Pre-recorded MOF layer information processing system

Apparatus for processing photographic filmstrips to fulfill a photofinishing order, the filmstrips being of the type having a series of exposed image frames and a magnetic layer thereon containing pre-recorded promotional information identifying an image of a symbol and a defined area of the exposed image frames in which the symbol image is to be substituted for the exposed image in that defined area such that composite images including the symbol in scenes composed by the camera user will appear in the reproductions made to satisfy the photofinishing order, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic read head;
• a film image frame scanner for scanning the exposed image frames to derive a digitized image frame data set for each scanned image frame;
• means for advancing the filmstrip in a film transport path such that the magnetic layer is aligned with a magnetic read head and the image frames are aligned with said film scanner;
• means for operating said magnetic read head to magnetically read out the pre-recorded promotional information from the magnetic layer as the magnetic layer is advanced in alignment with said magnetic read head for use in processing the filmstrip and filling the customer order, the magnetically read out information including the identity of the symbol image and the defined area of the image frame in which the symbol image is to appear in the reproductions made therefrom;
• means for operating said film scanner to scan the filmstrip image frames as the filmstrip image frames are advanced in alignment with said film scanner and to provide a digitized image frame data set for each scanned image frame therefrom;
• means for identifying an image frame data sub-set corresponding to the physical area in the image frame where the identified symbol is to be superimposed from the magnetically read out defined area information;
• means for substituting the digital symbol image data sub-set for the corresponding sub-set of the digitized image frame data set to provide a composite image data set;
• and
• means for reproducing the composite image from the composite image data set.

A method of exposing and processing a photographic filmstrip to fulfill a photofinishing order comprising reproductions having an image of a symbol appearing therein in a defined area comprising the steps of:

• packaging a filmstrip with a magnetic layer thereon containing pre-recorded information identifying an image of a symbol and the defined area of at least one exposed image frame in which the symbol image is to be substituted for the exposed image in that defined area in a single-use camera package;
• in a display accompanying the single use camera, informing the camera user of the symbol and the defined area of the image frame in which it is to appear in a reproduction of the at least one exposed image frame;
• exposing the image frames to scenes composed by the camera user;
• and
• making reproductions of the exposed image frames having the symbol superimposed in the at least one exposed image frame in the defined area through the further steps of:
• magnetically reading out the pre-recorded information from the magnetic layer for use in processing the filmstrip and filling the customer order, the magnetically read out information including the identity of the symbol image and the defined area of each image frame in which the symbol image is to appear in the reproduction made therefrom;
• digitizing the filmstrip image frames and providing a digitized image frame data set for each exposed image frame therefrom;
• from the magnetically read out defined area information, identifying an image frame data sub-set corresponding to the physical area in the exposed image frame where the identified symbol is to be superimposed;
• substituting the digital symbol image data sub-set for the corresponding sub-set of the digitized exposed image frame data set to provide a composite image data set;
• and
• reproducing the composite image from the composite image data set.