Method for displaying selected hairstyles in video form

Claim 1

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video image of at least one hairstyle; processing the captured video image of the hairstyle to render it adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes; capturing the video image of a customer's face; and combining the video image of the hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle image is performed only once for each captured hairstyle, and includes adding "fill" hair to the hairstyle video image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle video image and the customer's face image includes automatically deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the customer's face image, whereby the hairstyle video image is combined with the customer's face image without unnatural gaps between the customer's face image and the hairstyle image, without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle image over the customer'face image, and without the need of operator intervention.

Claim 2

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video image of at least one hairstyle; processing the captured video image of the hairstyle to render it adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes; capturing the video image of a customer's face; and combining the video image of the hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle image is performed only once for each captured hairstyle, and includes adding "fill" hair to the hairstyle video image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle video image and the customer's face image includes automatically deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the customer's face image, whereby the hairstyle video image is combined with the customer's face image without unnatural gaps between the customer's face image and the hairstyle image, without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle image over the customer'face image, and without the need of operator intervention.

Claim 7

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video images of a plurality of hairstyles; processing the captured video images of the hairstyles to render them adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes, and to include a variety of color versions; capturing the video image of a customer's face; selecting one of the hairstyles of which the video images have been captured and processed; and combining the video image of the selected hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle images is performed only once for each captured hairstyle, and includes adding "fill" hair to each said selected hairstyle image in a region covering a region of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the selected hairstyle image and the face image includes automatically deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the face image, whereby the hairstyle image is combined with the face image without unnatural overlaying the hairstyle over the face, and without the need or operator intervention.

Claim 8

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video images of a plurality of hairstyles; processing the captured video images of the hairstyles to render them adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes, and to include a variety of color versions; capturing the video image of a customer's face; selecting one of the hairstyles of which the video images have been captured and processed; and combining the video image of the selected hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle images is performed only once for each captured hairstyle, and includes adding "fill" hair to each said selected hairstyle image in a region covering a region of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the selected hairstyle image and the face image includes automatically deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the face image, whereby the hairstyle image is combined with the face image without unnatural overlaying the hairstyle over the face, and without the need or operator intervention.

Claim 11

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video image of at least one hairstyle; processing the captured video image of the hairstyle to render it adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes; capturing the video image of a customer's face; and combining the video image of the hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle image includes adding "fill" hair to the hairstyle video image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle video image and the customer's face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the customer's face image, whereby the hairstyle video image is combined with the customer's face image without unnatural gaps between the customer's face image and the hairstyle image and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle image over the customer's face image; and wherein the step of combining the images further includes the following steps performed for corresponding picture elements (pixels) in the two images: determining whether the hairstyle image pixel is either real hair, "fill" hair, or neither, determining whether the face image pixel is within the face area, using the hairstyle pixel in the combined image is the hairstyle pixel is of real hair, using the hairstyle pixel in the combined image if the hairstyle pixel is of "fill" hair and the face pixel is not within the face area, and using the face pixel if the hairstyle pixel is of "fill" hair and the face pixel is within the face area, or if the hairstyle pixel is of neither real nor "fill" hair.

Claim 12

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video image of at least one hairstyle; processing the captured video image of the hairstyle to render it adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes; capturing the video image of a customer's face; and combining the video image of the hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle image includes adding "fill" hair to the hairstyle video image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle video image and the customer's face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the customer's face image, whereby the hairstyle video image is combined with the customer's face image without unnatural gaps between the customer's face image and the hairstyle image and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle image over the customer's face image; and wherein the step of combining the images further includes the following steps performed for corresponding picture elements (pixels) in the two images: determining whether the hairstyle image pixel is either real hair, "fill" hair, or neither, determining whether the face image pixel is within the face area, using the hairstyle pixel in the combined image is the hairstyle pixel is of real hair, using the hairstyle pixel in the combined image if the hairstyle pixel is of "fill" hair and the face pixel is not within the face area, and using the face pixel if the hairstyle pixel is of "fill" hair and the face pixel is within the face area, or if the hairstyle pixel is of neither real nor "fill" hair.

Claim 14

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video image of at least one hairstyle; processing the captured video image of the hairstyle to render it adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes; capturing the video image of a customer's face; combining the video image of the hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; and blending the colors of the hair and face images in a region close to a line where the hair and face images meet, wherein the step of blending includes selecting a face pixel immediately adjacent to a hair pixel, for each primary color, determining the average primary color intensity for the selected pixel and for all pixels adjacent to the selected pixel, provided at least one of the adjacent pixels is a hair pixel, replacing the primary color intensities indicative of the color of the selected pixel with the averaged values of primary color intensities, and repeating these steps of to lend the color of all face pixels adjacent to a hair pixel; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle image includes adding "fill" hair to the hairstyle video image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle video image and the customer's face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the customer's face image, whereby the hairstyle video image is combined with the customer's face image without unnatural gaps between the customer's face image and the hairstyle image and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle image over the customer's face image.

