Abstract: A two-dimensional text editing mode is used when editing three-dimensional text. Once the three-dimensional text is selected for editing a two-dimensional text editing mode is automatically entered such that the user may easily edit the text. The two dimensional properties that are associated with the text are displayed within an outline of the shape such that the text may be edited in place. The 2-D properties, such as font, text color, shape color, and the like, are maintained during the editing. After the two-dimensional text editing has been completed, the text is redisplayed according to its 3-D properties.

Abstract: Real-time rendering of realistic rain is described. In one aspect, image samples of real rain and associated information are automatically modeled in real-time to generate synthetic rain particles in view of respective scene radiances of target video content frames. The synthetic rain particles are rendered in real-time using pre-computed radiance transfer with uniform random distribution across respective frames of the target video content.

Abstract: A method of creating an animated entity for delivering a multi-media message from a sender to a recipient comprises receiving from the sender an image file to a server, the image file having associated sender-assigned name, gender, category and indexing information. The server presents to the sender the image file and a group of generic face model templates. After the sender selects one of the generic face model templates, the server presents the image file and the selected model template to the sender and requests the sender to mark features on the image file. After the sender marks the image file, the server presents to the sender a preview of at least one expression associated with the marked image file. If the user does not accept the image file after the preview, the server presents again the image file and selected model template for the sender to redo or add marked features on the image file.

Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that perform cylindrical wrapping in software without the need for a dedicated hardware circuit. One example performs cylindrical wrapping in software running on shader hardware. In one specific example, the shader hardware is a unified shader that alternately processes geometry, vertex, and fragment information. This unified shader is formed using a number of single-instruction, multiple-data units. Another example provides a method of performing a cylindrical wrap that ensures that a correct texture portion is used for a triangle that is divided by a “seam” of the wrap. To achieve this, primitive vertices are sorted such that results are vertex order invariant. One vertex is selected as a reference. For the other vertices, a difference is found for each coordinate and a corresponding coordinate of the reference vertex. If the coordinates are near, no change is made. If the coordinates are distant, the coordinate is adjusted.

Abstract: A system includes a computer generated hologram (CGH) design plane and a processor capable of representing a three dimensional object. The processor is configured to represent a surface of the three dimensional object by a facet, impose a grid defining a set of nodes upon the facet, and associate object points with each node of the grid. The processor is further configured to orient the facet to include a common global origin in the CGH design plane and displace the object points away from their associated node in a random or pseudo random direction parallel to the CGH design plane.

Abstract: Computer-generated images often contain two-dimensional objects that have been converted to three-dimensional objects. The three-dimensional objects appear even more visually appealing when edges of the three-dimensional objects are beveled. A direct insetting process computes a graph of how a shape changes as its edges are swept inwards (or outwards) independently such that the computed graph can be applied to a selected bevel profile to produce an interesting three-dimensional geometry for display.

Abstract: A computer graphics system generates a three-dimensional model of an object in an interactive manner under control of an operator. An initial model for the object to be modeled is displayed to the operator as illuminated from a particular illumination direction and projected onto an image plane. The operator can update shading of a pixel on the image plane, and, based on the updated shading, the computer graphics system generates an updated normal vector for the updated pixel, which identifies the normal of the surface of the object projected onto the updated pixel. Using the updated normal vector field and a height field, which represents the height of the respective portion of the object as projected onto the respective pixels of the image plane, the computer graphics system generates an updated height value for the updated pixel, thereby to update the height field.

Abstract: A method for rendering a real-time conformal view of terrestrial body's terrain being traversed by a mobile platform includes storing digital terrain elevation data (DTED) tiles for at least a portion of the terrain of a terrestrial body into an external removable mass data storage device (ERMDSD). The ERMDSD is connectable to an onboard computer system (OCS) comprising embedded mobile platform components that include at least one processing card, at least random access memory (RAM) device and at least one graphics card. The method additionally includes executing a real-time rendering assist application (RTRAA) stored in the processing card to dynamically repackage the DTED tiles into DTED chunks being representative of an area of the terrestrial body to be traversed (ATBT) by the mobile platform. The method further includes executing the RTRAA to create a base mesh of root diamonds representative of the ATBT and tessellate the root diamonds to create a plurality of leaf diamonds.

Abstract: A method of displaying a long animation is provided. The animation is defined in an animation file, which identifies a set of images that form the animation when sequentially displayed. A batch processor segments the set of images into sequential subsets, with each subset sized smaller than a maximum size. In this way, all of the images identified in a particular subset may be loaded into memory. Each subset of images is associated with a respective segment identifier, and an instruction is provided along with the images to order the subsets. In this way, a first subset of images provides for the loading of a second subset of images, thereby enabling the display of long animations.

Abstract: User interactive methods of determining vertex correspondence between boundaries or curves on objects to be merged is provided. One method relates to projecting a boundary of one object onto a second object to determine a merging curve, along which the two objects will be joined. Another method includes projecting a first object onto a plane to form a planar curve. The planar curve is then mapped to a second object to form a merging curve. Still another method includes interactively selecting corresponding key vertices on different objects to form a merging curve. A system presented that can use one or more of the methods of determining correspondence between boundaries. A merged object can be generated from the merging curve using a mesh solver, such as a Poisson or non-Poisson mesh solver.

