Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an animation rig using scripted reference modules are disclosed. An embodiment includes obtaining a first reference module for generating a first node of a dependency graph, where the first reference module is a precomputed rig module corresponding to the first node, obtaining a second reference module for generating a second node of the dependency graph, where the second reference module is scripting language data executed for generating the second node, generating an association between the first node and the second node in response to an input defining the association, generating the animation rig using the first node and the second node, and providing the generated animation rig to a rig interface.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a pixel of a computer-rendered image is a firefly includes: dividing a plurality of samples originating from the pixel, into first and second subsets; identifying whether the pixel is an outlier based on variance data of the first subset; identifying whether the pixel is an outlier based on variance data of the second subset. The pixel is determined as not a firefly in response to both the pixel being identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the first subset, and the pixel being identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the second subset. The pixel is determined as a firefly in response to the pixel being not identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the first (second) subset and being identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the second (first) subset.

Abstract: Systems and methods for traversal selection of components of a geometric model are disclosed. An embodiment includes displaying a plurality of components corresponding to a geometric model, selecting a first component, receiving a first input indicating a first direction for selecting a next component, wherein the next component is connected to the first component by an edge, identifying one or more candidate edges connected to the first component for selecting the next component, determining an angle between an indicated direction vector corresponding to the indicated first direction and each of the one or more candidate edges, and selecting a second component as the next component, wherein the second component is connected to the first component via a particular candidate edge forming a smallest angle with the indicated direction vector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic contour volume deformation are disclosed. An embodiment includes applying a deformation to a point of a volumetric mesh, wherein a plurality of tessellations of the volumetric mesh are identified and wherein each tessellation is a tetrahedral mesh, identifying a deformation point associated with a first polyhedron of the volumetric mesh, determining a barycentric coordinate representation of the deformation point with respect to each tetrahedron of the plurality of tessellations, determining, for each tessellation of the first polyhedron, weight values with respect to the deformation point for vertices of each tetrahedron which correspond to natural vertices of each tetrahedron, and determining, based on the determined weight values, a new position of the identified deformation point represented as a weighted sum determined from the barycentric coordinate representations.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable medium for approximating mesh deformations for character rigs are disclosed. An embodiment includes applying a first deformation function to one or more mesh elements to determine an intermediate position based on a transform to a first structural element, wherein the one or more mesh elements are assigned to the first structural element, generating an offset based on a second deformation function for the one or more mesh elements using a deformation function approximation model, wherein the offset is a positional offset of the one or more mesh elements from the intermediate position to a target position corresponding to the transform applied to the first structural element, and generating a combined mesh deformation for the one or more mesh elements by combining the intermediate position and the offset.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a pixel of a computer-rendered image is a firefly includes: dividing a plurality of samples originating from the pixel, into first and second subsets; identifying whether the pixel is an outlier based on variance data of the first subset; identifying whether the pixel is an outlier based on variance data of the second subset. The pixel is determined as not a firefly in response to both the pixel being identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the first subset, and the pixel being identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the second subset. The pixel is determined as a firefly in response to the pixel being not identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the first (second) subset and being identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the second (first) subset.

Abstract: Systems and methods deforming a mesh of a target object in real-time in response to a collision with a collision object are disclosed. An embodiment includes determining an inwardly deformed position of a first vertex of the mesh based on an intersection point of a boundary associated with the collision object with a ray, the ray connecting a point of an internal element of the target object with a reference position of the first vertex, wherein the inwardly deformed position of the first vertex corresponds to a first deformation magnitude of the first vertex from the reference position to the inwardly deformed position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic contour volume deformation are disclosed. An embodiment includes applying a deformation to a point of a volumetric mesh, wherein a plurality of tessellations of the volumetric mesh are identified and wherein each tessellation is a tetrahedral mesh, identifying a deformation point associated with a first polyhedron of the volumetric mesh, determining a barycentric coordinate representation of the deformation point with respect to each tetrahedron of the plurality of tessellations, determining, for each tessellation of the first polyhedron, weight values with respect to the deformation point for vertices of each tetrahedron which correspond to natural vertices of each tetrahedron, and determining, based on the determined weight values, a new position of the identified deformation point represented as a weighted sum determined from the barycentric coordinate representations.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable medium for approximating mesh deformations for character rigs are disclosed. An embodiment includes applying a first deformation function to one or more mesh elements to determine an intermediate position based on a transform to a first structural element, wherein the one or more mesh elements are assigned to the first structural element, generating an offset based on a second deformation function for the one or more mesh elements using a deformation function approximation model, wherein the offset is a positional offset of the one or more mesh elements from the intermediate position to a target position corresponding to the transform applied to the first structural element, and generating a combined mesh deformation for the one or more mesh elements by combining the intermediate position and the offset.

Abstract: Systems and methods for traversal selection of components of a geometric model are disclosed. An embodiment includes displaying a plurality of components corresponding to a geometric model, selecting a first component, receiving a first input indicating a first direction for selecting a next component, wherein the next component is connected to the first component by an edge, identifying one or more candidate edges connected to the first component for selecting the next component, determining an angle between an indicated direction vector corresponding to the indicated first direction and each of the one or more candidate edges, and selecting a second component as the next component, wherein the second component is connected to the first component via a particular candidate edge forming a smallest angle with the indicated direction vector.

