Image shadow elimination method, image processing apparatus, and recording medium

A method for eliminating a shadow of a photographic image containing a picture of a three-dimensional object comprising:

• superimposing a three-dimensional model on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image so as to fit the three-dimensional model to the picture;
• designating a point on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image and a position of the point on a shadow;
• estimating a position of a light source, based on a point and position of the three-dimensional model superimposed on the picture of the three-dimensional object corresponding to the designated point and position;
• deciding that an area on which a shadow is created by a rendering for the three-dimensional model based on the light source at the estimated position is the shadow area of said image;
• and
• eliminating the shadow from the area which has been decided as the shadow area.

A method for eliminating a shadow of a photographic image containing a picture of a three-dimensional object comprising:

• superimposing a three-dimensional model on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image so as to fit the three-dimensional model to the picture;
• designating a position of a light source;
• searching a plane on which a shadow is to be created by a rendering for the three-dimensional model based on the designated position of the light source;
• changing the position of the light source when the shadow created by the rendering does not agree with a shadow of the image;
• deciding that the area on which the shadow is created by the rendering is the shadow area of said image, when the shadow created by the rendering agrees with the shadow of said image;
• and
• eliminating the shadow from the area which has been decided as the shadow area.

An image processing apparatus provided with a function of eliminating a shadow of a photographic image containing a picture of a three-dimensional object comprising:

• means for superimposing a three-dimensional model on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image so as to fit the three-dimensional model to the picture;
• means for designating a shadow plane of the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image;
• means for estimating a position of a light source, based on a plane of the three-dimensional model superimposed on the designated plane;
• means for searching an area on which a shadow is to be created by a rendering for the three-dimensional model based on the estimated position of the light source, and deciding that an area on which the searched out plane is superimposed is a shadow area of said image;
• and
• means for eliminating the shadow from the area which has been decided as the shadow area.

An image processing apparatus provided with a function of eliminating a shadow of a photographic image containing a picture of a three-dimensional object comprising:

• means for superimposing a three-dimensional model on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image so as to fit the three-dimensional model to the picture;
• means for designating a point on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image and a position of the point on a shadow;
• means for estimating a position of a light source, based on a point and position of the three-dimensional model superimposed on the picture of the three-dimensional object corresponding to the designated point and position;
• means for deciding that an area on which a shadow is created by a rendering for the three-dimensional model based on the light source at the estimated position is the shadow area of said image;
• and
• means for eliminating the shadow from the area which has been decided as the shadow area.

An image processing apparatus provided with a function of eliminating a shadow of a photographic image containing a picture of a three-dimensional object comprising:

• means for superimposing a three-dimensional model on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image so as to fit the three-dimensional model to the picture;
• means for designating a position of a light source;
• means for searching an area on which a shadow is to be created by a rendering for the three-dimensional model based on the designated position of the light source;
• means for changing the position of the light source when the shadow created by the rendering does not agree with a shadow of the image;
• means for deciding that the area on which the shadow is created by the rendering is the shadow area of said image, when the shadow created by the rendering agrees with the shadow of said image;
• and
• means for eliminating the shadow from the area which has been decided as the shadow area.

A recording medium having computer readable program code means for use with an image processing apparatus provided with a function of eliminating a shadow of a photographic image containing a picture of a three-dimensional object comprising:

• a program code means for causing said apparatus to receive an operation for superimposing a three-dimensional model on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image so as to fit the three-dimensional model to the picture;
• a program code means for causing said apparatus to receive designation of a shadow plane of the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image;
• a program code means for causing said apparatus to estimate a position of a light source, based on a plane of the three-dimensional model superimposed on the designated plane;
• a program code means for causing said apparatus to search an area on which a shadow is to be created by a rendering for the three-dimensional model based on the estimated position of the light source and to decide that an area on which the found plane is superimposed is a shadow area of said image;
• and
• a program code means for causing said apparatus to eliminate the shadow from the area which has been decided as the shadow area.

An image processing apparatus provided with a function of eliminating a shadow of photographic image containing a picture of a three-dimensional object comprising:

• a unit superimposing a three-dimensional model on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image so as to fit the three-dimensional model to the picture;
• a unit designating a shadow plane of the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image;
• a unit estimating a position of a light source, based on a plane of the three-dimensional model superimposed on the designated plane;
• a unit searching an area on which a shadow is to be created by a rendering for the three-dimensional model based on the estimated position of the light source, and deciding that an area on which the searched out plane is superimposed is a shadow area of said image;
• and
• a unit eliminating the shadow from the area which has been decided as the shadow area.

An image processing apparatus provided with a function of eliminating a shadow of a photographic image containing a picture of a three-dimensional object comprising:

• a unit superimposing a three-dimensional model on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image so as to fit the three-dimensional model to the picture;
• a unit designating a point on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image and a position of the point on a shadow;
• a unit estimating a position of a light source, based on a point and position of the three-dimensional model superimposed on the picture of the three-dimensional object corresponding to the designated point and position;
• a unit deciding that an area on which a shadow is created by a rendering for the three-dimensional model based on the light source at the estimated position is the shadow area of said image;
• and
• a unit eliminating the shadow from the area which has been decided as the shadow area.

An image processing apparatus provided with a function of eliminating a shadow of a photographic image containing a picture of a three-dimensional object comprising:

• a unit superimposing a three-dimensional model on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image so as to fit the three-dimensional model to the picture;
• a unit designating a position of a light source;
• a unit searching an area on which a shadow is to be created by a rendering for the three-dimensional model based on the designated position of the light source;
• a unit changing the position of the light source when the shadow created by the rendering does not agree with a shadow of the image;
• a unit deciding that the area on which the shadow is created by the rendering is the shadow area of said image, when the shadow created by the rendering agrees with the shadow of said image;
• and
• a unit eliminating the shadow from the area which has been decided as the shadow area.

A recording medium having computer readable program code means for use with an image processing apparatus provided with a function of eliminating a shadow of a photographic image containing a picture of a three-dimensional object comprising:

• program code causing said apparatus to receive an operation for superimposing a three-dimensional model on the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image so as to fit the three-dimensional model to the picture;
• program code causing said apparatus to receive designation of a shadow plane of the picture of the three-dimensional object contained in the image;
• program code causing said apparatus to estimate a position of a light source, based on a plane of the three-dimensional model superimposed on the designated plane;
• program code causing said apparatus to search an area on which a shadow is to be created by a rendering for the three-dimensional model based on the estimated position of the light source and to decide that an area on which the found plane is superimposed is a shadow area of said image;
• and
• program code causing said apparatus to eliminate the shadow from the area which has been decided as the shadow area.