NL2028420B1

NL2028420B1 - Method for generating a wall decoration print composition

Info

Publication number: NL2028420B1
Application number: NL2028420A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Casey Calkhoven Robin
Original assignee: Dejouwe B V
Priority date: 2021-06-09
Filing date: 2021-06-09
Publication date: 2022-12-19

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a computer implemented method of generating a wall decoration print composition for printing said composition on a plurality of wall decoration elements, wherein said wall decoration elements are arranged in a grid having a predefined spacing between said elements, said method being performed by a computer through a webservice web interface and comprising the steps of: obtaining a selection of a number of wall decoration elements in said composition; obtaining a selection of a shape of each of said wall decoration elements, wherein said selection comprises one of the group of a rectangular shape, a circular, square, triangular, diamond shape or a hexagon shape; displaying said wall decoration elements in a predefined grid configuration; obtaining a selection of one or more adjacent wall decoration elements in said composition; obtaining a first image file and displaying said image as an overlay over said selection; scaling said overlay in respect of said selection; cropping said overlay in accordance with boundaries of said selection; and wherein said wall decoration elements displayed in said predefined grid configuration comprise scalable vector graphic elements, and wherein said cropping of said overlay comprises applying a clipping mask in accordance with said scalable vector graphics elements.

Description

Title: Method for generating a wall decoration print composition Description: The present disclosure relates to a method for generating a wall decoration print composition, more particular to a method by which wall decoration print compositions are generated which are comprised of a plurality of individual elements with a circular, rectangular, square, triangular, diamond or preferably hexagon shaped.

Wall decoration prints compositions are wall decorations comprised of multiple elements with a same shape and size which are attached in a certain composition to the wall on the interior of a building.

These wall decorations are for a while now very popular in home decorations and its popularity is even further evolving. These wall decorations can be made in a large variety of compositions, with a large variety of prints, giving almost endless options in decorations which most likely significantly adds to its success.

The wall decorations are comprised of a substrate, which can be made from wood, plastics, metals, glass, ceramics, etc. Depending on the substrate base material, a print can be applied either directly on the substrate or on a sheet material which is then bonded on the substrate, for example by applying a layer of glue.

The wall decoration elements are known in several shapes, of which the most common shapes are circular, rectangular, square, triangular, diamond and hexagon shapes. Positioning multiple of such wall elements in a predefined but non-symmetric grid is considered to have a large decorative value. Typical for such a grid is that the elements are arranged with a predefined spacing between the elements. Hence, the elements are adjacent but do not touch each other. Moreover, the grid pattern contains elements which have only one other adjacent element, whereas other elements have two, three, four, etc. Typically, the wall decoration print composition according to the present disclosure is related to such wall decoration with elements having different numbers of adjacent elements such that a non-symmetric composition is obtained.

A popular trend in such non-symmetric wall decoration print compositions is to use combine different colours, patterns, but also images in a single composition. To this end, a computer implemented method is known to generate such a composition in which the elements of the composition can be configured to comprise such colours, patterns and images.

Known computer implemented methods for generating such a print composition are however only able to apply a configuration of colour, pattern and image to an individual element. For example, designing a composition which comprises several sub-compositions which have a shared colour, pattern, or image, can only be achieved by a manual operation of repeatedly applying the same colour or pattern to multiple elements, or to perform pre-processing on the patterns or images prior to applying these to the elements. Such pre-processing not only requires additional software, but also skills which therefor do not enable each and every user to obtain such a highly decorative print compositions which are comprised of sub-compositions.

Itis therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved method of generating a wall decoration print composition in which the use of sub-compositions by which an image or pattern may be applied over multiple elements is enabled.

This object is achieved, in a first aspect of the present disclosure, by a computer implemented method of generating a wall decoration print composition for printing said composition on a plurality of wall decoration elements, wherein said wall decoration elements are arranged in a grid having a predefined spacing between said elements, said method being performed by a computer through a web interface and comprising the steps of: - obtaining a selection of a number of wall decoration elements in said composition; - obtaining a selection of a shape of each of said wall decoration elements, wherein said selection comprises one of the group of a rectangular shape, a circular, square, triangular, diamond shape or a hexagon shape; - displaying said wall decoration elements in a predefined grid configuration;

- obtaining a selection of one or more adjacent wall decoration elements in said composition; - obtaining a first image file and displaying said image as an overlay over said selection; - scaling said overlay in respect of said selection; - cropping said overlay in accordance with boundaries of said selection; - and wherein said wall decoration elements displayed in said predefined grid configuration comprise scalable vector graphic elements, and wherein said cropping of said overlay comprises applying a clipping mask in accordance with said scalable vector graphics elements.

