Abstract: A first part of a 3-dimensional object is generated for display and displayed on a display device. The first part has at least a base interface and a first interface. The displayed first part is caused to change shape. A second part of the 3-dimensional object is generated for display, the second part having at least a base interface. The second part is translated and oriented so that the base interface of the second part mates with the first interface of the first part when the second part is displayed on the display device. The second part is displayed on the display device with the base interface of the second part mating with the first interface of the first part.

Abstract: A first part of a 3-dimensional object is generated for display and displayed on a display device. The first part has at least a base interface and a first interface. The displayed first part is caused to change shape. A second part of the 3-dimensional object is generated for display, the second part having at least a base interface. The second part is translated and oriented so that the base interface of the second part mates with the first interface of the first part when the second part is displayed on the display device. The second part is displayed on the display device with the base interface of the second part mating with the first interface of the first part.

Abstract: A method of automatically generating lighting data for a three-dimensional computer generated entity is described. A mesh representation of at least a part of the entity is received and simplified by removing vertices from the mesh. For each vertex in the simplified mesh, a plurality of rays are propagated from the vertex and a cone-shaped region is then defined for the vertex using those of the plurality of rays that do not intersect with the simplified mesh, wherein the cone-shaped region is defined in terms of a vector and an angular parameter. An angular parameter and a vector for each vertex in the received mesh is then calculated by interpolating the angular parameters and vectors for each vertex in the simplified mesh and lighting data is output, the lighting data comprising the angular parameter and vector for each vertex in the received mesh.

Abstract: A method of automatically generating a three-dimensional entity is described. A sequence is generated comprising sets of blend shapes in order of increasing priority. Each set of blend shapes comprises one or more blend shape identifiers and parameters defining candidate blend weights for each blend shape. For each of the sets of blend shapes in the sequence and in order of increasing priority: the one or more blend shape identifiers in the set are added to a set of blend shapes for the entity. Dependent upon whether blend shape identifier that is added is already present in that set, the parameters for the blend shape are either added or updated. One or more blend shapes from the set of blend shapes for the entity are then added to a mesh of the entity using a randomization method and the resultant mesh is stored in memory.

Abstract: A method of automatically generating a three-dimensional entity is described. A sequence is generated comprising sets of blend shapes in order of increasing priority. Each set of blend shapes comprises one or more blend shape identifiers and parameters defining candidate blend weights for each blend shape. For each of the sets of blend shapes in the sequence and in order of increasing priority: the one or more blend shape identifiers in the set are added to a set of blend shapes for the entity. Dependent upon whether blend shape identifier that is added is already present in that set, the parameters for the blend shape are either added or updated. One or more blend shapes from the set of blend shapes for the entity are then added to a mesh of the entity using a randomization method and the resultant mesh is stored in memory.

Abstract: A method of automatically generating lighting data for a three-dimensional computer generated entity is described. A mesh representation of at least a part of the entity is received and simplified by removing vertices from the mesh. For each vertex in the simplified mesh, a plurality of rays are propagated from the vertex and a cone-shaped region is then defined for the vertex using those of the plurality of rays that do not intersect with the simplified mesh, wherein the cone-shaped region is defined in terms of a vector and an angular parameter. An angular parameter and a vector for each vertex in the received mesh is then calculated by interpolating the angular parameters and vectors for each vertex in the simplified mesh and lighting data is output, the lighting data comprising the angular parameter and vector for each vertex in the received mesh.