Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture enable the creation and display of a radial tessellation. A single source image is selected and a radial tessellation creation feature is activated. A triangular sector of the source image is specified and transferred to a texture buffer of a graphics processing unit (GPU). A radial tessellation is created using the GPU by drawing the triangular sector on a destination image, repeatedly flipping and drawing the triangular sector along a leading edge of the triangular sector to create a closed polygon, and further flipping and drawing the triangular sector onto the destination image to create outer rings around the closed polygon and filling the destination image.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to conduct a hybrid raster/vector based paint operation. A user commences a raster based paint operation. Based on the raster operation, vector-based information is determined and recorded. The system then determines if a requested user operation requires the vector-based information. If the requested user operation requires the vector-based information, a representative raster based stroke is generated/recreated based on the vector-based information and the requested user operation is performed on the representative raster based stroke.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to map a detail model to a destination while preserving the shape of the detail model. A destination surface (that is a smooth surface) is obtained. The destination surface is tessellated to generate a mesh representation of the destination surface. A parameterization of the mesh representation is then generated. Reverse mapping is conducted from a point of a detail model surface to a point of the destination surface via the parameterization and mesh representation.

Abstract: A method of customising an animation. A broadcast station renders first animated objects in response to locked graphic data and unlocked metadata. The metadata facilitates customisation, by including parameter interface information as well as actual parameter values, so that the first animation objects can be customised without reference to the locked graphic data. A distribution station receives signals from the broadcaster, and cumulatively renders second animated objects in response to second locked graphic data and second unlocked metadata, the latter of which is modified in response to distributor data. A television receives signals from the distributor, and cumulatively renders third animated objects in response to third locked graphic data and third unlocked metadata, which is modified in response to viewer data.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to automatically reproduce film grain into a new image. A reference image and new image are obtained. An image of the reference image is subdivided into two or more tiles. A grain simulation tool is then used to automatically determine if an object feature exists in each of the two or more tiles. Response curves are constructed for each of the tiles that does not contain an object feature. Frames of grain are produced/generated based on the response curves and added to the new image.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to conduct a paint operation in a procedural renderer and a reveal paint operation while dynamically selecting multiple layers. For the procedural renderer based paint operation, a schematic view of a flow of clip image data is displayed having nodes and lines connecting the nodes. Within the schematic view, a layer node is obtained utilized to perform a paint operation without processing the operators associated with each node in the schematic view. For the reveal paint operation, a paint application obtains a composite having multiple layers. The paint application dynamically identifies one or more of the multiple layers to be used in a reveal operation. Once identified, the reveal paint operation is performed wherein a reveal tool is used to reveal contents of the one or more identified layers at a position where the reveal tool is used.

Abstract: A computer-implemented graphics program for drawing a spline. The spline is drawn using a first method in the graphics program. Thereafter, the graphics program seamlessly switches from drawing the spline using the first method to drawing the spline using a second method, in response to a first user command. Further, the graphics program may also seamlessly switch from drawing the spline using the second method to drawing the spline using the first method, in response to a second user command.

Abstract: An image data processing system is configured to store image data with redundant protection in the form of a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID). An input card is configured to receive an input stream of real-time digital video data, possibly provided by a video tape recorder. The video image data is stored and a processor is arranged to perform processing operations upon the stored video data. The input card receives an input stream of real-time video data and the processor performs a first writing operation to write the video data to storage (106) in real-time without parity. The processor then performs a reading operation to read the data from storage and performs a data manipulation (307) upon the data to generate parity information to create protected video data. The processor then performs a second writing operation to write the protected video data back to storage.

Abstract: An image processing function is selected via a graphical user interface (GUI) 902 that receives input commands from manually operated input means 102-103, 106 configured with activation means. Image data 707, 1206 is selected by placing a pointer 905 operated by the input means over its representation 919 within said GUI 902 and activating said activation means. In response to a translation 1301, 1303, 1402 of said representation 919 over a hierarchical representation 925 of said function within said GUI 902, said function is initialised according to said hierarchy with said selected image data 1206 as default data. In response to said initialisation, said GUI 902 is updated. In response to deactivating said activation means, said function is configured for processing said image data according to input received from said input means. The updated representation 1403 of said function includes a representation 919 of said image data 1206.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provides the ability to process image data. Image data is output as picture screen elements to a display. In response to selecting a sample of the picture screen elements, a reference co-ordinate system is generated. The reference co-ordinate system is used to process each of the picture screen elements. An axis of the reference co-ordinate system defines a distance. The picture screen elements are discriminated and processed according to the distance by proportionally averaging the co-ordinates.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to store image data for use in a real-time compositing computer application. A storage tile size is determined based on disk input/output (I/O) hardware testing. A processing tile size is determined based on graphics I/O testing. An image is obtained and processing tiles (of the processing tile size) are mapped over the image. A center of the image is used as a point of origin for the processing tiles. The processing tiles are mapped to storage tiles. The storage tile point of origin is located at a lower left corner of the processing tiles. Each storage tile is configured to contain complete processing tiles that are stored in the storage tiles based on the storage tile size, processing tile size, and the mappings.

