METHOD FOR OBTAINING 360° PANORAMA IMAGES TO BE CONTINUOUSLY DISPLAYED BY A TWO-DIMENSIONAL MEDIUM ON A CYLINDRICAL OR CONICAL REFLECTING SURFACE THAT SIMULATES THE ACTUAL VIEW

Abstract

Anamorphic system for the acquisition, post-production and reproduction of 360 panorama images on three-dimensional objects, suitable for the representation of panorama images deformed according to the principle of anamorphosis on a two-dimensional medium, the image being adapted to be reflected on the outer surface of a three-dimensional medium positioned centrally with respect to the two-dimensional medium; the system including: (A) acquisition: wherein 360 photography shots are taken around the object; the photography shots equidistant from the object and provided with focals; the photography shots also having a mutual superimposition included between 30% and 40% of the image; the acquisition step occurring over time, for acquiring shots of the entire object; (B) post-production: wherein the photography shots are edited to generate the deformed image; (C) reproduction of the image on a two-dimensional medium, the image provided with a central hole; and (D) positioning a three-dimensional medium at the central hole.

Claims

1. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, suitable for the representation of panorama images (1) that are deformed according to the principle of anamorphosis on any two-dimensional medium (10), said image (1) being suitable to be reflected on the outer surface (2) of a corresponding three-dimensional medium (20) suitable to be positioned centrally with respect to said two-dimensional medium (10); said system utilizing a corresponding method constituted by the following subsequent steps: (A) acquisition: wherein a user takes a plurality of photography shots covering a 360 orbit around the object to be reproduced; said photography shots being provided with the same distance from the object to be reproduced and being provided with focals; said photography shots also being provided with a mutual superimposition comprised between 20% and 50%; said acquisition step (A) occurring several times during the day or over multiple days, for acquiring photography shots taken from the same viewpoint, with the same angle and with the same opening of the lens, of the entire object to be reproduced hit by sunlight or artificial night lighting; said acquisition step (A) being carried out using any image capturing device, both of the automatic adjustment digital type; (B) post-production: wherein said photography shots are digitally edited, said post-production step (B) being suitable to generate the image (1) that is deformed according to the principles of anamorphosis: (B1) correction, wherein any focal aberrations of the previously acquired photography shots are corrected; (B2) assembly, wherein said previously acquired and corrected photography shots are arranged adjacent to each other in a common photomontage; (B3) linear panorama, wherein from the previously generated photomontage, a rectangular panorama image is created that is provided with a height/length ratio comprised between 4.5 and 2.5; (B4) cutting, wherein from the rectangular panorama image the upper edge and the lower edge are cut in order to make said edges straight; said cutting of the upper edge being carried out at a distance from the upper border of said rectangular panorama image comprised between 1 cm and 8 cm; said cutting of the lower edge being carried out at a distance from the lower border of said rectangular panorama image comprised between 0.2 cm and 5 cm; (B5) saving, wherein the image obtained from the previous cutting step (B4) is saved in digital format by setting dimensions comprised between 10080 and 4020; (B6) stretching, wherein the image obtained from the previous saving step (B5) is deformed height-wise by setting dimensions comprised between 100100 and 2020; (B7) rotation, wherein the deformed image obtained from the previous stretching step (B6) is rotated by 180, or overturned; (B8) transformation, wherein said image (1) is obtained by modifying the settings of the coordinates of the deformed and overturned image, obtained from the previous rotation step (B7), from rectangular to polar, thus generating said circular crown-shaped image (1), provided with an outer radius (R) and an inner radius (r); (C) reproducing the image (1) obtained from the previous post-production step (B) on a two-dimensional medium (10); said image (1) being provided with a central hole (11) corresponding to the observation point suitable to provide the correct viewpoint for returning the correct panorama image; (D) positioning a three-dimensional medium (20), associated to said two-dimensional medium (10), at said central hole (11) of said image (1); said three-dimensional medium (20) being provided with a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape and also being provided with a mirroring outer surface (2), said outer surface (2) being suitable to reproduce said image (1), represented on said two-dimensional medium (10), thus enabling a correct display thereof.

2. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 1, wherein said step (A) for acquiring said photography shots is carried out from a fixed observation point and said photography shots are taken by rotating the viewpoint by a predetermined number of degrees.

3. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 1, wherein in said acquisition step (A), said photography shots are acquired so as to enable covering between 6% and 9% of the object image or the environment to be reproduced, with a number of photography shots comprised between 40 and 60.

4. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 1, wherein said step (B1) for correcting focal aberrations is carried out using a common dedicated software.

5. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 1, wherein said assembly (B2), linear panorama (B3), cutting (B4), saving (B5), stretching (B6), rotation (B7) and transformation (B8) steps, are carried out using a common dedicated software.

6. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 1, wherein said image (1) is provided with a height (R-r) given by the difference between said outer radius (R) and said inner radius (r); said height (R-r) being comprised between a value equal to of the height of said outer surface (2) of said three-dimensional medium (20) and a value equal to twice the height of said outer surface (2) of said three-dimensional medium (20).

7. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 1, wherein said two-dimensional medium (10) is constituted by a common saucer and said three-dimensional medium (20) is constituted by a common small coffee cup.

8. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 1, wherein said two-dimensional medium (10) is constituted by a common beverage coaster and said three-dimensional medium (20) is constituted by a common drinking glass, mug, pint or the like.

9. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 1, wherein said two-dimensional medium (10) is constituted by a common sheet made of paper material suitable to reversibly open in a book-like fashion and said three-dimensional medium (20) is constituted by a common cylinder made of paper material suitable to reversibly rise at the opening of said two-dimensional medium (10), the entirety forming a common pop-up card.

10. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 1, wherein said two-dimensional medium (10) is constituted by a common paper element suitable to reversibly wrap a common bottle, the latter constituting said three-dimensional medium (20); said two-dimensional medium (10) being suitable to be opened on the support surface, uncovering the image (1) and uncovering said mirroring outer surface (2) of said three-dimensional medium (20).

11. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 1, wherein said three-dimensional medium (20) is constituted by a common furnishing element and said two-dimensional medium (10) is constituted by a common floor or by a common mat surrounding said three-dimensional medium (10).

12. The method of claim 1, wherein: in the acquisition step, the focals are 35 mm, the mutual superimposition is comprised between 30% and 40% of the image and captured using any high definition mode, and the acquisition step is carried out using an image capturing device of the manual adjustment analog type; in the post-production step, the rectangular panorama image is created that is provided with a height/length ratio of 3.88, said cutting of the upper edge is carried out at a distance from the upper border of said rectangular panorama image of 4 cm, said cutting of the lower edge being carried out at a distance from the lower border of said rectangular panorama image of 2 cm, the image obtained from the cutting step (B4) is saved in digital format by setting dimensions comprised between 7040, the image obtained from the saving step (B5) is deformed height-wise by setting dimensions of 7070; and in the step of reproducing the image, the two-dimensional medium is circular-shaped;

13. The method of claim 4, wherein said step (B1) for correcting focal aberrations is carried out using the software called Camera Raw.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein said assembly (B2), linear panorama (B3), cutting (B4), saving (B5), stretching (B6), rotation (B7) and transformation (B8) steps, are carried out using the software called Photoshop.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein said height (R-r) of said image (1) is equal to the height of said outer surface (2) of said three-dimensional medium (20).

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the common furnishing element is a counter, a reception, or a desk.

17. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 2, wherein in said acquisition step (A), said photography shots are acquired so as to enable covering between 6% and 9% of the object image or the environment to be reproduced, with a number of photography shots comprised between 40 and 60.

18. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 2, wherein said step (B1) for correcting focal aberrations is carried out using a common dedicated software.

19. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 3, wherein said step (B1) for correcting focal aberrations is carried out using a common dedicated software.

20. Method for obtaining 360 panorama images to be continuously displayed by a two-dimensional medium on a cylindrical or conical reflecting surface that simulates the actual view, according to claim 2, wherein said assembly (B2), linear panorama (B3), cutting (B4), saving (B5), stretching (B6), rotation (B7) and transformation (B8) steps, are carried out using a common dedicated software.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] The invention will be described hereinbelow in at least one embodiment as a non-limiting example with the aid of the enclosed figures, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the system for the acquisition, post-production and reproduction of the image on the two-dimensional medium.

