WO2003021535A1

WO2003021535A1 - Method and device for colorization of an object

Info

Publication number: WO2003021535A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/002970
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dominique Goossens
Original assignee: Documents - Arts - Graphiques
Priority date: 2001-09-04
Filing date: 2002-08-30
Publication date: 2003-03-13
Also published as: FR2829262B1; FR2829262A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and a device for colorization of an object which consist in: modelling said object (1) with a set (2) of components (c1-c4, cj, ck, cl); providing at least a so-called harmonizing file (3), comprising a plurality of families (4) of digitized colours (F1, F2, J1, J2, ) capable of being mutually associated within each family, at least in accordance with some combinations (F1, J1) (F2, J2); using said harmonization file for updating all or part of the families of colours containing a so-called reference colour selected among the colours appearing in said file; attributing to at least one of the components of said set of components one of the colours capable of being combined with said reference colour and appearing in the family/families of updated colours with the latter.

Description

TITLE: Method and device for coloring an object.

The invention relates to a method and a device for coloring an object.

Although more particularly intended for the colorization of images, in particular visuals for promotion and / or commercial announcements, the invention may also be used for the colorization of any other type of object in two or three dimensions.

Currently, to advertise promotional operations, posters are generally used bearing only the mention “sales”. The informative content of such posters is therefore particularly poor.

However, to create more elaborate posters, it is necessary to call upon professionals, in particular in graphic art, if one wishes to obtain a satisfactory level of quality, more particularly as regards the harmonization of colors.

Such interventions have a cost which is deducted from that of promotional operations and reduces their profitability. In addition, their execution times may be incompatible with the great reactivity often required in this type of operation. It can also be noted that when such posters are not created by the professional consulted for the usual communication campaigns, the graphic charters generally imposed are not respected, which undermines the consistency of the documents issued.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for coloring an object which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and allow a user, even a non-professional, to obtain by himself a harmonious result.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for colorizing an object whose implementation costs are limited.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for coloring an object which can be implemented quickly.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a method and a device for colorizing an object which allow the respect of graphic charters.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for colorizing an object which allow progressive control of the results and rapid performance of new tests when the user is not satisfied. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear during the description which follows which is given for information only and which is not intended to limit it.

The invention relates first of all to a method of colorizing an object in which: - said object is modeled in digital form by a set of components,

at least one file, called harmonization file, is provided, comprising a plurality of families of digital colors which can be associated with each other within each family, at least in certain combinations,

- said harmonization file is used to update all or part of the families of colors containing a color, called a reference color, chosen from the colors appearing in said file,

- at least one of the components of said set of components is assigned one of the colors which can be combined with said reference color and appearing in the family or families of colors updated with the latter.

The invention also relates to a device for colorizing an object comprising digital processing means provided with: - means for modeling said object in digital form by a set of components, - at least one file, called a harmonization file, comprising a plurality of families of digitized colors which can be associated with each other within each family, at least in certain combinations,

means for using said harmonization file to update all or part of the families of colors containing a color, called a reference color, chosen from the colors appearing in said file,

- Means for assigning to at least one of the components of said set of components one of the colors which can be combined with said reference color and appearing in the family or families of colors updated with the latter.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description accompanied by the appended drawing which schematically illustrates an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

The invention relates first of all to a method of coloring an object.

By "colorization" of an object, we generally mean the assignment of one or more colors to an object, including black, gray and / or white, whatever its initial state, it that is to say, without color, in black and white and / or provided with other colors. As illustrated in FIG. 1, according to said method, said object 1 is first of all modeled in digital form by a set 2 of components, in particular, monochrome, α ,, c ₂ , c ₃ , c ₄ , C _j , c _k , q. For this, one could, for example, call on a database comprising pre-modeled objects and choose one of said objects. Still according to the method according to the invention, at least one file 3, called harmonization file, is provided, comprising a plurality of families of digitized colors F. ,, F ₂ , J ^ J ₂ , J ₂₃ , l ₂₃ , J ₂ , l ₂₂ , J ₂₄ , l ₂₄ , J ₂₃ , J ₂ • - can be associated with each other within each family 4, at least according to certain combinations (F _{1 f} J.,), (F _1f J ₂₃ ), (F _{1 (} l ₂₃ ), ..., (F ₂ , J ₂ ), (F ₂ , J ₂₄ ), (F ₂ , l ₂₄ ). The colors to be associated can be given, for example, to the help of a person skilled in the art who understands the different rules for harmonizing colors.