Claim 15

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video image of at least one hairstyle; processing the captured video image of the hairstyle to render it adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes; capturing the video image of a customer's face; combining the video image of the hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; and blending the colors of the hair and face images in a region close to a line where the hair and face images meet, wherein the step of blending includes selecting a face pixel immediately adjacent to a hair pixel, for each primary color, determining the average primary color intensity for the selected pixel and for all pixels adjacent to the selected pixel, provided at least one of the adjacent pixels is a hair pixel, replacing the primary color intensities indicative of the color of the selected pixel with the averaged values of primary color intensities, and repeating these steps of to lend the color of all face pixels adjacent to a hair pixel; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle image includes adding "fill" hair to the hairstyle video image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle video image and the customer's face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the customer's face image, whereby the hairstyle video image is combined with the customer's face image without unnatural gaps between the customer's face image and the hairstyle image and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle image over the customer's face image.

Claim 16

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video images of a plurality of hairstyles; processing the captured video images of the hairstyles to render them adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes, and to include a variety of color versions; capturing the video image of a customer's face; selecting one of the hairstyles of which the video images have been captured and processed; and combining the video image of the selected hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle images includes adding "fill" hair to each said selected hairstyle image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the selected hairstyle image and the face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the face image, whereby the hairstyle image is combined with the face image without unnatural gaps between the face and the hairstyle and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle over the face; and wherein the step of combining the images further includes the following steps performed for corresponding picture elements (pixels) in the two images: determining whether the hairstyle image pixel is either real hair, "fill" hair, or neither, determining whether the face image pixel is within the face area, using the hairstyle pixel in the combined image if the hairstyle pixel is of real hair, using the hairstyle pixel in the combined image if the hairstyle pixel is of "fill" hair and the face pixel is not within the face area, and using the face pixel if the hairstyle pixel is of "fill" hair and the face pixel is within the face area, or if the hairstyle pixel is of neither real nor "fill" hair.

Claim 17

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video images of a plurality of hairstyles; processing the captured video images of the hairstyles to render them adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes, and to include a variety of color versions; capturing the video image of a customer's face; selecting one of the hairstyles of which the video images have been captured and processed; and combining the video image of the selected hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle images includes adding "fill" hair to each said selected hairstyle image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the selected hairstyle image and the face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the face image, whereby the hairstyle image is combined with the face image without unnatural gaps between the face and the hairstyle and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle over the face; and wherein the step of combining the images further includes the following steps performed for corresponding picture elements (pixels) in the two images: determining whether the hairstyle image pixel is either real hair, "fill" hair, or neither, determining whether the face image pixel is within the face area, using the hairstyle pixel in the combined image if the hairstyle pixel is of real hair, using the hairstyle pixel in the combined image if the hairstyle pixel is of "fill" hair and the face pixel is not within the face area, and using the face pixel if the hairstyle pixel is of "fill" hair and the face pixel is within the face area, or if the hairstyle pixel is of neither real nor "fill" hair.

Claim 21

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video images of a plurality of hairstyles; processing the captured video images of the hairstyles to render them adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes, and to include a variety of color versions; capturing the video image of customer's face; selecting one of the hairstyles of which the video images have been captured and processed; combining the video image of the selected hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; and blending the colors of the hair and face images in a region close to a line where the hair and face images meet, wherein the step of bending includes selecting a face pixel immediately adjacent to a hair pixel, for each primary color, determining the average primary color intensity for the selected pixel and for all pixels adjacent to the selected pixel, provided at least one of the adjacent pixels in a hair pixel, replacing the primary color intensities indicative of the color of the selected pixel with the averaged values of primary color intensities, and repeating these steps to blend the color of all face pixels adjacent to a hair pixel; and wherein the step of processing the hairstyle image includes adding "fill" hair to each said selected hairstyle image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the selected hairstyle image and the face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the face image, whereby the hairstyle image is combined with the face image without unnatural gaps between the face and the hairstyle and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle over the face.

