has merged from a maximum transparency in spline 1603 to a maximum opaque and white state in spline 1604. Preferably, each spline 1602, 1603, 1604 has a predetermined color and opacity, and both color and opacity merge between each pair of splines 1602, 1603, 1604.
[0046]
FIG. 21 shows a flowchart of a method for constructing a computer graphic object. Step 2102 provides a plurality of interactive editable splines. In step 2104, each spline is defined to have a corresponding spline color. In step 2106, fusion is performed between the pair of splines. The fusion is substantially a fusion from the spline color of the first spline of the pair to the spline color of the second spline of the pair. The number of splines is three, and the first spline and the second spline are preferably substantially the same color. The first of the pairs includes a fusion from the first spline to the third spline. The second pair includes a fusion from the second spline to the third spline.
[0047]
Preferably, among the splines, the second plurality of splines have the spline color.
[0048]
Preferably, the number of splines is four, of which the first spline and the second spline have substantially the same spline color. The first of the pairs includes a fusion from the first spline to the third spline. The second of the pairs includes a fusion from the first spline to the second spline. The third pair includes a fusion from the second spline to the fourth spline.
[0049]
Also preferably, at least one spline in the spline forms an interior region, and the interior region is also defined to have the spline color of the at least one spline.
[0050]
An infinite number of complex objects can be created by constructing a system of splines that can be edited interactively in a regular way, where each spline has a predefined color (opacity) It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to render the fusion between each pair. By editing the spline continuously and interactively and re-rendering the spline after each edit, a system for creating extremely complex objects can be realized.
[0051]
Step 2106 can be implemented according to the method of creating a blend shown in either FIG. 10 or FIG.
[0052]
As explained above, the method in this embodiment of the invention can be implemented using a general purpose computer. An apparatus for creating a computer graphic object according to this method is shown in FIG. Device 2220 can be implemented using, for example, a general purpose computer. The user provides input 2202 to device 2220, in particular to interactive editable spline generation means 2204. Interactive editable spline generation means 2204 receives user input and generates a plurality of interactive editable splines. The output of the interactive editable spline generation means 2204 is supplied to the spline color definition means 2206, which defines each spline to have one corresponding spline color. The output of the spline color definition means 2206 is supplied to the spline pair fusion creation means 2208. The spline pair fusion creation means 2208 performs a fusion between the pair-wise splines, which is substantially a fusion from the spline color of the first spline of the pair to the spline color of the second spline of the pair. It is. The output of the spline pair fusion creation means 2208 is an image 2210 that is the output of the device 2220. As described above, the spline pair fusion creation means 2208 can be implemented using the apparatus 1320 of FIG. 13 or the apparatus 1420 of FIG.
[0053]
Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above with slight modifications, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these embodiments can be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention with further modifications. It is.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the image processing apparatus and method of the present invention, complex fusion of images by computer graphics can be realized.
[0055]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows different forms of complex blends.
FIG. 2 shows different forms of complex blends.
FIG. 3 shows different forms of complex blends.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a pixel in two edges in a parameter form.
FIG. 5 illustrates a process for spline edge vectorization.
FIG. 6 shows a process for aligning a first series of vectorized edges.
FIG. 7 shows a quadrilateral formation from vectorized spline edges.
FIG. 8 shows the division of a quadrilateral into a series of constant color areas.
FIG. 9 shows a process for determining the color of a quadrilateral.
FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for creating a complex blend in an image according to a preferred embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for creating a complex blend in an image according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a general-purpose computer.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for creating a complex blend in an image implemented according to the method of the preferred embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating another apparatus for creating a complex blend in an image implemented in accordance with another embodiment.
FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a complex object to be created according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a spline format used to construct the object of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a process of configuring the object of FIG. 15;
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a process of configuring the object of FIG. 15;
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an extension to another form of spline according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an extension to another form of spline according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 21 is a flow diagram of a method for constructing a computer graphic object according to yet another embodiment.
FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for constructing a computer graphic object according to the method of FIG.
FIG. 23 illustrates a blend of opacity in color.
[Explanation of symbols]
20, 21 ... edge, 23 ... pixel, 29 ... quadogram, 31-34 ... line segment, 1302 ... input, 1304 ... edge color determining means, 1306 ... parameter Determination means, 1308 ... Pixel color extraction means, 1310 ... Image, 1320 ... Device, 1402 ... Input, 1404 ... Edge color determination means, 1406 ... Edge vectorization means, 1408 ... Line segment pair matching means, 1410 ... Pixel color determination means, 1412 ... Image, 1420 ... Device, 2202 ... Input, 2204 ... Interactive editable spline generation means, 2206 ... Spline color defining means, 2208 ... Spline pair blend creating means, 2210 ... Image, 2220 ... Apparatus

Claims (25)