Abstract: A method of scheduling and performing computations for generating an interactive computer-generated animation on behalf of a client device to achieve a desired quality of service includes generating a computational configuration of computations that, when performed, produce the computer-generated animation with the desired quality of service. The configuration includes an identification of a first computation that outputs first data, a first start time for the first computation, and a first end time, where the first computation is to end before the first end time. The configuration also includes an identification of a second computation that depends on the first data, and a second start time for the second computation. The first computation is performed in response to an occurrence of the first start time and the second computation is performed in response to an occurrence of the second start time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for traversal selection of components of a geometric model are disclosed. An embodiment includes displaying a plurality of components corresponding to a geometric model, selecting a first component, receiving a first input indicating a first direction for selecting a next component, wherein the next component is connected to the first component by an edge, identifying one or more candidate edges connected to the first component for selecting the next component, determining an angle between an indicated direction vector corresponding to the indicated first direction and each of the one or more candidate edges, and selecting a second component as the next component, wherein the second component is connected to the first component via a particular candidate edge forming a smallest angle with the indicated direction vector.

Abstract: A system and method provides a computer-implemented messaging service. Users subscribe to message channels. A message queue buffers messages to a router. The router determines whether characteristics of a first message match criteria specified in subscription requests, and may route the first message to one or more sending agents based on modes of communication specified in the subscription service requests. The sending agent(s) generate a second message formatted for the specified modes of communication based on the first message. Message load balancing, message queuing, message routing, and message sending services may all be independently scaled to adjust for demand.

Abstract: A method for generating stereoscopic images includes obtaining image data comprising a plurality of sample points. A direction, a color value, and a depth value are associated with each sample point. The directions and depth values are relative to a common origin. A mesh is generated by displacing the sample points from the origin. The sample points are displaced in the associated directions by distances representative of the corresponding depth values. The image data is mapped to the mesh such that the color values associated with the sample points are mapped to the mesh at the corresponding directions. A first image of the mesh is generated from a first perspective, and a second image of the mesh is generated from a second perspective. The first and second images of the mesh may be caused to be displayed to provide an illusion of depth.

Abstract: A method of scheduling and performing computations for generating an interactive computer-generated animation on behalf of a client device to achieve a desired quality of service includes generating a computational configuration of computations that, when performed, produce the computer-generated animation with the desired quality of service. The configuration includes an identification of a first computation that outputs first data, a first start time for the first computation, and a first end time, where the first computation is to end before the first end time. The configuration also includes an identification of a second computation that depends on the first data, and a second start time for the second computation. The first computation is performed in response to an occurrence of the first start time and the second computation is performed in response to an occurrence of the second start time.

Abstract: Computer animation tools for viewing, in multiple contexts, the effect of changes to a computer animation are disclosed. An artist configures multiple visual displays in the user interface of a computer animation system. A visual display shows one or more frames of computer animation. An artist configures a visual display to reflect a specific context. For example, the artist may assign a particular virtual viewpoint of a scene to a particular visual display. Once visual displays are configured, the artist changes a configuration of the computer animation. For example, the artist may change the lighting parameters of a scene. In response, the visual displays show the visual effects of the configuration (e.g., lighting parameters) change under corresponding contexts (e.g., different virtual camera viewpoints). Using multiple visual displays, which may be displayed side-by-side, an artist can view the effects of her configuration changes in the various contexts.

Abstract: Systems and processes providing a tool for visualizing parallel dependency graph evaluation in computer animation are provided. Runtime evaluation data of a parallel dependency graph may be collected, including the start time and stop time for each node in the graph. The visualization tool may process the data to generate performance visualizations as well as other analysis features. Performance visualizations may illustrate the level of concurrency over time during parallel dependency graph evaluation. Performance visualizations may be generated by graphing node blocks according to node start time and stop time as well as the level of concurrency at a given time to illustrate parallelism. Performance visualizations may enable character technical directors, character riggers, programmers, and other users to evaluate how well parallelism is expressed in parallel dependency graphs in computer animation.

Abstract: A method of scheduling and performing computations for generating an interactive computer-generated animation on behalf of a client device to achieve a desired quality of service includes generating a computational configuration of computations that, when performed, produce the computer-generated animation with the desired quality of service. The configuration includes an identification of a first computation that outputs first data, a first start time for the first computation, and a first end time, where the first computation is to end before the first end time. The configuration also includes an identification of a second computation that depends on the first data, and a second start time for the second computation. The first computation is performed in response to an occurrence of the first start time and the second computation is performed in response to an occurrence of the second start time.

Abstract: A method for generating stereoscopic images includes obtaining image data comprising a plurality of sample points. A direction, a color value, and a depth value are associated with each sample point. The directions and depth values are relative to a common origin. A mesh is generated by displacing the sample points from the origin. The sample points are displaced in the associated directions by distances representative of the corresponding depth values. The image data is mapped to the mesh such that the color values associated with the sample points are mapped to the mesh at the corresponding directions. A first image of the mesh is generated from a first perspective, and a second image of the mesh is generated from a second perspective. The first and second images of the mesh may be caused to be displayed to provide an illusion of depth.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a facial performance using facial capture of two users includes obtaining a reference set of facial performance data representing a first user's facial capture; obtaining a facial capture of a second user; extracting a second set of facial performance data based on the second user's facial capture; calculating at least one matching metric based on a comparison of the reference set of facial performance data to the second set of facial performance data; and displaying an indication of the at least one matching metric on a display.