With the proposed computer implemented method a wall decoration print composition can be generated. This wall decoration print composition is considered digital data which preferably is stored in a single file ready for printing by a (industrial) printer. The printing is done either directly on a substrate material such as wood sheet material or a plastic material like forex, or indirectly on a printable sheet which subsequently is applied or glued to the substrate base material.

The proposed method is performed by a computer through a web interface, what that means is, that the configuration of the composition enabled through a web interface in which preferably the configuration of the composition is executed client- side wherein a composition file is created at the server-side. When the method is performed, and the digital data or composition file is completed, it can either be downloaded to the local computer of the user, or preferably directly uploaded to a server of the webservice provider which may also perform the actual printing of the composition that has just been generated, on the substrate. To this end, the method may further comprise the step of generating a printable file comprising cut-contours for cutting the elements according to the generated composition. More preferably the printable file is a vector graphics based printable file such as a postscript file or portable document file.

To this end, the computer implemented method provides several steps for said composition to be generated. In a first step, the method comprises obtaining, which may either be done in a predefined manner, or preferably though a user input, of the number of wall decoration elements that are in the composition. The number is preferably at least 5, and less than 32. Preferably, the user is given a few options of a predefined number of elements such as 5, 8, 10, 12, 15 or 20. The grid preferably comprises at least a 25x25 matrix, more preferably at least a 50x50 matrix, even more preferably at least a 75x75 matrix and most preferably at least a 100x100 matrix. Characterizing for the composition according to the present disclosure is, that it is non-uniform, which means, that the elements have at least two different numbers of adjacent elements. Hence, one of the elements of the composition may have for example three adjacent elements, whereas another element may have four adjacent elements. The user may select one element to apply a graphic over said element, e.g. by changing its colour or applying a pattern, or by selecting a stock image or photo or even by uploading a personal image or photo. The difficulty lies in composing sub-compositions in which a pattern or image is to be displayed over several elements, especially since the sub-composition of these elements could have several shapes, depending on the number of elements in the shape and the grid pattern these elements form. To solve this issue, the inventor had the insight to apply a masking over said sub-composition of elements, i.e. the selection of elements. The mask is formed by a grid configuration of a scalable vector graphics element which corresponds to the outlines or boundary or perimeter of the selection of elements. Since the mask is vector based, it is scalable without losing resolution. Moreover, it is lightweight or small in file size which makes use of the mask in a web-based environment highly responsive without requiring a particular processing power or bandwidth.

The vector-based mask is used to define the perimeters of the overlay which overlay is formed by the selection of the elements by which the method in the final step may apply a step of clipping the over in accordance with the vector mask such that the overlay corresponds to the outline or perimeter of the selection of elements. As such, a sub-composition is obtained for the wall decoration print in an easy and user-friendly manner, which does not require additional software or skills from its user. 5 Wall decoration prints compositions according to the present disclosure are wall decorations comprised of multiple elements with preferably the same shape and size which are attached in a certain composition to the wall on the interior of a building. The composition may however also comprise elements of different shapes and sizes, e.g. a hexagon shaped element surrounded by triangular shaped elements. Moreover, the composition may also comprise merged elements in which for example two square shaped elements are merged into one single rectangular shaped element.

In an example, said shape of said wall decoration elements comprises one of the group of a rectangular shape, a circular shape, square, triangular, diamond or a hexagon shape.

In an example, one or more of said steps of said method are performed through a client-side Hyper Text Markup Language, HTML, based scripting language embedded or included in a webpage hosted by a server running said webservice.

The present disclosure also provides, in an further aspect, a computer program product, comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium, the code means being arranged to perform the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, when the program code is executed by a computer, in particular wherein the code means are arranged for being integrated in or added to a computer application for joint execution of the program code and the computer application by a computer.