Abstract: First selected image frames in a native format are read from a frame storage device (103) and are directly modified in response to a first process. Output signals are supplied to a display device (102) such that the display device displays a view of stored frames. The frames are stored in the native format but appear in the view as if stored in an alternative format. Frames are selected and in response to receiving input selection signals, selected frames are translated into an alternative format and supplied to a second process in the translated formats.

Abstract: When a Bézier spline is fitted to a plurality of points the two tangent handles at each control point can be very different in length. A method of fitting a second spline to the first spline that has tangent handles of equal length at each control point is provided. A point is found on the first spline that is close to the midpoint between the two control points defining the tangent handles. This point is a new control point on the second spline. Tangent handles to the new control point are then found such that they have a slope equal to the tangent to the first spline at the new control point, the sum of their lengths is equal to the sum of the original two tangent handles and their lengths are equal to each other. A second spline found in this way closely approximates the first spline. The lengths of the tangent handles may be adjusted to provide a better fit.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a frame store, a processing means and a monitor. The frame store stores a sequence of images from a film or video clip that will eventually be transferred to film for viewing in a theater. The image sequence is processed and possibly combined with other clips, resulting in changes to the color balance, intensity and contrast of the output clip. The image processing system, the monitor and the process of eventual transfer to film, have non-linear transfer characteristics, including gamma characteristics. These are combined in a single look-up table in a graphics card, so that images displayed on the monitor have an appearance matching that of the same images when viewed in the theater.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus, comprising data storage having a plurality of defined storage elements, memory containing usage data indicating which of the storage elements contains data, and a processor is configured to update the usage data in response to data being stored within the data storage. The memory contains a datastore. The processor is configured to analyze the usage data to determine the number of the storage elements not containing data, store information within the datastore indicating the number of storage elements not containing data and read information from the data storage to determine whether the further data may be stored.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating image data is provided which comprises memory means, display means, user input means, and processing means, wherein said memory means stores said image data and instructions and said instructions configure said processing means to perform the steps of defining first image data, as a first layer having respective co-ordinates within a three-dimensional volume configured with a reference co-ordinate system; upon selecting second image data as a second layer to composite with said first layer, generating a reference pose layer and configuring the co-ordinates thereof as a second reference co-ordinate system within said volume; positioning said reference pose layer relative to said first layer; and defining said second image data as said second layer having respective co-ordinates within said three-dimensional volume configured with said second reference co-ordinate system.

Abstract: A method of writing image data files to frame storage means, implemented as an array of disks, on which image data is stored as contiguous clips of frames. A remote system transmits a plurality of data packets over a network in any order, the data packets constituting a plurality of image data files. A local system connected to the frame storage means receives the data packets from the remote system and stores them in a buffer so as to arrange the image data files in a display sequence order. The local system then writes the image data files to the frame storage means as a contiguous clip of frames.

Abstract: A method of processing data is provided, which includes a plurality of processes 502 to 505 equipped with dependencies 603 and a continuation manager 814, said processes 502 to 505 including a plurality of sub-processes 507. The continuation manager 814 recurrently selects (1301) each of said plurality of processes for execution in the order of their dependencies. The continuation manager further recurrently selects (1302) each of said plurality of sub-processes 507 within each of said plurality of processes 502 to 505 for execution. The output data generated at each of said selected sub-processes 507 is generated in the order of said dependencies 603.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to process image data. A data structure includes a plurality of nodes that represent processing to be performed upon image data. At least one node is generated as a three-dimensional object within a compositing space having a; least one light source. A viewport is defined in a space configured with a frustum enclosing the 3D object. A matte of the object is generated in relation to the light source within the space. The matte is accumulated in an accumulating shadow texture and the object is rendered including the accumulating shadow texture in an image frame defined by the frustum.