Abstract: Graphic arts software has evolved to provide users with a variety of mark making tools to simulate different brushes, papers, and applied media such as ink, chalk, watercolour, spray paint and oils. However, in many instances the marks rendered appear unnatural and artificial despite the software's goal being to simulate as realistically. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide either users or the software application with a mechanism to remove or reduce artifacts indicative of artificial generation, e.g. rapid transitions. Further, in many instances the graphic images generated and/or manipulated refer to imagined environments or have elements that are physical in nature. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide users with a range of mark making tools that represent marks made by mark making tools comprising multiple elements following physical laws.

Abstract: Vector format based computer graphics tools have become very powerful tools allowing artists, designers etc. to mimic many artistic styles, exploit automated techniques, etc. and across different simulated physical media and digital media. However, hand-drawing and sketching in vector format graphics is unnatural and a user's strokes rendered by software are generally unnatural and appear artificial. In contrast to today's hand-drawing and sketching which requires significant training of and understanding by the user of complex vector graphics methods embodiments of the invention lower the barrier to accessing computer graphics applications for users in respect of making hand-drawing or sketching easier to perform. Accordingly, the inventors have established a direct vector-based hand-drawing/sketching entry format supporting any input methodology.

Abstract: A time-based media composition application simultaneously displays both a storyboard and a timeline representation of a media composition in a graphical user interface. The correspondence between a given storyboard element and its one or more corresponding timeline elements is shown by means of a graphical indication within the GUI, such as by displaying a spotlight from the given storyboard element to the corresponding timeline element. The user is able to scroll the displayed portions of each of the storyboard and the timeline forward or backward in time independently, while maintaining the graphical indication of correspondence between a selected storyboard element and timeline element pair.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method, and software application for enabling a user to view data from an external data source in a visual map, wherein the external data source has a web services interface. Visual mapping software on a computer provides a visual mapping interface in which a user can create, edit, and/or view a visual map. Within the visual mapping interface, the visual mapping software provides the user with an option to obtain data from one or more data sources associated with a web service. In response to the user selecting a data source associated with a web service, the visual mapping software builds a web service request for the web service associated with the selected data source. The visual mapping application makes a call to the applicable web service with the web service request. The visual mapping application subsequently receives data from the web service and transforms the data into a format that can be used to generate visual map data.

Abstract: A method including the steps of: providing a computer readable non-transitory storage medium including a computer readable code configured to run on a local computer and to perform a process to organize a plurality of assets in a tray system including a core tray program including one or more trays, and a synchronization manager configured to synchronize assets represented by icons in the one or more trays with corresponding assets at one or more file storage locations; running on a local computer the computer readable code; displaying by computer the tray; and synchronizing by computer the assets represented by icons in the one or more trays with the corresponding assets at one or more file storage locations. A system to perform the method is also described.

Abstract: Graphic arts software has evolved to provide users with a variety of mark making tools to simulate different brushes, papers, and applied media such as ink, chalk, watercolor, spray paint and oils. However, in many instances the marks rendered appear unnatural and artificial despite the software's goal being to simulate as realistically. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide either users or the software application with a mechanism to remove or reduce artifacts indicative of artificial generation, e.g. rapid transitions. Further, in many instances the graphic images generated and/or manipulated refer to imagined environments or have elements that are physical in nature. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide users with a range of mark making tools that represent marks made by mark making tools comprising multiple elements following physical laws.

Abstract: A method includes providing a computer readable code configured to perform a process of feature management. The computer code includes one or more configurable features having a feature property. The feature property includes a state. The method also includes: running the computer readable code on the local computer; connecting by the local computer with a feature computer server; identifying an instance of an installed computer program including the computer readable code, and retrieving a feature record associated with the installed computer program or the member from the feature server; and configuring a state of one or more of a set of the feature properties of the installed computer program based on a retrieved feature record. A system to perform the method is also described.

Abstract: A method includes a step of providing a computer readable non-transitory storage medium comprising a computer readable code as a software product configured to run on a local computer and configured to perform a software piracy monetization process. The software product includes one or more configurable features having a feature property, the feature property including a state. The method further includes running the computer readable code on the local computer, and collecting, by the software product running on the local computer, hardware fingerprint data from the local computer. The method further includes connecting with a computer feature server, and determining if the software product is legitimate. If not, the method includes a step of sending a message to the local computer. The message includes instructions to change the state of a feature property of the software product to alert a user that the software product is not legitimate.

Abstract: Graphic arts software has evolved to provide users with a variety of mark making tools to simulate different brushes, papers, and applied media such as ink, chalk, watercolor, spray paint and oils. However, in many instances the marks rendered appear unnatural and artificial despite the software's goal being to simulate as realistically. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide either users or the software application with a mechanism to remove or reduce artifacts indicative of artificial generation, e.g. rapid transitions. Further, in many instances the graphic images generated and/or manipulated refer to imagined environments or have elements that are physical in nature. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide users with a range of mark making tools that represent marks made by mark making tools comprising multiple elements following physical laws.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of: providing a computer readable non-transitory storage medium including computer readable code configured to run on a computer and to perform a process to replace a comp with a corresponding asset; running the computer readable code on the computer; selecting the comp to replace with the corresponding asset; retrieving by computer an asset file of the corresponding asset from an asset server based on an identification code of the comp; replacing by computer the comp with the asset; and redrawing by computer the drawing including the corresponding asset in place of the comp. A system to perform the method is also described.