A computer readable medium may comprise any of a transitory or non-transitory computer readable medium as known to those skilled in the art. Non-transitory computer readable media for the purpose of the present disclosure include but are not limited to any of aptically, magnetically, solid state semiconductor or other media, such as designated Compact Discs, CDs, Digital Versatile Disks, DVDs, flash memory, memory sticks, Hard Disk Drives, HDDs, Solid State Drives, SDDs, etc. The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be best understood from the following detailed description referring to the attached drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote identical parts or parts performing an identical or comparable function or operation. The examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and may not be construed as limitative for the present disclosure, its use and the scope of protection conferred by the appending claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 shows the steps of how a composition may be generated according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Fig. 1 shows several steps of the proposed method. With this method, upon implementation as a computer program, is arranged for generating a wall decoration print composition. The composition may comprise several individual elements with similar or different shapes, for example a rectangular shape, a circular, square, triangular, diamond shape or a hexagon shape. In the figure’s hexagon shapes are shown, however, it is pointed out that the proposed method is thus not limited to only elements with such shapes but is applicable to all shapes and especially the shapes mentioned above.

The composition may be attached to the wall inside or even outside of a building or other structure. The composition comprises individual elements which may all, or at least some of the elements, have a print. What is printed is up to the user designing the composition.

Upon designing the composition such prints may be generated from stock photos or designs or from user provided content such as private photos.

Conventionally, the individual elements of the composition may be provided with individual prints, e.g. stock or private photos, designs or colours. Thus upon designing the composition the software application is arranged for the user to select one single element for applying a graphic over the element, e.g. by changing its colour or applying a pattern, design, or by selecting a stock image or photo or even by uploading a personal image or photo.

However, conventional application only allows selecting each individual element and to provide a single graphic on said element such that the composition is the sum of all individual elements. Such applications do not provide any means for sub-compositions of multiple elements, e.g. in which the total composition comprises for example 12 elements, of which 8 elements have different graphics and the remaining 4 elements are combined as an enlarged element with a single graphic. The graphic applied on the enlarged element may either be comprised of a combination of multiple graphic, e.g. 4 similar graphics in case of an enlarged element of 4 individual elements but is preferably comprised of a single graphic which extends the 4 individual elements.

The method of the present disclosure is arranged for amending single graphic to correspond to such a sub-selection of elements which together form an enlarged element of at least 2, but preferably 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or more individual elements.

In order to have the single graphic, e.g. photo, illustration, design, pattern, colour, etc, expand over the selection of elements, the proposed method is arranged to apply a mask over the graphic. The mask corresponds to the outline or boundary or perimeter of the selection The difficulty lies in composing sub-compositions in which a pattern or image is to be displayed over several elements, especially since the sub-composition of these elements could have several shapes, depending on the number of elements in the shape and the grid pattern these elements form. To this end, the mask applied over the sub-composition or selection of elements is formed by a scalable vector graphics element which corresponds to the outlines or boundary or perimeter of the selection of elements. Since the mask is vector based, it is scalable without losing resolution. Moreover, it is lightweight or small in file size which makes use of the mask in a web- based environment highly responsive without requiring a particular processing power or bandwidth.

To this end the method as shown in fig. 1 comprises several steps, i.e. at least the following steps of: Obtaining, 10, a selection of a number of wall decoration elements in said composition.

In this step the number of wall decoration elements may be selected, e.g. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, etc. elements. These could be selected based on a proposal from the server-side of the most common number, or completely user configurable.

Next, or prior to step 10, the shape of the elements is obtained 11. The shape could be equal for all elements or can differ and may comprises one of the group of a rectangular shape, a circular, square, triangular, diamond shape or a hexagon shape.

Now the initial number of elements and their shapes is defined, the elements may be shown or displayed 12 in a grid configuration. From this overview the user may select 13 one or more elements adjacent to the selected element or elements. This selection defines the sub-composition or enlarged element.

After the sub-composition is defined, a first image may be obtained 14 as an overlay, the image is considered a colour fill, gradient, pattern, design, photo, illustration, etc and may be present locally or provided through the web-service or uploaded by the user at a client-side.

