Application of Dimensional Printing Effects to Items Created in a Collage-Based Editor

Abstract

In a photo collage editor implemented in software residing on and executable from a digital medium, a method for configuring a project for three dimensional printing includes the steps (a) displaying in the editor, a page canvas for editing, (b) selecting or highlighting an image or item on the page canvas, (c) invoking a dimensional print effect configuration interface by selecting an interactive button on a toolbar displayed automatically as a result of step (b) or by implementing keyboard shortcut to execute the interface, and (d) selecting an option for applying one or more three dimensional effects from the interface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS[0001]The present application is a divisional application of co-pending application Ser. No. 12 / 838,347, filed Jul. 16, 2010, which is a non-provisional application to provisional application 61 / 227,042, filed Jul. 20, 2009. Priority is claimed to the priority date of the parent application, and the entire disclosure of the parent application is incorporated herein at least by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is in the field of electronic commerce and pertains particularly methods for applying three dimensional print effects to project items subject to edit within an online editor for creating and editing image and or text-based projects.[0004]2. Discussion of the State of the Art[0005]In the field of electronic commerce also known as ecommerce, there are project-oriented Websites where users may create and edit works including models, poems, art, and photo-based products. Websites cat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a method for creating and editing photo-based projects over a data network using a collaborative editing system. The method includes steps for selecting and highlighting an image or item, invoking a dimensional print effect configuration interface, and selecting one or more three-dimensional effects to apply to the item. The system analyzes data relative to the item and determines which areas should be raised and to what depth, resulting in a depth map that instructs a printer which portions of the item to raise and by what additional depth to achieve the three-dimensional print effect. The method improves efficiency and flexibility in creating and editing photo-based projects while minimizing errors and inefficiencies."

Problems solved by technology

The problem stated above is that efficiency and flexibility are desirable in creating and editing photo-based projects over a data network, but many of the conventional means for photo editing, such as Photoshop type editors, also create inefficiencies and can result in error-prone finished products.

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