3D Imaging and Texture Mapping for Apparel Imagery

Abstract

A manufacturing flow of apparel such as jeans uses a laser to finish the products. The products are designed using a digital design tool, where photorealistic previews are generated in three dimensions and two dimensions. Imagery of the products are sent to retailers where customers can order the products, such as online orders. Imagery of the products are sent to factories where the products are finished. Based on the imagery, the factories make adjustments to the processes as needed so that the actual products will have an appearance as in the received imagery. As orders are received by the retailers, the factories can manufacture the desired products on demand, and the products can be delivered to customers.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a garment design tool that shows a preview image of a garment design on a screen as customized by a user with a finishing pattern;   in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user to select a garment base and upon the user's selection, showing in the screen a first preview image of the selected garment template;   in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user to select a finishing pattern from a two or more finishing patterns and upon the user's selection, showing on the screen a second preview image of the selected garment template with the selected finishing pattern, wherein each finishing pattern is associated with a digital input file;   combining a digital input file associated with the selected finishing pattern with a image of the selected garment template to generate a combined image, wherein the combined image is generated by generating an adjusted base image from the image of the selected garment template without the selected finishing pattern,   generating a pattern mask based on the digital input file associated with the selected finishing pattern,   for a pixel at a pixel location of the combined image, obtaining a first contribution for the pixel location of the combined image by combining a first value for a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the image of the selected garment template without the selected finishing pattern,   for the pixel at the pixel location of the combined image, obtaining a second contribution at the pixel location for the combined image by combining a second value for a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the adjusted base image,   combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain a color value for a pixel at the pixel location for the second preview image, and   using the color value for the pixel at the pixel location in the combined image;   performing a texture mapping of the combined image onto a first three-dimensional model to obtain a first texture-mapped model;   performing a texture mapping of the combined image onto a second three-dimensional model to obtain a second texture-mapped model, wherein the second three-dimensional model is different from the first three-dimensional model;   generating a plurality of two-dimensional first images from the first texture-mapped model; and   generating a plurality of two-dimensional second images from the second texture-mapped model.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 presenting the two-dimensional first images at a online site, wherein a customer can order a product of the garment design from the online site based on the two-dimensional first images before manufacture of the product. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 at a manufacturing facility, based on the second images, creating a process for manufacturing the product; and 
 after the product has been ordered by the customer, making the product using the process for manufacturing the product. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the garment design is for a pair of jeans. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the process for manufacturing the product comprises using the digital input file and a laser to form the selected finishing pattern on a garment corresponding to the selected garment template. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first three-dimensional model comprises at least one of an on-body model or pose model. 
     
