Image selection and masking using imported depth information

摘要

A method, process, and associated systems for automatically selecting and masking areas of a still image or video clip using imported depth information. An image-editing or video-editing application receives a set of depth values that are each associated with an area of a still image or video frame. Each depth value identifies the distance from the camera position of an object depicted by the area associated with the depth value. When a user directs the application to automatically select or mask a region of the image or frame, the application uses the depth values to automatically choose which pixels to include in the selection or mask such that the selection or mask best approximates an area of the image or frame that represents a three-dimensional object.

主权项

1. A method of using imported depth information to mask or select areas of a first digital image, the method comprising:
a processor of a computer system receiving a first set of depth values associated with the first digital image, wherein the first digital image comprises a first set of pixels, wherein each pixel of the first set of pixels is associated with a corresponding depth value of the set of depth values, wherein each pixel of the first set of pixels is further associated with a corresponding set of graphical values of a plurality of sets of graphical values, wherein each value of the corresponding set of graphical values identifies a value of a property of a set of graphical properties, and wherein the corresponding set of graphical values does not comprise a depth value; the processor formatting the first set of depth values into a depth map; the processor embedding the depth map into the first digital image as metadata; the processor accepting a command to identify a first subset of the first set of pixels; the processor, in response to the command, identifying a boundary of the first subset, wherein the boundary comprises a second subset of the first set of pixels, and wherein the processor identifies the second subset as a function of the depth map.