The visual fitness planner combines image morphing technology, exercise programming, supplement sales, and motivational techniques; into one product. Users begin by entering their current measurements, measurement goals and current picture into the system, preferably via a Web site. The picture is segmented into body components, and each segment is morphed based upon the goal measurement and the segment's responsiveness to weight loss using physiological tables and formulae. The resulting modified "after view"image is then returned to the user, preferably by online communications such as e-mail. In the business use for the disclosed system, the visual fitness planner helps the fitness industry overcome two of their biggest problems: obtaining new members and retaining current members. By showing members how they will look after following a specific regimen, client may accurately visualize their future appearance, resulting in increased client loyalty and satisfaction.

A method of compositing multiple images together so as to produce realistic effects is disclosed. The method comprises defining an image canvas bump map approximating a surface to be painted on; defining a painting bump map of a painting object to be painted on the surface; combining the image canvas bump map and the painting bump map to produce a final composited bump map. The step of combining utilises a stiffness factor, the stiffness factor determining a degree of modulation of the painting bump map by the image canvas bump map. The combining process can comprise low-pass filtering the image canvas bump map with the stiffness determining the degree of low-pass filtering. The application is particularly suited for utilization in a hand held camera device to produce instant images on demand having a brushed artistic interpretation.

A method of offering a customized promotional product to a user. The method comprises the steps of: accessing a user-supplied digital image at a digital imaging device; providing a digital image representative of a promotional product, the promotional product digital image having a predetermined image location adapted to receive at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image; generating a modified user image by modifying the at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image to simulate an application of the at least a portion of the user-supplied image to the promotional product; generating a customized digital image representative of the customized promotional product, the customized digital image comprising the promotional product digital image having the modified user image disposed within the predetermined image location; and displaying the customized digital image to the user on a display of the digital imaging device.

In an image composing apparatus, a desired image, which is selected from first digital images having been stored previously, and a desired image, which is selected from second digital images having been newly acquired, are combined with each other, and a digital composed image of a desired design is thereby obtained. The apparatus comprises several pieces of design defining information for specifying a size of the digital composed image, the desired first digital image, a position on a coordinate system associated with the digital composed image, at which position the desired first digital image is to be located, the desired second digital image, and a position on the coordinate system, at which position the desired second digital image is to be located. A specifying device specifies a single piece of design defining information from several pieces of design defining information. An image composing device forms the digital composed image of the desired design in accordance with the design defining information, which is specified with the specifying device.

A method of making a stereo image of a scene. The method includes capturing and digitizing a first image of the scene in a first image capture medium and capturing and digitizing a second image of the same scene but from a displaced position from which the first and second image was captured on a second different image capture medium. The method further includes producing visual images of the first and second captured digital images which, to a viewer, provides a stereo image of the scene.