In said harmonization file, said colors are identified, in particular, by means of a code associated with a decomposition of each color into a mixture of basic colors, for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green and / or blue, the presence of each of the basic colors in the mixture being determined by a value which may range from 0 to 100. Naturally, in said file, each color may be associated with at least one other.

According to the method according to the invention, said harmonization file is then used to update all or part of the families of colors containing a color, called a reference color, chosen from the colors appearing in said file, and the at least one of the components of said set of components one of the colors that can be combined with said reference color and appearing in the family or families of colors updated with the latter.

A user, even a non-professional user, can thus, thanks to the invention and in particular through the provision of said harmonization file and its operating mode, colorize objects according to a harmonious result. To have a physical representation of said object, it will be possible to visualize said set of components, for example, by display, in particular on a screen 5. Such a display is carried out, in particular, throughout the colorization process in order to be able to control its execution. We can also view said set of components by printing, in particular on a printer 6.

As illustrated, said harmonization file consists, for example, of a table 7 in which each family brings together all the colors that can be associated with a given color, each family occupying a number of successive lines defining a matrix 8. The cells one of said 9 columns of each of the matrices are occupied, by a so-called input color, the cells of the other column or columns 10-12 of said matrix being free or occupied by one of the so-called output colors being able to be associated with said input color, each output color of said matrix defining with its said input color one of said possible combinations within said family. Of course, such a structure is also possible by swapping the role of columns and rows.

Said file is then used to detect the family of said reference color and, in the absence of such a family, all or part of the families containing said reference color. With such an organization of the harmonization file and such an operating mode of the latter, it is thus possible to quickly determine the colors that can be associated with a given color. It will indeed be the other colors of the family of said given color or, in the absence thereof, the input colors of the families selected. However, according to another embodiment, said harmonization file can directly be constituted in a raw manner by pairs of colors which can be associated with each other.

The different components of said set of components may be successively colored, for example, in the following manner. First of all, one of said components, said first component to be colored, for example the background C _j , is assigned one of the colors called first associated color, appearing in the family of said reference color or among the colors d entry of the family or families updated with said reference color. We then use said harmonization file to update the family of the first associated color or the family or families containing said first associated color and we attribute to all or part of the components, other than said first component to be colored, one colors appearing in the family or families of said reference color and / or said first associated color and / or one of the starting colors of the family or families updated with said reference color and / or said first color associated. More precisely, one of said components, said second component to be colored, for example the frieze c ,, other than said first component to be colored, can be assigned a color, known as second associated color, appearing in the family of said first color. associated or among the entry colors of the family or families updated with said first associated color.

One can also attribute to all or part of said components, said third component to be colored, for example a character string c _k , other than said first component and second component to be colored, a color, called third associated color, appearing in the family of said first associated color or among the input colors of the family or families updated with said first associated color and different from said second associated color.

As regards the initial choice of said reference color, it can be carried out in a completely arbitrary manner.

According to another embodiment, one or more of said components c ₁ -c ₄ , called pre-colored, are associated beforehand with at least one color, called predefined, at least one of which is among the colors of said harmonization file. and said reference color is chosen from said predefined colors. The one or more pre-colored components constitute, for example, a homogeneous sub-assembly 13 such as, in particular, an image 14 in which the or said predefined colors are dominant colors.

In order to limit the choice of possible colors when assigning a given color to a given component, it will be possible to select, in particular randomly and / or according to imposed graphic guidelines, a limited number of colors among the colors set day to color said component.

We can still crosscheck between groups of colors that have been updated. More precisely, it will be possible to select from the colors updated with said first associated color the possible predefined color or colors contained therein and to choose one said predefined colors selected as said third associated color.

If we return to the structure of said harmonization file 3, it can be constructed as follows. For each matrix of said file, one of the 10 columns, respectively row not containing said input color, includes the color that can be associated with said input color by proximity, another 11 of the columns, respectively row, not containing not said input color, including colors which can be associated with said input color as opposed. For those skilled in the art, the terms "by proximity" and "by opposition" have a known meaning in the field of colorimetric harmony rules.