[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates the schematization of the anamorphic principle of deformation of the image.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows several possible forms of objects and of decorations made with the system of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows several steps of the postproduction of the images.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The present invention will now be illustrated as a merely non-limiting or non-constraining example, making use of the figures which illustrate several embodiments relative to the present inventive concept.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 2, the principle of anamorphic deformation of the images is shown, on which the present invention is based. This technique has been known for centuries; due to the multiple applications that the present system allows, it can give rise to decorative or commemorative objects of particular effect on the observer. Some of these objects are represented in FIGS. 3.a, 3.b, 3.c, 3.d but are not limiting in any manner, allowing the system described in detail hereinbelow to be applied to very small objects, with which various forms of souvenirs can be attained, medium-size objects such as furnishing, furniture etc., and large-size objects, including monumental or artistic installations in public places.

[0033] The system for the acquisition, post-production and reproduction of the images in fact allows the representation of a monument, hence a single object, or of a square or an open space, over various types of objects.

[0034] Such objects are constituted at least by two elements: a two-dimensional medium 10 and a three-dimensional medium 20. On the first, which has preferably circular form, the deformed image 1 is represented in an anamorphic manner. The three-dimensional medium 20, instead, necessarily has a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical form, and has the outer surface 2 treated with a mirror finish. In this manner, the principle of anamorphosis represented in FIG. 2 is applied to the object in question. The outer surface 2 of the three-dimensional medium 20 in fact will reflect the image 1 represented on the two-dimensional medium 10 so as to eliminate the anamorphic deformations and appear to the observer to be the original object. With reference to FIG. 1, the process is shown for making any one object according to the present invention by means of a block diagram that explains in detail the method of acquisition and post-production in order to obtain the ring-shaped image 1.

[0035] Such image 1 is said ring-shaped image since it has circular form, in order to be reproduced on the two-dimensional medium 10, and is provided with a central hole 11 that corresponds with the position in which the three-dimensional medium 20 comes to be placed for a correct reflection of the deformed image 1.

[0036] The acquisition and post-production method consists of the following successive steps: [0037] A) the acquisition: wherein a user carries out a plurality of photography shots that can be retrieved in two modes based on the object types that one wishes to reproduce. If the object is a monument or the like, the shots must be made in orbital mode, hence covering an orbit of 360 around the object itself. In this case, said photography shots must be equidistant from the object. If, however, the object is an open space or a square, acquisition A of said photography shots must be carried out from a fixed observation point while the camera is rotated each time by a predetermined number of degrees. More in detail, in each case, the shots must have focals, preferably 35 mm, preferably be taken in high-definition, preferably in the mode known with the acronym HDR, and they must have a mutual superimposition comprised between 20% and 50%, preferably between 30% and 40% of the image. In addition, said acquisition step A can occur several times during the day or over multiple days, such that all the photography shots completely lack shading zones. In order for it to be possible to perform the subsequent post-production steps, the shots captured in the different hourly periods must be taken with the same angle and opening of the lens and, in the case of focal panoramas, from the same viewpoint, while in the case of orbital panoramas along the same perimeter line with respect to the subject matter. For an optimal representation of the object to be reproduced, in said acquisition step A, said photography shots must be acquired such that with a number of shots comprised between 40 and 60, 6% to 9% of the object or of the environment to be reproduced is covered. It is obvious that the present invention is also applied if cameras are used at 360 or if any other image capturing device is used which executes the acquisition in an automatic and instantaneous manner. Therefore, cell phones such as smartphones or tablets or similar devices can also be used. [0038] B) the post-production: wherein the previously acquired photography shots are digitally edited, by using suitable software, in order to generate the ring-shaped deformed image 1 according to the principles of anamorphosis. In turn, the post-production step is divided into the following sub-steps: [0039] B1) the correction of the focal aberrations of the previously-acquired photography shots, preferably carried out by means of the software named Camera Raw or similar software programs; [0040] B2) the assembly, i.e. the photomontage of the correct photography shots next to each other, preferably carried out by means of the software named Photoshop or similar software programs; [0041] B3) the generation of a linear panorama, created by the previously-mentioned photomontage, preferably carried out by means of the software named Photoshop or similar software programs; said linear panorama is a rectangular image provided with length/height ratio comprised between 5 and 2.5, preferably 3.88; [0042] B4) the cutting sub-step, wherein from the rectangular panorama image, the upper edge and the lower edge are cut in order to render said rectilinear edges; preferably the cutting of the upper edge is carried out at a distance from the upper border of the rectangular panorama image comprised between 1 cm and 8 cm, preferably 4 cm; while the cutting of the lower edge is carried out at a distance comprised between 0.2 cm and 5 cm, preferably 2 cm. Also the cutting B4 is preferably carried out by means of the software named Photoshop or similar software programs; [0043] B5) saving, preferably carried by means of the software named Photoshop or similar software programs, wherein the image obtained from the preceding cutting step B4 is saved in digital format by setting dimensions comprised between 10080 and 4020, preferably 7040; [0044] B6) stretching, preferably carried out by means of the software named Photoshop or similar software programs, wherein the image obtained from the preceding saving B5 step is deformed height-wise in order to obtain the necessary anamorphic deformation, by setting dimensions comprised between 100100 and 2020, preferably 7070; [0045] B7) rotation, wherein the deformed image obtained from the preceding stretching step B6 is rotated by 180, or overturned; [0046] B8) transformation, final step of the post-production, it too like the preceding sub-step B7 obtained by using Photoshop or similar software programs, wherein said ring-shaped image 1 is obtained by modifying the settings of the coordinates of the deformed and overturned image, obtained from the preceding rotation step B7, from rectangular to polar. More in detail, said image 1 is provided with a height (R-r) given by the difference between its outer radius R and its inner radius r. For a correct representation, said height (R-r) must be comprised between and twice the height of the reflecting surface 2 of the three-dimensional medium 20. Preferably, said height (R-r) of said ring-shaped image 1 will be equal to the height of the reflecting surface 2.

