WO2001062013A1

WO2001062013A1 - Camera device

Info

Publication number: WO2001062013A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/000231
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leif BJÖRKLUND
Original assignee: Bjoerklund Leif
Priority date: 2000-02-15
Filing date: 2001-02-07
Publication date: 2001-08-23
Also published as: SE0000475L; AU3254601A; SE0000475D0

Abstract

Device comprising a wide angle camera (1) which is connected to a Croma Key equipment, such as an image mixer (7), and a background (2) in Croma colour. Screens (3) in Croma colour are located partly in front of the lens of the camera (1), the space between the screens (3) being sufficient to make it possible for the camera (1) to film/photograph for example a person being present behind the screens (3) but in front of the background (2). A camera (1) will apprehend the background (2) and the screens (3) as one integrated area in Croma colour covering the view of vision (5) of the camera (1).

Description

CAMERA DEVICE

The present invention relates to an arrangement comprising a wide angel camera which is connected to Croma Key equipment, such as a an image mixer, and to a background in Croma colour.

Croma Key is a known technique, the object of which is to make a camera film for example a person in front of a background in Croma colour, most often Croma blue or Croma green. The signals from the camera enter the first channel in an image mixer for Croma Key and into the second channel of the mixer is supplied a background film or a stationary background picture. In the image mixer the Croma- colour background from the camera is exchanged for the background film or a picture. This is generally shown in real time on a monitor or recorded on film. This technique is very often used in connection with forecast reports on tv but also in film production, for example to produce tricknumbers .

In order for a person, as far as his body size is concerned, to fit in with the film, the background must be sufficient large to make the person appear only as a portion of the film area. The smaller the portion of the total area which represents the person, the larger background is required. Often there is need for a substantial wall of about 10 m² but sometimes, for a certain film production type, complete halls are painted in Croma colour .

One object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement which reduces the need for a large background.

This object is realised with the aid of an arrangement according to the first paragraph above, additionally comprising also screens in Croma colour, placed partly in front of the camera lens, the space between the screens then being sufficiently wide to allow the camera to film/photograph for example a person behind the screens but in front of the background, whereby the camera will conceive the background and the screens as an integral Croma-coloured area covering its view vision.

According to one embodiment, at least one moveable extra screen in Croma colour may be inserted in the space between the screens to screen off a portion of the filmed/photographed person.

The background anc the screens are preferably illuminated at an equally high luminance and do exhibit the same Croma colour.

The invention is based on a wish to make it possible to reduce the large background required to film a person which, as far as his body size in concerned, shall be incorporated in a film so that this can be carried out e.g. in a space corresponding to a automatic photographing cabin for passport pictures .

Exemplifying embodiments of the invention are described below, reference being made to the enclosed drawings.

Fig. 1 shows in a top view a diagrammatic sketch of the device according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a moveable additional screen.

Fig. 3 illustrates practical use of a preferred embodiment.

Fig. 4 exemplifies an image produced according to the invention.

In fig. 1 there has been shown the basic arrangement of the parts included in the subject of the invention. A camera 1 having a wide angle lens is directed towards a background 2 and in front of the lens of the camera 1 two screens 3 are located. For example one or more persons 4 can be present behind the screens 3 but in front of the background 2 for the purpose of becoming filmed or photographed by the camera 1. The background 2 and the screens 3 are in Croma colour. They can be painted in different Croma colours but the best result is achieved when the different parts have the same Croma colour. The screens 3 can be seen as a kind of foreground.

The camera 1 has a view of vision 5 illustrated in dotted lines 5' . The screens 3 cut off the lateral coverage, or view of vision 6, of the camera in relation to the background 2 as marked with dashed line 6' . Stated more correctly, the narrow background 2 is expanded by the screens 3 close to the camera 1, so that the camera is " deceived" to observe a complete background composed by screens 3 and the background 2 , covering all of the view of vision 5 of camera 1. This is the inventive concept of the invention.

