PHOTO AND TEMPLATE CRAFT AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Abstract

Improvements to a craft kit that enable receiving a photograph and generating a template of the photograph include components for printing the template on adhesive-backed canvas for mounting to a panel or frame, entering a product code to enable generation of the template, generating the template in color and enabling the colored template to be printed or submitted for production of a piece of artwork. Further improvements include enabling the user to select one or more themes for use in generating the template wherein the template is then generated with at least one shape associated with theme, enabling the user to select one or more particular shapes for incorporation into the template, and generating the template with one or more images associated with an organization, such as a logo, a character, or a caricature.

Claims

1. A method comprising: entering a product code to enable completion of a template that is generated from a photograph.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said entering of a product code to enable completion of a template that is generated from a photograph comprises enabling at least one of (i) a photograph to be input, (ii) a photograph to be cropped, (iii) a template based on an input photograph to be completed, (iv) a template based on an input photograph to be colored or for coloration of the template to be completed, (v) a template based on an input photograph to be printed, and (vi) a template based on an input photograph to be submitted for production of artwork based on said submitted template.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a template including at least one shape that is indicative of a shape associated with an organization.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said generating a template including at least one shape that is indicative of a shape associated with an organization comprises generating a template that includes a shape indicative of at least one of a logo, a caricature, and a character.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a template including at least one shape that is indicative of a shape associated with a selected theme.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a template including at least one shape that is selected by the user.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating said template and enabling printing of said template.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating said template and enabling a download of said template.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating said template and enabling submission of said template for use in producing a piece of artwork.

10. The method of claim 9, said method further comprising receiving a submitted template, printing said submitted template, and mounting or framing the printed template.

11. The method of claim 9, said method further comprising receiving a submitted template, printing said submitted template, and sending said printed template to an address.

12. The method of claim 9, said method further comprising receiving said completed template and hand-finishing said completed template by placing color on the template.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating methods of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a flowchart 10 of a method of the present invention. At step 11, a user purchases or is provided an artwork product according to the invention. This product may be as simple as packaging and/or instructions for completing the product or may also include a frame or panel and one or more adhesive backed pieces of canvas. The product includes a uniquely generated code as described herein.

[0029] At step 12, the user uses an online software application and/or website user interface that interfaces with template generation software of the invention to enter the code. It should be understood that entering the code enables completion of the artwork product and can be entered at any step of the process. As an example, the system prompts the user to enter the code in a field and, upon entry of the code, the user is able to upload the photo at step 14.

[0030] At step 14, the user uploads a photo, such as a photo of the user or a friend or family member.

[0031] At step 16, the user may crop the photo (or skip this step if cropping is not desired).

[0032] At optional step 18a, the user selects a theme from a list of provided themes for generating the template so that at least some of its areas are defined by items corresponding to the selected theme or at optional step 18b the user selects a number of individual objects for use as some of the areas of the template to be generated.

[0033] At step 20, the template is generated and displayed to the user on a display screen of a user's device. In embodiments in which the generated template includes one or more themes or individual objects selected by the user, such objects are incorporated into the template. In embodiments (as described herein) in which the template is to correspond to a particular organization (such as Disney), one or more of the template areas are displayed as images (such as characters, known images or logos) corresponding to the organization.

[0034] At step 22a (according to embodiments), the user selects to print the template. As described, in one embodiment the template is printed to be completed by the end user (at step 23) with markers or paints according to instructions (which may be in the kit or printed with the template; the markers/paints may or may not be included in the kit). In another embodiment, the colored template is printed on a colored printer for display by the end user (such as in step 23 adhering it to the panel, placing in a frame, etc.). At step 22b (according to embodiments), the user selects to submit the template. At step 24, the submitted template is received and used to produce a professional quality piece of artwork (as described herein, such as printing on canvas and professionally mounting, printed on quality art paper and mounted or framed, etc., hand finished by an artist who paints or colors the shaped areas and the finished art is mounted or framed, etc.) and in this embodiment the produced artwork is shipped to the user.

[0035] It should be understood that embodiments and features herein may be combined. It should be understood that the foregoing is not limiting but illustrative. It should be understood that entry of the code to enable completion of the artwork may be completed at any step of the process including at the beginning, at the end just before printing or submitting the template, or at any step in between including partial template generation and display and then entering the code to complete its generation.