Abstract: A method for operating a menu of a multimedia disk is provided. The method includes first selecting an item in the menu as a focus point and using a cursor controller for moving a cursor in the menu. An input event issued by the cursor controller is then translated into an input event of a key on a keyboard based on a relative position between the cursor and the focus point, so as to shift or select a target title. Consequently, a user can operate the menu of the multimedia disk in a computer system by using the cursor controller, and the convenience of operating the menu can be improved.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for selecting media files are provided. In the present invention, three keys are used for selecting a plurality of media files, wherein one of the keys is used for rotating and selecting a presently displayed media file, one of the keys is used for directly selecting the presently displayed media file, and another key is used for skipping the presently displayed media file. Complete select functions can be executed to a plurality of media files stored in any path by using foregoing three keys. The selected media files are stored in another path as being selected without spending time in actions such as moving, copying, and deleting, etc. Thus, the media file select operation is greatly simplified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to digital art software, and more particularly to methods of simulating fluids, brushes and associated media in digital art software applications. According to certain aspects, the invention relates to modeling techniques used to simulate fluids (and gases), which modeling techniques can employ dynamically sized simulation areas. In embodiments, these techniques incorporate modifications made to conventional techniques such as Lattice Bolzmann Modeling (LBM). According to certain other aspects, the invention relates to simulations of media using these techniques for modeling fluids such as Watercolor and “Wet Oil”. According to still further aspects, the invention relates to a “tool” adjuster paradigm for digital art software, among other things.

Abstract: Audiovisual content presentation to users has evolved from users receiving hardcopy printed materials to their searching and retrieving information by accessing any of hundreds of millions of web sites and billions of web pages. User retrieval being performed on a wide variety of platforms from high performance PCs to low performance cellular telephones. Accordingly substantial limitations exist in initially displaying this audiovisual content as well as when users dynamically manipulate browser dimensions or move through the content. Further additional limitations exist for those authoring both online and traditional content to manipulate sourced content to provide the published content. As such a requirement exists for dynamically resizing images that respects the information content within the audiovisual content.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems for controlling and editing video using a video editing application running on a touch screen device by using touch gestures on the media viewing area displayed by the video editing application. The methods involve displaying a frame of a video file in a preview area on a touch-sensitive display, detecting one or more touch points making initial contact at respective initial positions on the preview area, detecting the one or more touch points moving over the preview area, and in response to detecting the one or more touch points moving over the preview area determining a direction of motion of the one or more touch points, and if the direction of motion is horizontal, stepping through one or more frames of the video file in the preview area, and if the direction of motion is vertical, setting a cut point on the video file at the displayed frame of the video file.

Abstract: Two dimensional data is converted into three dimensional picture data in a method that can provide a real time high quality display during conversion. Pixels of a frame of picture data are segmented to create pixel segments by applying a k-means algorithm. The k-means algorithm groups pixels based on closeness of a combined value that includes luma, chroma, and motion information. By balancing this information the algorithm collects pixels into groups that are assigned relative depths to turn the two-dimensional information into three-dimensional information for display. Another method includes determining a depth map for the different pixel segments by determining an amount of motion of one of the pixel segments between two frames of a video and scaling the three-dimensional depth of one of the pixel segments based on the amount of motion between the two frames.

Abstract: Display methods and interfaces for high dynamic range images. High dynamic range images and corresponding histograms are displayed on a display device. The histogram panel displays low dynamic range and high dynamic range data of the images simultaneously. The low dynamic range and high dynamic range data is brightness level of the image pixels.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of: providing a computer readable non-transitory storage medium including a computer readable code configured to run on a computer and to perform a process to view an assignment of a style to an object of a computer drawing; selecting the style for view; choosing by computer a sample object, the sample object configured to visually demonstrate one or more visual properties of the style; applying by computer the style to the sample object; rendering by computer the sample object to a bit mapped image suitable for display on a computer display; and displaying by computer the pixelated image on the computer display. A system to perform the method is also described. A method to assign a child style to an object, where the child style includes one or more properties inherited from a parent style is also described.

Abstract: A method includes providing a computer readable code configured to perform a process of feature management. The computer code includes one or more configurable features having a feature property. The feature property includes a state. The method also includes: running the computer readable code on the local computer; connecting by the local computer with a feature computer server; identifying an instance of an installed computer program including the computer readable code, and retrieving a feature record associated with the installed computer program or the member from the feature server; and configuring a state of one or more of a set of the feature properties of the installed computer program based on a retrieved feature record. A system to perform the method is also described.

Abstract: A method for controlling color styles in a graphics application program includes the steps of selecting a plurality of color styles and grouping the color styles into a harmony. The method further includes the step of displaying a color model graphical user interface representative of each color style in the harmony. The method further includes the steps of creating a rule in program instructions for the graphics application program to constrain at least one color component of the color model graphical user interface, selecting a base color style within the color model graphical user interface for editing, and invoking the rule so the computer executes instructions to constrain the color component. The method further includes the steps of modifying a color component of the base color style with the graphical user interface while in the constrained state, and proportionately modifying the corresponding color component of the remaining color styles in the color model graphical user interface.