Camera 1 is connected to a Croma Key equipment, the principle being that the signals from the camera 1 are supplied to a first channel in an image mixer 7, a background film or background picture being supplied to the second channel of the mixer 7, in which mixer 7 the Croma-coloured background image, meaning in this case screens 3 and background 2, in the first channel is replaced by a background pictures/-film in the second channel. The resulting mixed image is passed on to a monitor 8 or for instance recorded in a videotape recorder (not shown) . The camera 1 does also film or photograph the person 4 which by the camera 1 is viewed in the smaller sector 6 corresponding to the background 2, this is being mixed with the background film/- image in the mixer 7 whereby the result shown on the monitor 8 or recorded in a videotape recorder will be apprehended as if the person where included in the background/ - image .

In order to establish further effects a moveable additional screen 9 in Croma colour can be inserted between the stationary screens 3 so that a portion of the person 4 will be hidden, compare fig. 2, which can be necessary if the intention is to give the impression of the person being seated in a car or swimming in a pool for example. The moveable extra screen 9 is moved so that it covers just such portion of the person required for each variation of the background film/-image. The extra screen 9 is preferably controlled by a computer program in a computer 15, also covering the background film/ -images and having a correct setting pre-programmed for each background film or image, respectively.

If desired it is naturally possible to limit the view of the camera also in vertical direction with the use of Croma- coloured screens .

The Croma- coloured parts, i.e. the background 2, the screens 3 and the additional screen 9, should be illuminated at the same luminance so that they are run into a single, complete background. They should be uniformly illuminated without any shadows. The illumination of a person 4 should preferably be weaker than that of the background sections .

In fig. 1, which is a diagrammatic sketch, the screens 3 are arranged in angel position in relation the camera 1. They can be located at any angle, even flat before the camera 1 as long as the desired effect is attained.

A bonus effect resulting from both the background 2 and a " foreground" 3 being in Croma colour is that the mixed result gets a considerable depth, so that the person is apprehended as being inside the film/picture, which gives a more realistic impression.

Example of practical use of a preferred embodiment, illustrated in fig. 3, will now be explained. One difference in comparising with the diagrammatic illustration in fig. 1 is that the camera 1 is angled more towards one of the screens 3. A purpose of this is to make it possible to use about half the area 10 of the resulting image to show the person, where as the rest, 11, of resulting picture shows the added background. This has been illustrated in fig. 4. Also shown there is the use of the extra screen 9 which cuts off the lower portion 12 of the person. Camera 1 can of course be angled as desired, for example as called for by the background film or image.

The camera 1 and the screens 3 are provided at the one end of a cabin- like space similar to a photographic automat for passport photos, preferably behind an inner wall 13 vith an opening for the camera 1. The background 2 is located at the opposite wall. Behind the inner wall 13 is also the other Croma Key equipment, such as the image mixer 7 and the computer 15, which is provided with background films or images and controls the moveable additional screen 9. A person 4 can enter the cabin through a door or opening 14. When inside the person 4 can select a film section and in real time look at himself on a monitor 8 which preferably is at eye level next to the opening for the camera 1 on the inner wall 13. The sound related to the film section is naturally played at the same time in order to increase the effect. If desired still pictures can be stored and then printed out on for instance paper, sweaters, mugs or the like. Also, a film section can be stored in a video cassette.

Claims

1. Device comprising a wide angle camera (1) which i's connected to Croma Key equipment, such as an image mixer (7) , and a background (2) in Croma colour, characterised in that screens (3) in Croma colour are located partly in front of the lens of the camera (1) , the space between the screens 3 being sufficient to allow the camera (1) to film/photograph e.g. a person (4) being present behind the screens (3) but in front of the background (2), whereby the camera (1) will conceive the background (2) and the screens (3) as an integral Croma coloured area covering the image scope (5) of the camera (1) .

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein which at least one additional screen (9) in Croma colour is insertable into the space between the screens (3) in order to screen off a portion of the filmed/photographed person.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the background (2) and the screens (3, 9) exhibit the same Croma colour.

4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 , wherein the background (2) and the screens (3, 9) are illuminated at the same luminance .