Claim 22

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video images of a plurality of hairstyles; processing the captured video images of the hairstyles to render them adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes, and to include a variety of color versions; capturing the video image of customer's face; selecting one of the hairstyles of which the video images have been captured and processed; combining the video image of the selected hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; and blending the colors of the hair and face images in a region close to a line where the hair and face images meet, wherein the step of bending includes selecting a face pixel immediately adjacent to a hair pixel, for each primary color, determining the average primary color intensity for the selected pixel and for all pixels adjacent to the selected pixel, provided at least one of the adjacent pixels in a hair pixel, replacing the primary color intensities indicative of the color of the selected pixel with the averaged values of primary color intensities, and repeating these steps to blend the color of all face pixels adjacent to a hair pixel; and wherein the step of processing the hairstyle image includes adding "fill" hair to each said selected hairstyle image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the selected hairstyle image and the face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the face image, whereby the hairstyle image is combined with the face image without unnatural gaps between the face and the hairstyle and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle over the face.

Claim 23

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video image of at least one hairstyle; predefining the hairstyle image to include "real" hair portions and "fill" hair portions; processing the captured video image of the hairstyle to render it adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes; capturing the video image of a customer's face; predefining the video image of the customer's face to include a "face area" portion that must not be dominated by "fill" hair elements of the hairstyle image; and combining the video image of the hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle image includes adding "fill" hair to the hairstyle video image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle video image and the customer's face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the customer's face image, whereby the hairstyle video image is combined with the customer's face image without unnatural gaps between the customer's face image and the hairstyle image and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle image over the customer's face image; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle image and the customer face image further includes displaying the "real" hair image in preference to corresponding elements of the face image, displaying the "face area" image in preference to corresponding elements of the "fill" hair, and displaying the "fill" hair image if not within corresponding elements of the "face area".

Claim 24

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video image of at least one hairstyle; predefining the hairstyle image to include "real" hair portions and "fill" hair portions; processing the captured video image of the hairstyle to render it adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes; capturing the video image of a customer's face; predefining the video image of the customer's face to include a "face area" portion that must not be dominated by "fill" hair elements of the hairstyle image; and combining the video image of the hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle image includes adding "fill" hair to the hairstyle video image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle video image and the customer's face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the customer's face image, whereby the hairstyle video image is combined with the customer's face image without unnatural gaps between the customer's face image and the hairstyle image and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle image over the customer's face image; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle image and the customer face image further includes displaying the "real" hair image in preference to corresponding elements of the face image, displaying the "face area" image in preference to corresponding elements of the "fill" hair, and displaying the "fill" hair image if not within corresponding elements of the "face area".

Claim 25

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video images of a plurality of hairstyles; predefining the hairstyle images to include "real" hair portions and "fill" hair portions; processing the captured video images of the hairstyles to render them adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes, and to include a variety of color versions; capturing the video image of a customer's face; predefining the video image of the customer's face to include a "face area" portion that must not be dominated by "fill" hair elements of the hairstyle image; selecting one of the hairstyles of which the video images have been captured and processed; and combining the video image of the selected hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle images includes adding "fill" hair to each said selected hairstyle image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the selected hairstyle image and the face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the face image, whereby the hairstyle image is combined with the face image without unnatural gaps between the face and the hairstyle and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle over the face; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle image and the customer face image further includes displaying the "real" hair image in preference to corresponding elements of the face image, displaying the "face area" image in preference to corresponding elements of the "fill" hair, and displaying the "fill" hair image is not within corresponding elements of the "face area."

Claim 26

A method for displaying hairstyle images on a video image of a customer's face, comprising the steps of: capturing the video images of a plurality of hairstyles; predefining the hairstyle images to include "real" hair portions and "fill" hair portions; processing the captured video images of the hairstyles to render them adaptable to a variety of face sizes and shapes, and to include a variety of color versions; capturing the video image of a customer's face; predefining the video image of the customer's face to include a "face area" portion that must not be dominated by "fill" hair elements of the hairstyle image; selecting one of the hairstyles of which the video images have been captured and processed; and combining the video image of the selected hairstyle with the video image of the customer's face, in such a manner that the hairstyle image fits naturally about the face image; wherein the step of processing the hairstyle images includes adding "fill" hair to each said selected hairstyle image in a region covering a range of size and shape adjustability; and wherein the step of combining the selected hairstyle image and the face image includes deleting "fill" hair that would otherwise cover the face image, whereby the hairstyle image is combined with the face image without unnatural gaps between the face and the hairstyle and without unnaturally overlaying the hairstyle over the face; and wherein the step of combining the hairstyle image and the customer face image further includes displaying the "real" hair image in preference to corresponding elements of the face image, displaying the "face area" image in preference to corresponding elements of the "fill" hair, and displaying the "fill" hair image is not within corresponding elements of the "face area."