In the final step 15, the image obtained, i.e. the overlay, is scaled, which could be done automatically according to the boundary of the selected elements, or manually. Once the overlay is scaled, the overlay is cropped in accordance with the boundaries of the selection. Moreover, the elements comprise scalable vector graphic elements, and wherein the cropping of the overlay comprises applying a clipping mask in accordance with the scalable vector graphics elements.

Once the method is performed, the composition, i.e. a digital file is generated at the server side which may be further processed and optimized before the actual physical elements are created, e.g. cut and printed.

To this end, the digital file may be converted to a standardized printable format file such a PDF file and may be used to cut and print the elements from solid wood, plywood or other wood sheet material, or polymer-based materials such as forex.

In figures 2a-2 several steps of an aspect of the present disclosure are shown by way of example.

In the first step, shown in Fig. 2a, a single wall decoration element is shown, in this example a hexagon shaped element 21. This single element may be expanded into a composition as shown in fig. 2b which consists of seven hexagon shaped elements 22. These elements are displayed in a grid like configuration which is depended on the shape and number of the elements.

The number of elements 22 in the composition may be changed, e.g. increased or decreased by the user.

Moreover, position of the elements which are to be removed or added is configurable by the user as well, such that the compasition 22 becomes asymmetrical.

From the composition 22 a sub-composition may be selected, which is shown in fig. 2c.

This sub-composition 23 may consist of at least 2 elements and in the example shown in fig. 2c of 4 elements.

Now the sub-composition is defined, the elements of this sub-composition may be provided with an image, in this example an elephant 24. The elephant is scaled to such a degree that at least the region of interest of the image is centred and within the contours of the sub-composition.

Next, the image or overlay may be cut to fit the sub-composition 24 which is achieved by use of a vector graphics element to which overlay is cropped by converting the vector graphics element into a clipping mask which corresponds to the outlines of sub-composition.

In fig. 2e another example is shown in which there is no clipping is applied to a vector graphics element as proposed by the present disclosure and thus there is no scaling and cropping according to the boundaries of the sub-selection, which inevitably results in four individual elements to shown four similar copies of the image as selected or uploaded by the user.

The sub-selection as shown in fig. 2c may be considered an initial sub-selection which means that after the image has be added, as shown in fig. 2d, and prior to or after the scaling and/or cropping, the sub-selection may be further expanded or elements may be removed.

Also, during the step of the displaying of the image, the image may have a further overlay which only consists of the contours of each individual element of the sub-composition.

Other variations to the disclosed examples can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as optical storage medium or a solid- state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claims should not construed as limiting scope thereof. Similar reference signs denote similar or equivalent functionality.

The present disclosure is not limited to the examples as disclosed above, and can be modified and enhanced by those skilled in the art beyond the scope of the present disclosure as disclosed in the appended claims without having to apply inventive skills and for use in any data communication, data exchange and data processing environment.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS

A computer-implemented method of generating a wall decoration print composition for printing the print composition on a plurality of wall decoration elements, the wall decoration elements being arranged in a grid with a predefined spacing between the elements, the method is performed by a computer via a web dinest and comprising the steps of: obtaining a selection of a number of wall decoration elements in the composition; - obtaining a selection of a shape of each of the wall decoration elements, the selection comprising one of the groups of a rectangular shape, a circular shape, a square shape, a triangular shape, a diamond shape or a hexagonal shape; - displaying the wall decoration elements in a predefined grid configuration; - obtaining a selection of one or more adjacent wall decoration elements in the composition; - acquiring a first image file and displaying the image as an overlay over the selection; - scaling the overlay with respect to the selection; - cropping the overlay according to the boundaries of the selection; and wherein the wall decoration elements displayed in the predefined grid configuration comprise scalable vector graphic elements, and wherein cropping the overlay comprises applying a clipping mask in accordance with the scalable vector graphic elements.

The computer-implemented method of generating a wall decoration printing composition according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the wall decoration elements includes one of the groups of a rectangular shape, a circular shape, a square shape, a triangular shape, a diamond shape, or a hexagon shape .

The computer-implemented method of generating a print composition for wall decoration according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more of the steps of the method are performed by means of a client-side Hyper Text Markup Language, HTML, based scripting language that is embedded or included. on a web page hosted by a server running the web service.