Method and apparatus for using a virtual camera to dynamically refocus a digital image

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for dynamically refocusing an input image to simulate a focus plane and a depth-of-field of a virtual camera, the method comprising:

• receiving the input image, wherein the input image includes depth information for pixels in the input image;
• obtaining parameters that specify the depth-of-field d and the location of the focus plane for the virtual camera;
• and
• using the depth information and the parameters for the virtual camera to selectively refocus the input image to produce a refocused image;
• wherein for each pixel in the input image, producing the refocused image involves,
• using the depth information and the parameters for the virtual camera to determine a blur radius B for the pixel, and
• using the blur radius B for the pixel to determine whether the pixel contributes to neighboring pixels in the refocused image.

A computer for dynamically refocusing an input image to simulate a focus plane and a depth-of-field of a virtual camera, comprising:

• a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the computer cause the computer to implement:
• an input mechanism that receives the input image, wherein the input image includes depth information for pixels in the input image;
• wherein the input mechanism obtains parameters that specify the depth-of-field d and the location of the focus plane for the virtual camera;
• and
• a refocus mechanism that uses the depth information and the parameters for the virtual camera to refocus the input image to produce a refocused image;
• wherein for each pixel in the input image, the refocus mechanism,
• uses the depth information and the parameters for the virtual camera to determine a blur radius B for the pixel, and to
• uses the blur radius B for the pixel to determine whether the pixel contributes to neighboring pixels in the refocused image.