Christopher J Dobbs

US Patent:

51307898, Jul 14, 1992

Filed:

Dec 13, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/449163

Inventors:

Christopher M. Dobbs - Florence MA
Robert M. Goodwin - Rochester NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

H04N 146

US Classification:

358 75

Abstract:

A mechanism for recoloring a color image defines a spatial region within the image (such as the pupil of the eye) a color characteristic of which (e. g. the `red-eye` phenomenon) is to be selectively modified. To determine whether the color of an image sample within a spatial region is to be modified, the value of the chrominance component of each sample within the region is compared with a regularly shaped (e. g. elliptical) chrominance variation discriminator that surrounds a target color of interest (e. g. red, in the case of a `red-eye` correction). The major axis of the ellipse coincides with the saturation direction of the chrominance plane and its minor axis coincides with the hue direction. For each sampling location within the spatial region, the value of the chrominance component is examined to determine whether it falls within the elliptical chrominance discriminator. If the value of the chrominance component falls within the ellipse, it is modified to a destination chrominance value, based upon where the chrominance value of the sampled of interest falls, so as to soften the color at its edges.