By way of example, if said input color is made up of a red tone, the color associated by proximity may be in browns, while the colors associated by opposition may be in blues and / or greens.

Said table 7 may also include a fourth column 12, respectively row, in which the black, white or gray can be associated with a given input color, this for each matrix in question. Such a structure could facilitate color selections.

Thus, to color said first component to be colored, it will be possible to select from among the colors of the possible family of said reference color, said color associated by proximity and a limited number of colors associated by opposition and then choose one of the colors selected. We can do the same with said first associated color for the choice of said second associated color. In this way, color associations can be made according to certain themes.

As illustrated, said object 1 is, for example, a poster comprising at least a background 15, one or more images 14 as well as one or more character strings 16 and one or more friezes 17.

As already mentioned, the said image or images 14 are defined, after modeling, by one or more said components c _r c ₄ , and said background, said character string (s) and / or said frieze (s) are each defined after modeling by a said component c ,, c _k , c ,.

The one or more pre-colored components α, -c ₄ then consist, for example, of said image 14, provided digitized and / or of the components of said image 14, the component defining said background constituting said first component to be colored, the or said components c, of said frieze (s) constituting said second component (s) to be colored, said component (s) _k of said character string (s) constituting said third component (s) to be colored.

So, for example, to colorize the poster 1, we first choose a color of the image 14 as the reference color then we choose the background color, the color of the frieze and finally the color of the chain of characters, according to the proposed harmonization solutions. The invention also relates to a device for coloring an object intended, in particular, for implementing the above method. Said device comprises digital processing means 18 provided with:

- means for modeling said object in digital form by a set of monochrome components, - at least one file, called harmonization file, comprising a plurality of families of digitized colors which can be associated with each other within each family, less in certain combinations,

means for using said harmonization file to update all or part of the families of colors containing a so-called reference color chosen from the colors appearing in said file, means for assigning to at least one of the components of said set of components one of the colors which can be combined with said reference color and appearing in the family or families of colors updated with the latter. Said digital processing means are constituted by a microcomputer of conventional type comprising a central unit 19. Said digital processing means may also include, in particular, means for viewing said set of components. It could be, for example, a screen 5 and / or a printer 6 connected to said central unit 19. It may be noted that the use of such digital processing means will advantageously allow, depending on the functionalities usually encountered , modify, store and / or copy the work carried out, without difficulty, even for a non-professional user.

Said means for modeling said object consist, for example, of a database of pre-modeled objects and of means for choosing one of the elements of said database.

Said harmonization file presents, for example, the structure mentioned above and the means for exploiting said file consist of detection means, capable of revealing the family of a said color and, in the absence of such a family, all or part of the families containing said color.

Said means for assigning to at least one of the components of said set of components a given color consist of:

means for displaying a palette 20 comprising all or part of the colors updated by said detection means, pointing means, not shown, capable of allowing the selection in said palette 20 of a chosen color, and the assignment of said chosen color to the component or components to be colored.

The device according to the invention comprises for this, for example, window display means, as is known to those skilled in the art, a first window being defined by said set 2 of components and a second window by said pallet 20.

The device according to the invention may further comprise means for associating beforehand with one or more of said components a color, called predefined, at least one of which appears among the colors of said harmonization file. It could be means insertion of pre-modeled and / or pre-colorized images.

The device according to the invention may also possibly include means for selecting some of the colors updated using said detection means, this according to certain criteria, as mentioned above.

The colors appearing in said palette 20 will then be those that have been selected.

Naturally, other modes of implementation, within the reach of those skilled in the art, could have been envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Method for coloring an object (1), in which

- we model said object in digital form by a set (2) of components cc ₄ , c ,, c _k ,, - we provide at least one file (3), called harmonization, comprising a plurality of families (4) digitized colors that can be associated with each other within each family, at least in certain combinations,

2. Method according to claim 1, in which:

- said harmonization file (3) consists of a table (7) in which each family brings together all the colors that can be associated with a given color, each family occupying a number of successive rows, respectively of columns defining a matrix (8), the cells of one of said columns, respectively rows, of each of the matrices being occupied by a so-called input color, the cells of the other column (s) 10-12, respectively rows, of said matrix being free or occupied by one of the so-called output colors, which can be associated with said input color, each output color of said matrix defining with its said input color one of said possible combinations within said family ,

- Using said file to detect the family of said reference color, and in the absence of such a family, all or part of the families containing said reference color.

