Method and system for image processing

Abstract

A method for image processing in a computerized system reduces the amount of memory required for image processing and produces a layered effect which permits complex manipulation such as scaling and rotation without long delay, while allowing earlier versions of the visual image to be recalled. The method involves pre-processing, image editing and raster image processing.

1. A method for raster image processing onto an output device, by a user, of a digital file containing an original digital image and a set of parameters for at least one resolution independent modification transformation, comprising:
 selecting, using a computer, a region and a resolution for image display on said output device; 
 applying, using a computer, said at least one resolution independent modification transformation to said original digital image so as to produce said region of a modified original image at said resolution; and 
 rendering, using a computer, said region of said modified original image on said output device. 
 
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1  wherein said applying step also combines several resolution independent modification transformations. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1  wherein said original digital image is represented as a pyramid of sub-images, each sub-image having a lower pixel resolution than its predecessor in the pyramid. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 3  wherein said sub-images are partitioned into individually accessible rectangular image tiles. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 1  wherein said digital file only contains a subset of said parameters of resolution independent modification transformations, and wherein said applying step also includes filling in the missing parameters by interpolation. 
     
     
       6. A system for raster image processing onto an output device, by a user, of a digital file containing an original digital image and a set of parameters for at least one resolution independent modification transformation, comprising:
 a user interface selecting a region and a resolution for image display on said output device; 
 an image processor applying said at least one resolution independent modification transformation to said original digital image so as to produce said region of a modified original image at said resolution; and 
 an image renderer rendering said region of said modified original image on said output device. 
 
     
     
       7. A system according to  claim 6  wherein said image processor includes a combiner to combine several resolution independent modification transformations. 
     
     
       8. A system according to  claim 6  wherein said original digital image is represented as a pyramid of sub-images, each sub-image having a lower pixel resolution than its predecessor in the pyramid. 
     
     
       9. A system according to  claim 8  wherein said sub-images are partitioned into individually accessible rectangular image tiles. 
     
     
       10. A method system according to  claim 6  wherein said digital file only contains a subset of said parameters of resolution independent modification transformations, and wherein said image processor also fills in the missing parameters by interpolation. 
     
     
       11. A system for image processing comprising: an image processor capable of applying at least one resolution independent modification transformation to a digital image so as to produce a region of a modified digital image at one or more potential resolutions; and an image renderer capable of rendering said region of said modified image on an output device at said one or more potential resolutions. 
     
     
       12. A method for image processing comprising:
 applying using a computer at least one resolution independent modification transformation to a digital image so as to produce a region of a modified digital image at one of a set of potential resolutions; and   rendering using a computer said region of said modified digital image on an output device at said one of a set of potential resolutions.   
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform operations comprising:
 applying at least one resolution-independent modification transformation to a digital image so as to produce a region of a modified digital image at one of a set of potential resolutions; and   rendering said region of said modified digital image on an output device at said one of a set of potential resolutions.   
     
     
       14. The system of claim 11 wherein the image processor is configured to combine several resolution-independent modification transformations, at least one of the resolution-independent modification transformations involving an interpolation if one or more of parameters for the at least one of the resolution-independent modification transformations is missing. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 11 wherein the digital image is represented as one or more sub-images and each sub-image is partitioned into one or more individually accessible tiles. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 12 wherein the applying includes combining several resolution-independent modification transformations, at least one of the resolution-independent modification transformations involving an interpolation if one or more of parameters for the at least one of the resolution-independent modification transformations is missing. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 12 wherein the digital image is represented as a pyramid of sub-images and each sub-image has a lower pixel resolution than its predecessor sub-image in the pyramid. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the applying includes combining several resolution-independent modification transformations, at least one of the resolution-independent modification transformations involving an interpolation. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the digital image is represented as two or more sub-images and a second sub-image has a lower pixel resolution than a first sub-image and at least the first sub-image is partitioned into individually accessible image tiles. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein the individually accessible image tiles are rectangular.