Image manipulation system and method

A display system for simulated presentation of a plurality of alternative arrangements of prospective actual floor covering elements across a flooring support surface, the display system comprising:

• a plurality of viewable and manipulatable simulated elements, wherein said simulated elements have a shape and size substantially corresponding to a reduced to-scale version of the shape and size of the prospective actual floor covering elements and wherein said simulated elements further include a surface design or pattern comprising a reduced reproduction of a surface design or pattern of at least one prospective actual floor covering element, said simulated elements being arrangeable in a manipulatable array to simulate a first prospective actual arrangement of the prospective actual floor covering elements and such that said manipulatable array is alterable by means of rotating or rearranging at least one of the manipulatable elements to simulate at least a second prospective arrangement of the prospective floor covering elements.

A system, tool or method for the simulated presentation of a plurality of alternative arrangements of prospective actual floor covering tile elements across a flooring support surface, the system comprising:

• means for viewing and manipulating a plurality of viewable and manipulatable simulated tile elements comprising reduced dimension reproductions of the prospective actual floor covering tile elements, wherein said simulated tile elements have a shape and size substantially corresponding to a reduced version of the shape and size of the prospective actual floor covering tile elements and wherein said simulated tile elements further include a surface design or pattern comprising a substantially complete reduced reproduction of a surface design or pattern of at least one prospective actual floor covering tile element, said simulated tile elements being arrangeable in a manipulatable array to simulate a first prospective arrangement of the prospective actual floor covering tile elements across a flooring surface and such that said manipulatable array is alterable by replacing, rearranging, or rotating at least one of the simulated tile elements to simulate at least a second prospective arrangement of the prospective actual floor covering tile elements across a flooring surface.

A method for simulating at least one prospective arrangement of floor covering tile elements across a flooring support surface, comprising:

• arranging a plurality of viewable and manipulatable simulated tile elements in an array substantially corresponding to at least a portion of the prospective arrangement of floor covering tile elements across a flooring support surface, wherein said simulated tile elements include a surface design, pattern or color corresponding to a surface design, pattern or color of a prospective floor covering tile element within said prospective arrangement of floor covering tile elements across a flooring support surface, said simulated tile elements being selectively replaceable and adjustable by manipulation such that said array is alterable to simulate one or more alternative arrangements of floor covering tile elements.

In a method of marketing patterned carpet tile, the improvement comprising:

• a plurality of viewable and manipulatable simulated tile elements comprising reduced dimension reproductions of the prospective patterned carpet tile elements, wherein said simulated tile elements have a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the prospective patterned carpet tile elements and wherein said simulated tile elements further include a surface design or pattern comprising a substantially complete reduced reproduction of a surface design or pattern of at least one prospective patterned carpet tile element, said simulated tile elements being arrangeable in a manipulatable array to simulate a first prospective arrangement of the prospective patterned carpet tile elements across a flooring surface and such that said manipulatable array is alterable by rearranging at least one of the simulated tile elements to simulate at least a second prospective arrangement of the prospective patterned carpet tile elements across a flooring surface.

An image visualization and/or manipulation system, tool or method as described or shown herein.

A computer-readable medium encoded with computer readable program code means embodied therein for providing single click buttons for manipulating each of a plurality of simulated floor covering elements.

A computer readable memory device encoded with computer readable code relating to each of single click buttons for manipulating simulated floor covering elements, instructions, and simulated floor covering elements.