Abstract: A system and method for animating a character with activation-driven muscle deformation. External loads can be estimated through an iterative joint torque estimation process, and the external loads reflected in a physical model. Kinematic motion and the physical model reflecting external loads can be used to estimate joint torques. Muscle activations can be determined from the joint torques, and a character can be animated with muscle deformation responsive to the muscle activations.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus and the like, which render an object from a predetermined view direction by a method using microfacet billboarding using 2D images obtained by photographing an object to be rendered from a plurality of photographing directions, and a depth image of the object to be rendered. This method obtains the geometrical shape of the object to be rendered on the basis of the depth image and the like, and approximates the geometrical shape using a set of microfacets whose directions change depending on the view direction. By mapping 2D images selected based on the view direction and photographing directions onto the respective microfacets as texture images, an arbitrary shaped object and landscape can be efficiently rendered.

Abstract: A method for reducing the transport delay in a computer image generator. The first step is dividing a single frame buffer into a plurality of screen bins. Next is storing primitives in each screen bin the primitives touch. Then the screen bins are rendered by row from top to bottom. Finally, at least one rendered screen bin is displayed from the single frame buffer before the rendering of all the screen bins has completed for the frame buffer. Preferably the step of displaying of the screen bins rendered should be started when the rendering is at least ½ completed. In some cases, the step of displaying of the screen bins rendered can be started after at least one row of screen bins has completed rendering. A hardware interlock can be used to ensure that the rendering process does not advance past the display process.

Abstract: Provided are a method and system for generating an input file using meta representation of compression of graphics data, and an animation framework extensions (AFX) encoding method and apparatus.

Abstract: Performing color management of color image data using a device transform by generating an identifier key based on contents of a color measurement profile for a color device, the color measurement profile containing measurement data corresponding to the color device, determining if a device transform corresponding to the identifier key is present in a device transform cache disposed in a persistent memory, loading, in the case that it is determined that a device transform corresponding to the identifier key is present in the device transform cache, the device transform into a program-accessible transient memory, generating, in the case that it is determined that a device transform corresponding to the identifier key is not present in the device transform cache, a device transform based on the measurement data in the color measurement profile, and storing the generated device transform in the device transform cache in correspondence with the identifier key, and transforming the color image data based on the dev

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image is created by combining an overlay image with a main image. Each pixel of the main and overlay images is defined by a luma component and at least one color component. Each luma component takes a value within a luma range, the lowest and highest values in the luma range being, respectively, a minimum and maximum value. For each pixel in the overlay image, it is determined that the pixel is: an opaque pixel, a transparent pixel, or an intermediate pixel. Each pixel of the main image that is in a location that corresponds to the location of an opaque pixel is replaced with the corresponding opaque pixel. In one embodiment, each pixel of the main image that is in a location that corresponds to the location of a transparent pixel is retained.

Abstract: A computer-based animation method and system for deforming animated characters (people, animals, etc.) using a volume preserving and collision resolution process for the animation. Parts of a character are deformed by a soft mesh deformation to emulate skin deformation due to flesh and muscle movement driven by the rigid body animation along the character's joints. Resolution of the interpenetration or volume loss of deformed parts is needed for smooth and realistic animation. The present method and system enable automatic collision resolution, allowing local deformations on two intersecting parts of a character so the parts no longer interpenetrate, while preserving the volume and general shape of the two parts, e.g., the character's torso and a limb.

Abstract: A new method of operating a fragment shader to produce complex video content comprised of a video image or images, such as from a DVD player, that overlays a fragment shader-processed background. Pixels are fragment shader-processed during one loop or set of loops through a texture processing stations to produce a fragment shader-processed background. Then, at least some of those pixels are merged with the video or images to produce complex video content. The resulting complex image is then made available for further processing.

Abstract: A method for modeling geological structures includes identifying fault planes in a geologic structure, and creating a set of substantially vertically oriented pillars along the fault plane. The pillar grids are then combined into a common three-dimensional grid pillar network, and a two-dimensional plane is defined that intersects the middle node of the pillars. Planes are identified that are oriented in the substantially horizontal direction and horizontal node points are created, and such a process is repeated for other node levels. A skeleton grid is then created by drawing a substantially vertically oriented pillar through each corresponding grid intersection, and then primary horizons as defined by interpretation of seismic data are inserted into the skeleton grid. And, a final scale resolution is created by dividing the spaces bounded between actual horizons and fault planes, and eventual actual part of the outer boundary into one or more horizontally oriented fine layers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for creating a three-dimensional caricature, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for creating a three-dimensional caricature having a high degree of similarity to user's face by precisely extracting feature point information on facial features and modifying a three-dimensional polygon face basic model based on the feature point information using an ASM technique specialized for faces. The method comprises the steps of detecting the positions of eyes from an input facial image and normalizing the size of the facial image, detecting each initial position for facial features from the normalized facial image, loading ASMs in the normalized facial image so as to correspond to the detected initial position and then extracting feature points for the facial features, and creating a three-dimensional polygon face caricature by modifying the three-dimensional polygon face basic model according to coordinate values of the extracted feature points.