3. Method according to claim 2, in which: - one of said components, said first component to be colored, is assigned one of the colors, called first associated color, appearing in the family of said reference color or among the input colors of the family or families set to day with said reference color, - we use said harmonization file to update the family of said first associated color or the family or families containing said first associated color,

- all or part of the components, other than said first component to be colored, are assigned one of the colors appearing in the family of said reference color and / or said first associated color and / or one of the starting colors of the family or families updated with said reference color and / or said first associated color.

4. Method according to claim 3, in which:

- one of said components, said second component to be colored, other than said first component to be colored, is assigned a color, called second associated color, appearing in the family of said first associated color or among the input colors of the or families updated with said first associated color,

- all or part of said components, said third component to be colored, other than said first and second components to be colored, are assigned a color, called third associated color, appearing in the family of said first associated color or among the input colors of the family or families updated with said first associated color and different from said second associated color.

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one associates beforehand with one or more of said components, said pre-colored, at least one color, said predefined, of which at least one appears among the colors of said harmonization file and said reference color is chosen from said predefined colors.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein one selects from the colors updated with said first color associated, the possible predefined color or colors contained therein and one of the said predefined colors selected as said third associated color is chosen.

7. Method according to claim 2, in which: - for each matrix of said file (3), one (10) of the columns, respectively rows, not containing said input color, comprises the color which can be associated with said entry color by proximity and another (11) of the columns, respectively rows, not containing said entry color comprises the colors which can be associated with said entry color by opposition,

- one selects from the colors of the possible family of said reference color said color associated by proximity and a limited number of colors associated by opposition:

- one of the selected colors is chosen as the first associated color.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein, said object being a poster comprising at least a background (15), one or more images (14) and one or more character strings (16) and one or more friezes ( 17), said image (s) (14) being defined, after modeling, by one or more said cc ₄ components and said background (15), said character string (s) (16) and / or said frieze (s) (71) being each defined after modeling by a component:

the said pre-colored component (s) consist of said image 14, provided digitized, and / or the cc components ₄ of said image, the component q defining said background constitutes said first component to be colored,

the at least one component c, of the at least one frieze constitutes the at least one second component to be colored,

the one or more components c _k of the one or more character strings constitute the one or more third components to be colored.

9. Method according to any one of the claims above, in which said set of components is viewed, by display and / or by printing.

10. Device for colorizing an object comprising digital processing means (18) provided with: - means for modeling said object in digital form by a set of components,

- at least one file, called harmonization file, comprising a plurality of families of digital colors that can be associated with each other within each family, at least in certain combinations, - means for using said harmonization file to put all or part of the families of colors containing a so-called reference color chosen from the colors appearing in said file,

- Means for assigning to at least one of the components of said set of components one of the colors which can be combined with said reference color and appearing in the family or families of colors brought up to date with the latter.

11. Device according to claim 10, in which:

- said harmonization file consists of a table in which each family gathers all the colors that can be associated with a given color, each family occupying a number of successive rows, respectively of columns, defining a matrix, the cells of the one of said columns, respectively rows, of each of the matrices being occupied by a so-called input color, the cells of the other column (s), respectively rows, of said matrix being free or occupied by one of the colors which can be associated with said input color, each output color of said matrix defining with said input color one of said possible combinations within said family,

- Said means for exploiting said harmonization file consist of detection means, capable of revealing the family of one of said colors and, in the absence of such a family, all or part of the families containing said color .

12. Device according to claim 11, in which said means for assigning to at least one of the components of said set of components a given color consist of:

- means for displaying a palette (20) comprising all or part of the colors updated by said detection means,

- Pointing means, capable of allowing the selection from the palette (20) of a chosen color and the assignment of said chosen color to the component or components to be colored.

13. Device according to claim 10 or 11 further comprising means for associating beforehand with one or more of said components a color, called predefined, at least one of which appears among the colors of said harmonization file.

14. Device according to claim 11 further comprising means for selecting some of the colors updated using said detection means.