Photo Guide for Vehicle

Abstract

A device and method for assisting a user in photographing a vehicle for documenting a condition of the vehicle. The method includes receiving information regarding the vehicle and displaying a graphic overlay of the vehicle. A video image of the vehicle is captured with a camera and is displayed with the graphical overlay. The video image of the vehicle is aligned with the graphical overlay of the vehicle and the image of the vehicle is stored. The graphical overlay can be oriented on the screen in a manner so that the stored image of the vehicle is captured at a predetermined horizontal angle, vertical height and/or vehicle size. The photograph of the vehicle can be attached to an insurance estimate. Standardizing the horizontal angle, vertical and/or vehicle size of the photographed vehicle promotes consistency and uniformity in the estimating process.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 a display screen;   a processor; and   one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media communicatively coupled to the processor and comprising instructions operable when executed by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 displaying on the display screen an image capture interface; 
 displaying in the image capture interface a graphical overlay, the graphical overlay comprising an outline of a vehicle, wherein:
 the graphical overlay of the vehicle comprises an area inside the outline of the vehicle and an area outside the outline of the vehicle; and 
 the area inside the outline of the vehicle is transparent; 
 
 capturing, using a camera, an image of a damaged vehicle while at least a portion of the damaged vehicle is displayed inside the outline of the vehicle; and 
 sending the captured image to another computer system. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the area of the graphical overlay that is outside the outline of the vehicle is not transparent. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein a color of the area of the graphical overlay that is outside the outline of the vehicle is user selectable. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein a color of the outline of the vehicle is user selectable. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the area inside the outline of the vehicle is devoid of any other graphical overlays. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the outline of the vehicle is created from a 3D model of the vehicle. 
     
     
         25 . One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:
 display on a display screen an image capture interface;   display in the image capture interface a graphical overlay, the graphical overlay comprising an outline of a vehicle, wherein:
 the graphical overlay of the vehicle comprises an area inside the outline of the vehicle and an area outside the outline of the vehicle; and 
 the area inside the outline of the vehicle is transparent; 
   capture, using a camera, an image of a damaged vehicle while at least a portion of the damaged vehicle is displayed inside the outline of the vehicle; and   send the captured image to another computer system.   
     
     
         26 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software of  claim 25 , wherein the area of the graphical overlay that is outside the outline of the vehicle is not transparent. 
     
     
         27 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software of  claim 25 , wherein a color of the area of the graphical overlay that is outside the outline of the vehicle is user selectable. 
     
     
         28 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software of  claim 25 , wherein a color of the outline of the vehicle is user selectable. 
     
     
         29 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software of  claim 25 , wherein the area inside the outline of the vehicle is devoid of any other graphical overlays. 
     
     
         30 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software of  claim 25 , wherein the outline of the vehicle is created from a 3D model of the vehicle. 
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 displaying on a display screen an image capture interface;   displaying in the image capture interface a graphical overlay, the graphical overlay comprising an outline of a vehicle, wherein:
 the graphical overlay of the vehicle comprises an area inside the outline of the vehicle and an area outside the outline of the vehicle; and 
 the area inside the outline of the vehicle is transparent; 
   capturing, using a camera, an image of a damaged vehicle while at least a portion of the damaged vehicle is displayed inside the outline of the vehicle; and   sending the captured image to another computer system.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the area of the graphical overlay that is outside the outline of the vehicle is not transparent. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a color of the area of the graphical overlay that is outside the outline of the vehicle is user selectable. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a color of the outline of the vehicle is user selectable. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the area inside the outline of the vehicle is devoid of any other graphical overlays. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the outline of the vehicle is created from a 3D model of the vehicle.