     
         7 . The method or  claim 6  wherein the second three-dimensional model comprises a flat model. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the texture mapping comprises at least one of UV mapping or projection mapping. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein combined image is a color map, and the color map comprises detached garment panels. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the garment design is for a pair of jeans, and the color map comprises a first detached garment section comprising a right front leg panel and a right back leg panel, and a second detached garment section comprises a left front leg panel and a left back leg panel, which are detached from the right front leg panel and a right back leg panel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein a front view of the second texture-mapped model comprises the right front leg panel coupled to the left front leg panel, and a back view of the second texture-mapped model comprises the right back leg panel coupled to the left back leg panel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 allowing the user to rotate the first texture-mapped model of the garment design. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected finishing pattern comprises damage assets. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected finishing pattern is a wear pattern. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 providing a garment design tool that shows a preview image of a garment design on a screen as customized by a user with a finishing pattern;   in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user to select a garment base and upon the user's selection, showing in the screen a first preview image of the selected garment template;   in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user to select a finishing pattern from a two or more finishing patterns and upon the user's selection, showing on the screen a second preview image of the selected garment template with the selected finishing pattern, wherein each finishing pattern is associated with a digital input file;   combining a digital input file associated with the selected finishing pattern with a image of the selected garment template to generate a combined image, wherein the combined image is generated by generating an adjusted base image from the image of the selected garment template without the selected finishing pattern,   generating a pattern mask based on the digital input file associated with the selected finishing pattern,   for a pixel at a pixel location of the combined image, obtaining a first contribution for the pixel location of the combined image by combining a first value for a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the image of the selected garment template without the selected finishing pattern,   for the pixel at the pixel location of the combined image, obtaining a second contribution at the pixel location for the combined image by combining a second value for a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the adjusted base image,   combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain a color value for a pixel at the pixel location for the second preview image, and   using the color value for the pixel at the pixel location in the combined image; and   performing a texture mapping of the combined image onto a first three-dimensional model to obtain a first texture-mapped model;   performing a texture mapping of the combined image onto a second three-dimensional model to obtain a second texture-mapped model, wherein the second three-dimensional model is different from the first three-dimensional model;   generating a plurality of two-dimensional first images from the first texture-mapped model;   generating a plurality of two-dimensional second images from the second texture-mapped model;   presenting the two-dimensional first images at a online site, wherein a customer can order a product of the garment design from the online site based on the two-dimensional first images before manufacture of the product;   at a manufacturing facility, based on the second images, creating a process for manufacturing the product; and   after the product has been ordered by the customer, making the product using the process for manufacturing the product.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the process for manufacturing the product comprises using the digital input file and a laser to form the selected finishing pattern on a garment corresponding to the selected garment template. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first three-dimensional model comprises at least one of an on-body model or pose model, and the second three-dimensional model comprises a flat model. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the texture mapping comprises at least one of UV mapping or projection mapping. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the garment design is for a pair of jeans, the combined image is a color map, and the color map comprises a first detached garment section comprising a right front leg panel and a right back leg panel, and a second detached garment section comprises a left front leg panel and a left back leg panel, which are detached from the right front leg panel and a right back leg panel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein a front view of the second texture-mapped model comprises the right front leg panel coupled to the left front leg panel, and a back view of the second texture-mapped model comprises the right back leg panel coupled to the left back leg panel. 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a digital design tool, generating at least a digital input file including a finishing pattern, wherein the digital design tool generates a three-dimensional photorealistic visualization of a finishing pattern of a garment on a computer screen and allows editing of the finishing pattern,   the editing permitted by the digital design tool comprises selecting a first combination of a garment template and a first finishing pattern from plurality of finishing patterns, and saving the first combination as the first apparel design, and   a three-dimensional photorealistic visualization of the first apparel design comprises displaying on a screen a three-dimensional model with textures of the first apparel design;   a first three-dimensional model with textures of the first apparel design obtained by performing a texture mapping of the first apparel design onto the first three-dimensional model;   a second three-dimensional model with textures of the first apparel design obtained by performing a texture mapping of the first apparel design onto the second three-dimensional model, wherein the second three-dimensional model is different from the first three-dimensional model;   a plurality of two-dimensional first images generated from the first three-dimensional model with textures of the first apparel design; and   a plurality of two-dimensional second images generated from the second three-dimensional model with textures of the first apparel design.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the first apparel design comprises first apparel design preview comprising a combined image generated by combining a digital input file associated with the first finishing pattern with a image of the garment template comprising
 generating an adjusted base image from the image of the garment template without the first finishing pattern, 
 generating a pattern mask based on the digital input file associated with the first finishing pattern, 
 for a pixel at a pixel location of the combined image, obtaining a first contribution for the pixel location of the combined image by combining a first value for a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the image of the garment template without the first finishing pattern, 
 for the pixel at the pixel location of the combined image, obtaining a second contribution at the pixel location for the combined image by combining a second value for a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the adjusted base image, 
 combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain a color value for a pixel at the pixel location for the first apparel design preview, and 
 using the color value for the pixel at the pixel location in the combined image. 
 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the first apparel design preview comprises a two-dimensional image.