Photographs of fabrics and methods for making them

A standardized method of reproducibly making photographs of different fabrics, so that one or more of each fabric's characteristics of texture, pattern, thickness, drape and translucency, can be reliably understood and compared, comprising the steps of:

• folding each fabric in the same way such that each fabric has one to three folds;
• placing the folded fabric on a background surface to provide it with a standardized shape, wherein the predetermined standardized drape of the fabric comprises:
• a bottom ply that is on the background surface and has a first side edge;
• an intermediate ply having a second side edge;
• a first fold line between the bottom and intermediate plies;
• and a top ply having a third side edge;
• and a second fold line between the intermediate and top plies;
• wherein the first, second and third side edges are on the same side of the fabric;
• the first and third side edges are spaced apart and extend generally parallel in a first direction;
• the second side edge is located between the first and third side edges;
• and the first and second fold lines are spaced apart and extend generally parallel in a second direction;
• and then photographing each draped and folded fabric in a first same way.

A standardized method of reproducibly making photographs of different fabrics, so that one or more of each fabric's characteristics of texture, pattern, thickness, drape and translucency, can be reliably understood and compared, comprising the steps of:

• folding each fabric in the same way such that each fabric has one to three folds;
• placing the folded fabric on a background surface to provide it with a standardized draped shape, wherein the predetermined standardized drape of the fabric comprises:
• a bottom ply that is on the background surface and has a first side edge;
• an intermediate ply having a second side edge;
• a first fold line between the bottom and intermediate plies;
• and a top ply having a third side edge;
• and a second fold line between the intermediate and top plies;
• wherein the first, second and third side edges are on the same side of the fabric;
• the first and third side edges are spaced apart and extend generally parallel in a first direction;
• the second side edge is located between the first and third side edges;
• and the first and second fold lines are spaced apart and extend generally parallel in a second direction;
• and then photographing each draped and folded fabric in a first same way, wherein each fabric is photographed, so that the resulting photograph has a first total surface area, a second surface area of the photograph shows the fabric and a third surface area of the photograph shows the background surface;
• the second surface area being greater than the third surface area.

A standardized method of reproducibly making photographs of different fabrics, so that one or more of each fabric's characteristics of texture, pattern, thickness, drape and translucency, can be reliably understood and compared, comprising the steps of:

• folding each fabric in the same way such that each fabric has 2 folds;
• placing the folded fabric on a background surface to provide it with a standardized draped shape, wherein the predetermined standardized drape of the fabric comprises:
• a bottom ply that is on the background surface and has a first side edge;
• an intermediate ply having a second side edge, a first fold line between the bottom and intermediate plies;
• and a top ply having a third side edge;
• and a second fold line between the intermediate and top plies;
• wherein the first, second and third side edges are on the same side of the fabric;
• the first and third side edges are spaced apart and extend generally parallel in a first direction;
• the second side edge is located between the first and third side edges;
• and the first and second fold lines are spaced apart and extend generally parallel in a second direction;
• and then photographing each draped and folded fabric in a first same way.

A standardized method of reproducibly making photographs of different fabrics, so that one or more of each fabric's characteristics of texture, pattern, thickness, drape and translucency, can be reliably understood and compared, comprising the steps of:

• folding each fabric in the same way such that each fabric has 2 folds;
• placing the folded fabric on a background surface to provide it with a standardized draped shape;
• and then photographing a portion of each draped and folded fabric, within a rectangular virtual photo frame, in a first same way by a camera, so that the resulting photograph has a first total surface area, a second surface area of the photograph shows the fabric and a third surface area of the photograph shows the background surface;
• the second surface area being greater than the third surface area, and wherein a first direction is at an obtuse angle between about 105° an 120°, preferably about 110°, with respect to a side of the virtual photo frame closest to the camera and a second direction is at an acute angle between about 15° and 30°, preferably about 20°, with respect to a side of the virtual photo frame closest to the camera;
• and wherein the first, second and third side edges are serrated.

A standardized method of reproducibly making photographs of different fabrics, so that one or more of each fabric's characteristics of texture, pattern, thickness, drape and translucency, can be reliably understood and compared, comprising the steps of:

• folding each fabric in the same way such that each fabric has 2 folds;
• placing the folded fabric on a background surface to provide it with a standardized draped shape;
• and then photographing a portion of each draped and folded fabric, within a rectangular virtual photo frame, in a first same way by a camera, so that the resulting photograph has a first total surface area, a second surface area of the photograph shows the fabric and a third surface are of the photograph shows the background surface;
• the second surface area being greater than the third surface area, and wherein a first direction is at an obtuse angle with respect to a side of the virtual photo frame closest to the camera and a second direction is at an acute angle between about 15° and 30°, preferably about 20°, with respect to a side of the virtual photo frame closest to the camera;
• and wherein the first, second and third side edges are serrated.

A standardized method of reproducibly making photographs of different fabrics, so that one or more of each fabric's characteristics of texture, pattern, thickness, drape and translucency, can be reliably understood and compared, comprising the steps of:

• folding each fabric in the same way;
• placing the folded fabric on a background surface to provide it with a standardized draped shape;
• photographing each draped an folded fabric in a first same way;
• and showing each fabric in a second way in a computer-generated photo-realistic image in use as a window covering and/or a furniture covering, wherein each photograph of a fabric in the first or second way is stored in a computer database and is tagged to indicate a use of the fabric.

A standardized method of reproducibly making photographs of different fabrics, so that one or more of each fabric's characteristics of texture, pattern, thickness, drape and translucency, can be reliably understood and compared, comprising the steps of:

• folding each fabric in the same way;
• placing the folded fabric on a background surface to provide it with a standardized draped shape;
• photographing each draped and folded fabric in a first same way;
• and showing each fabric in a second way in a computer-generated photo-realistic image, in use, wherein each photograph of a fabric in the first and/or second way is stored in a computer database and is tagged to indicate a use of the fabric.

A standardized method of reproducibly making photographs of different fabrics, so that one or more of each fabric's characteristics of texture, pattern, thickness, drape and translucency, can be reliably understood and compared, comprising the steps of;

• folding each fabric in the same way;
• placing the folded fabric on a background surface to provide it with a standardized draped shape;
• photographing each draped and folded fabric in a first same way;
• and photographing each fabric in a second same way as straight with a full-repeat of a pattern.