Method and system for converting an image to a color-reduced image mapped to embroidery thread colors
AssigneeVistaprint Schweiz GmbH
InventorHsu Eugene
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are presented for converting an image to a color-reduced image suitable for embroidery and having colors mapped only to available embroidery thread colors. Pixel color values in the image are snapped to a nearest color in a predetermined reduced set of colors that correspond to embroidery thread colors. The image is then color-reduced by iteratively identifying possible pairs of colors in the color-reduced image and merging at least one identified color pair based on color similarity and edge characteristics until the total number of colors in the color-reduced image is not greater than the predetermined maximum color count.
Claims31
A method for converting an image comprising a total number of colors greater than a predetermined maximum color count to a color-reduced image, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, by one or more processors, an image comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel is characterized by an associated color value;
- generating, by one or more processors, a color-reduced image by setting the associated color value of each pixel in the image to a nearest color in a predetermined reduced set of colors;
- iteratively, until the total number of colors in the color-reduced image is not greater than the predetermined maximum color count, by one or more processors:
- identifying pairs of colors in the color-reduced image,
- selecting an identified color pair comprising a first color and a second color, the first color selected for merging into the second color, and
- setting the associated color value of all pixels in the color-reduced image characterized by an associated color value equal to the first color from the first color to the second color;
- wherein the selected identified color pair is selected based on color similarity and on edge characteristics of boundaries between regions in the color-reduced image comprising pixels characterized by the first color of the selected identified color pair and regions in the color-reduced image comprising pixels characterized by the second color of the selected identified color pair.
Non-transitory computer readable storage tangibly embodying program instructions which, when executed by a computer, implement a method for converting an image comprising a total number of colors greater than a predetermined maximum color count to a color-reduced image, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an image comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel is characterized by an associated color value;
- generating a color-reduced image by setting the associated color value of each pixel in the image to a nearest color in a predetermined reduced set of colors;
- iteratively, until the total number of colors in the color-reduced image is not greater than the predetermined maximum color count:
- identifying pairs of colors in the color-reduced image,
- selecting an identified color pair comprising a first color and a second color, the first color selected for merging into the second color, and
- setting the associated color value of all pixels in the color-reduced image characterized by an associated color value equal to the first color from the first color to the second color;
- wherein the selected identified color pair is selected based on color similarity and on edge characteristics of boundaries between regions in the color-reduced image comprising pixels characterized by the first color of the selected identified color pair and regions in the color-reduced image comprising pixels characterized by the second color of the selected identified color pair.
An apparatus for converting an image comprising a total number of colors greater than a predetermined maximum color count to a color-reduced image, comprising:
- computer readable memory storing an image comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel is characterized by an associated color value;
- one or more processors configured to generate a color-reduced image by setting the associated color value of each pixel in the image to a nearest color in a predetermined reduced set of colors;
- one or more processors configured to iteratively, until the total number of colors in the color-reduced image is not greater than the predetermined maximum color count:
- identify pairs of colors in the color-reduced image,
- select an identified color pair comprising a first color and a second color, and
- set the associated color value of all pixels in the color-reduced image characterized by an associated color value equal to the first color to the second color;
- wherein the selected identified color pair is selected based on color similarity and on edge characteristics of boundaries between regions in the color-reduced image comprising pixels characterized by the first color of the selected identified color pair and regions in the color-reduced image comprising pixels characterized by the second color of the selected identified color pair.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.