1. A method performed by a physical computing system for determining a layout of graphic objects (802) according to a layout density map (300), the method comprising:
generating said layout density map (300) comprising low density regions (302) and high density regions (304);
providing a set of candidate locations (402) within said layout density map (300), a number of said candidate locations (402) being equal to a number of said graphic objects (802), said candidate locations (402) being arranged away from said low density regions (302) and from other said candidate locations (402); and
overlaying said layout density map (300) with said graphic objects (802), each said graphic object (802) being disposed at one of said candidate locations (402).
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
applying a halftone function to said layout density map (300) to create an initial set of candidate locations (402);
applying a dropping function to eliminate extra candidate locations (402) in response to there being more said candidate locations (402) than said graphic objects (802); and
adjusting said halftone function to increase said number of said initial set of candidate locations (402) in response to there being fewer said candidate locations (402) than said graphic objects (802).
3. The method of claim any of claims 1 and 2, in which providing said set of candidate locations (402) within said layout density map (300) comprises:
performing an adjustment process on said set of candidate locations (402) to move said candidate locations (402) away from said low density regions (302) and away from each other, said adjustment process comprising, for at least one of said candidate locations (402):
applying a moving process to move said candidate location (402) according to an initial step vector (602) based in part on a distance between said candidate location (402) and said low density regions (302);
iteratively reapplying said moving process until said step vector (602) is reduced to a predetermined size; and
in response to said candidate location (402) oscillating, reducing said step vector (602) and reapplying said moving process with said reduced step vector (602).
4. The method of claim 3, in which said step vector (602) is further based on at least one of a specific density of said low density regions (302) and a position of an alternate candidate location (402).
5. The method of any of claims 1-4, in which said high density regions (304) and said low density regions (302) of said layout density map (300) correspond to respective regions of a background image (200).
6. The method of claim any of claims 1-5, further comprising allocating an overlay area (702) to each said candidate location (402).
7. The method of any of claims 1-6, further comprising assigning a graphic object (802) to a candidate location (402) based on at least one of: a random assignment, a selection made by a user of said physical computing system, and an aspect ratio of said graphic object (802).
8. A computing system comprising:
a processor (104); and
a memory (102) having graphic layout software (106) stored thereon;
in which, said graphic layout software (106) is configured to cause said processor (104) to, upon execution of said graphic layout software (106):
generate a layout density map (300) comprising low density regions (302) and high density regions (304);
provide a set of candidate locations (402) within said layout density map (300), a number of said candidate locations (402) being equal to a number of said graphic objects (802), said candidate locations (402) being arranged away from said low density regions (302) and from other said candidate locations (402); and
overlay said layout density map (300) with said graphic objects (802), each said graphic object (802) being disposed at one of said candidate locations (402).
9. The computing system of claim 8, in which said processor (104) is further configured to:
apply a halftone function to said layout density map (300) to create an initial set of candidate locations (402);
apply a dropping function to eliminate extra candidate locations (402) in response to there being more said candidate locations (402) than said graphic objects (802); and
adjust said halftone function to increase said number of said initial set of candidate locations (402) in response to there being fewer said candidate locations (402) than said graphic objects (802).
10. The computing system of any of claims 8 and 9, in which to provide said set of candidate locations (402) within said layout density map (300), said processor (104) is further configured to:
perform an adjustment function on said set of candidate locations (402) to move said candidate locations (402) away from said low density regions (302) and away from each other, said adjustment process comprising, for at least one of said candidate locations (402):
apply a moving function to move said candidate location (402) by an initial step vector (602) based in part on a distance between said candidate location (402) and said low density regions (302);
iteratively reapply said moving function until said step vector (602) is reduced to a predetermined size; and
in response to said candidate location (402) oscillating, reduce said step vector (602) and reapplying said moving function with said reduced step vector (602).
11. The computing system of claim 10, in which said step vector (602) is further based on at least one of: a specific density of said low density regions (302) and a position of an alternate candidate location (402).
12. The computing system of any of claims 8-11, in which said high density regions (304) and said low density regions (302) in said layout density map (300) correspond to respective regions of a background image (200).
13. The computing system of any of claims 8-12, in which said processor (104) is further configured to allocate an overlay area (702) to each said candidate location (402).
14. The computing system of any of claims 8-13, in which said processor (104) is further configured to assign a graphic object (802) to a candidate location (402) based on at least one of: a random assignment, a selection made by a user of said computing system, and an aspect ratio of said graphic object (402).
15. A computer program product for managing providing a layout for graphic objects (402), said computer program product comprising:
a computer readable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therewith, said computer readable program code comprising:
computer readable program code configured to:
generate a layout density map (300) comprising low density regions (302) and high density regions (304);
provide a set of candidate locations (402) within said layout density map (300), a number of said candidate locations (402) being equal to a number of said graphic objects (802), said candidate locations (402) being arranged away from said low density regions (302) and from other said candidate locations (402); and
overlay said layout density map (300) with said graphic objects (802), each said graphic object (802) being disposed at one of said candidate locations (402).
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An image transfer article, comprising:
a melt transfer layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface positionable against a receptor element during a transfer process;
an image receiving layer having an image receiving surface configured to receive indicia or an image; and
at least one opaque layer disposed between the image receiving layer and the top surface of the melt transfer layer, the at least one opaque layer configured to provide an opaque background for at least a portion of the image and having sufficient thickness and rigidity so that the image transfer article can function independently of a support.
2. The article of claim 1, wherein the opaque background includes a substantially white opacity provided by a white pigment or a substantially colored opacity provided by a colored pigment.
3. The article of claim 2, wherein the white pigment comprises titanium oxide or the colored pigment comprises a pigmented resin.
4. The article of claim 1, wherein the at least one opaque layer comprises a first and a second opaque layer.
5. The article of claim 4, wherein the first opaque layer has a composition that is different from a composition of the second opaque layer.
6. The article of claim 1, wherein the at least one opaque layer as a thickness between about 0.5 mils and about 2.5 mils.
7. An image transfer article, comprising:
a transfer member comprising (i) a melt transfer layer, (ii) an image receiving layer having an image receiving surface configured to receive indicia or an image, and (iii) at least one opaque layer positioned between the melt transfer layer and the image receiving layer and configured to provide an opaque background to the image and having sufficient thickness and rigidity so that the image transfer article can function independently of a support,
wherein the image transfer article is configured to transfer the received indicia or image to a receptor element without inversion or reversal of the indicia or image.
8. The article of claim 7, wherein the opaque background includes a substantially white opacity provided by a white pigment or a substantially colored opacity provided by a colored pigment.
9. The article of claim 8, wherein the white pigment comprises titanium oxide or the colored pigment comprises a pigmented resin.
10. The article of claim 7, wherein the at least one opaque layer comprises a first and a second opaque layer.
11. The article of claim 10, wherein the first opaque layer has a composition that is different from a composition of the second opaque layer.
12. The article of claim 7, wherein the at least one opaque layer as a thickness between about 0.5 mils and about 2.5 mils.