An image processing method for creating a fusion from a first arbitrary edge to a second arbitrary edge in a computer graphic image processing system comprising:
Determining the color of each of the first and second edges;
Forming a parameter equation for the color of each pixel in the region bounded by the first and second edges;
Solving the parameter equation and deriving the color of each of the pixels. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the color includes opacity. A method for creating a fusion from a first arbitrary edge to a second arbitrary edge in a computer graphic image processing system comprising:
A first determining step for determining the color of each of the first and second edges;
A vectorization step of vectorizing each of the first and second edges into a corresponding line segment;
Combining the pair of line segments corresponding to each of the first and second edges so as to form a polygon having a predefined color at the vertex;
And a second determination step of determining a color for each pixel of the polygon from a color already defined at the vertex. 4. The image processing according to claim 3, wherein the combining step further includes a step of pairing line segments in accordance with a relative distance of the line segments along each of the first and second edges. Method. 4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the combining step further comprises a step of pairing line segments according to a distance based on a line segment parameter along each of the first and second edges. Image processing method. 4. The second determining step includes the step of dividing the polygon into a plurality of regions, each region having a constant color, and rendering each region of a constant color. Image processing method. 4. The image processing method according to claim 3, wherein the color includes opacity, and the defined color includes defined opacity. An image processing apparatus for creating a fusion from a first arbitrary edge to a second arbitrary edge in a computer graphic image processing system comprising:
Edge color determining means for determining the color of each of the first and second edges;
Parameter determining means for forming a parameter equation relating to the color of each pixel in the region bounded by the first and second edges based on the edge color determined by the edge color determining means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a pixel color deriving unit that solves a parameter equation formed by the parameter determining unit and derives a color for each pixel. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the color includes opacity. In an image processing apparatus for creating a fusion from a first arbitrary edge to a second arbitrary edge in a computer graphic image processing system,
Edge color determining means for determining the color of each of the first and second edges;
Vectorizing means for vectorizing each of the first and second edges into corresponding line segments;
Based on the line segment vectorized by the vectorization means, the pair of line segments from each of the first and second edges is formed so as to form a polygon having a defined color at its vertex. Line segment pair combination means to be paired;
Image processing comprising: pixel color determining means for determining a color for each pixel of the polygon from the color defined at the vertex based on the polygon formed by the line segment pair combining means apparatus. 11. The line segment pair combining unit further includes a unit that sets a pair of line segments in accordance with a relative distance between the line segments along each of the first and second edges. Image processing apparatus. The line segment pair combining means further comprises means for pairing a line segment according to a distance based on a parameter of the line segment along each of the first and second edges. Item 15. The image processing apparatus according to Item 10. 11. The pixel color determining means includes means for dividing the polygon into a plurality of areas each having a constant color and rendering each area having a constant color. Image processing device. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the color includes opacity, and the defined color includes defined opacity. An image processing method for composing a computer graphic object,
Generating a plurality of interactively editable splines;
Defining each of the splines to have a corresponding spline color;
Creating a fusion between the plurality of spline pairs, substantially from one of the plurality of spline pairs, from the spline color of the first spline to the spline color of the second spline. An image processing method characterized by the above. The number of the plurality of splines is 3, the first and second splines of the plurality of splines have substantially the same spline color, and the first pair of the pairs constituted by the plurality of splines is Including a fusion from the first spline to a third spline, and a second pair of the pairs includes a fusion from the second spline to the third spline. The image processing method according to claim 15. 16. The image processing method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of spline pairs include a pair of splines having the same spline color. The number of the plurality of splines is 4, the first and second splines of the plurality of splines have substantially the same color, and the first pair of the plurality of splines is the Including a fusion from the first spline to a third spline, a second pair of which includes a fusion from the first spline to the second spline, a third pair of which includes the second spline. The image processing method according to claim 15, further comprising: fusing to a fourth spline. The image processing method according to claim 15, wherein at least one spline of the splines forms an inner region, and the inner region also has a spline color of the at least one spline of the splines. The image processing method according to claim 15, wherein the color corresponding to the spline includes opacity. The opacity substantially includes a blend of degrees of opacity ranging from the opacity of the color of the first spline in the spline pair to the opacity of the color of the second spline. The image processing method according to claim 20. An image processing method for composing a computer graphic object,
Generating a plurality of interactively editable splines;
Defining each spline to have a corresponding spline color;
Determine the color of each of the splines, form a parameter equation for the color of each pixel in the region bounded by each of the spline pairs, and solve the parameter equation to derive the color of each of the pixels An image processing method comprising: fusing the spline pairs. The image processing method according to claim 22, further comprising a step of converting each of the splines into a corresponding line segment. An image processing method for composing a computer graphic object,
Generating a plurality of interactively editable splines;
Defining each of the plurality of splines to have a corresponding spline color;
Determining the color of each of the splines, vectorizing each of the splines into a corresponding line segment, and vectors from each of the splines to form a polygon having a predefined color at its vertex A combination step of combining the line segments obtained by the converting means, and a polygon color determination step of determining each color of the polygon from the predefined colors at the vertices. And an image processing method comprising the steps of: A device comprising a computer graphic object,
Interactive editable spline generation means for generating a plurality of interactively editable splines;
Spline color defining means for defining each of the splines generated by the interactive editable spline generating means so as to have one corresponding spline color;
Based on the spline color defined by the spline color defining means, between the spline pairs, substantially from the first spline color of the pair to the second spline color of the pair. An image processing apparatus comprising: a spline pair merging unit for fusing with an image.

Images