[0047] Once said anamorphically-deformed ring-shaped image 1 is obtained, one proceeds with its reproduction C on said pre-selected two-dimensional medium 10.

[0048] As previously stated, for the correct display of said image 1, at this point, it is sufficient to carry out the positioning D of said three-dimensional medium 20 at the central hole 11 of the ring-shaped image 1, so thaton the outer surface 2 of said three-dimensional medium 20the correct image is reproduced of the monument or of the space that was previously photographed.

[0049] With reference to FIGS. 3.a, 3.b, 3.c, 3.d1 and 3.d2, only some of the multiple embodiments are shown of the two-dimensional 10 and three-dimensional 20 media on which the present invention is applied.

[0050] FIG. 3(a) shows the application of the present system to an information desk or to a common reception or to a bar counter or similar furnishing. The furnishing itself forms the three-dimensional medium 20, while the two-dimensional medium 10 is constituted by the same floor on which the furnishing abuts. Alternatively, the ring-shaped image 1 can be reproduced on a mat that at least partially surrounds the counter. It is observed that in each case, a circular or semi-circular form of the two-dimensional medium 10 must be maintained along with a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical form of the three-dimensional medium 20.

[0051] FIG. 3(b) illustrates the embodiment in which the two-dimensional medium 10 is a coffee cup saucer and the three-dimensional medium 20 is a common small coffee cup. A similar embodiment is that shown in FIG. 3(c) in which the invention is applied to a beer mug or to its beverage coaster. Generally, all drinking glasses, cups, wine glasses, pints and the like are objects towards which the present invention is easily applied. It suffices to finish the outer surface 2 thereof with a reflecting or mirroring material and provide the object with a saucer or a beverage coaster associated therewith.

[0052] FIGS. 3(d1) and 3(d2), finally, show a further embodiment comprising a common bottle adapted to act as a three-dimensional medium 20, for which, therefore, the outer surface 2 is reflecting or mirroring. In this case, as two-dimensional medium 10, a common paper decorative element was taken, which renders the bottle a typical gift or commemorative object. Hence, at first sight, there does not externally appear to be any component that reveals the application of the present invention to the object in question. Once the paper element is opened, the inner surface thereof bears said ring-shaped image 1. By spreading out the paper element on any one support surface, said ring-shaped image 1 is reflected by the outer surface 2 of the bottle, revealing the application of the invention.

[0053] Among the numerous possible embodiments or better yet for the application of the present invention, there is also that of the pop-up card, i.e. a paper card configured by means of expedients known in the field of paper products in order to ensure that, upon opening the card in a book-like fashion, a paper object is automatically and reversibly upwardly projected. In this case, the inner surface of the card acts as a two-dimensional medium 10, and hence bears the ring-shaped image 1. The three-dimensional medium 20 is constituted by a common paper cylinder with mirroring or reflecting outer surface 2 adapted to reversibly raise and lower at the same time as the opening or closing of the card.

[0054] This embodiment could for example be constituted by a nice object that recalls a voyage or a place that one wishes to remember.

[0055] Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variations can be made to the invention described up to now that are obvious for a man skilled in the art, without departing from the protective scope that is provided by the enclosed claims.