Abstract: A first color component of a pixel or scene entity is modified using a color correction curve defined at least partly by a second color component of this pixel or entity. Each pixel or entity has its own separate color correction curve, independent of the color correction curves of other pixels or entities. The saturation value of a pixel or scene entity may be modified based on its luminance value. The luminance value determines a saturation gamma function curve, mapping the original saturation value of a pixel or entity to a new saturation value. The unilluminated color of a pixel in a scene being rendered may also be taken into account. This output color may be stored in the appropriate pixel of an image or combined with colors from other portions of the scene being rendered.

Abstract: A method for specifying a design for an animatronics unit includes receiving motion data comprising artistically determined motions, determining a design for construction of at least a portion of the animatronics unit in response to the motion data, and outputting the design for construction of the animatronics unit.

Abstract: One or more techniques to reduce or eliminate the false depth of objects that move along the axis of ocular separation when displayed using time division multiplexing. Experiments can be performed to determine a perceived depth of an object moving with known velocity. Then, when rendering stereoscopic image pairs, the location of the object can be modified to change the perceived stereoscopic depth of the object to compensate for the false depth. In one technique, the images can be displayed with alternating left- and right-precedence to reduce the perception of false depth.

Abstract: One or more techniques to reduce or eliminate the false depth of objects that move along the axis of ocular separation when displayed using time division multiplexing. Experiments can be performed to determine a perceived depth of an object moving with known velocity. Then, when rendering stereoscopic image pairs, the location of the object can be modified to change the perceived stereoscopic depth of the object to compensate for the false depth. In one technique, the images can be displayed with alternating left- and right-precedence to reduce the perception of false depth.

Abstract: One or more techniques to reduce or eliminate the false depth of objects that move along the axis of ocular separation when displayed using time division multiplexing. Experiments can be performed to determine a perceived depth of an object moving with known velocity. Then, when rendering stereoscopic image pairs, the location of the object can be modified to change the perceived stereoscopic depth of the object to compensate for the false depth. In one technique, the images can be displayed with alternating left- and right-precedence to reduce the perception of false depth.

Abstract: A transformation region is displayed around a selection of knots defining one or more computer graphics variable curves. The transformation region includes transformation handles enabling the modification of the transformation region shape. The transformation region defines an envelope of the curves. Modifying the shape of the transformation region defines a new envelope of the curves. The input and/or output values of knots are scaled to match the modified envelope so that the computer graphics variable remains a function of its input variables. Associated tangent handles of the knots are scaled proportional to the knot value. The transformation region can include a retiming curve specifying a remapping of input variable values. Points on the retiming curve below this diagonal remap associated knots to lower input values. Point on the retiming curve above the diagonal remap associated knots to higher input values.

Abstract: Mesh data and other proximity information from the mesh of one model can be transferred to the mesh of another model, even with different topology and geometry. A correspondence can be created for transferring or sharing information between points of a source mesh and points of a destination mesh. Information can be “pushed through” the correspondence to share or otherwise transfer data from one mesh to its designated location at another mesh. Correspondences can be authored on a source mesh by drawing or placing one or more geometric primitives (e.g., points, lines, curves, volumes, etc.) at the source mesh and corresponding geometric primitives at the destination mesh. A collection of “feature curves” may be placed to partition the source and destination meshes into a collection of “feature regions” resulting in partitions or “feature curve networks” for constructing correspondences between all points of one mesh and all points of another mesh.

Abstract: In various embodiments, techniques are provided for collaborating and developing a body of knowledge for animation rigging for use in CGI and computer-aided animation. In an embodiment, a computer system may be used to facilitate the creation of rigging for computer-generated models. Using one or more graphical user interfaces, a user can provide the computer system with information defining a set of controls for a computer-generated model. The user can provide the computer system with information providing a description of each control in the set of controls. The user can also provide the computer system with information providing an example of use of each control in the set of controls. A body of knowledge for a standard rig can be created based on the information defining the set of controls, the description of each control, and the example of use of each control using the computer system.

Abstract: Object previews for projection painting operations using arbitrary paint surfaces are provided. The object preview is rendered from the view of the arbitrary projection paint surface. The object preview is provided to the user, who then may define projection paint attribute values by painting over the object preview. The projection paint attribute values are mapped back on to the projection paint surface and one or more images of the object geometry are rendered using the projection paint attribute values. Object previews are rendered by defining a camera view and a proxy surface. A mapping from the proxy surface to a projection surface is defined and associates proxy surface points with projection paint surface points. Rays generated using a projection operation are defined and a renderer uses these rays to determine attribute values for their associated points on the proxy surface to define an object preview image.

Abstract: A method for specifying an animatronics unit includes receiving a force-based software model for the animatronics unit, receiving a kinematics-based software model for the animatronics unit, receiving animation data for animating the kinematics-based software model, wherein the animation data comprises artistically determined motions for the kinematics-based software model by a user, determining a plurality of driving signals in response to the animation data, animating the force-based software model of the animatronics unit in response to the plurality of driving signals, displaying animation of the force-based software model determined in response to the plurality of driving signals, and determining a specification for construction of the animatronics unit in response to animation of the force-based software model.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed allowing data and other information from one model to be transferred to another model. A surface correspondence between meshes of the models can be created that provides a transfer or sharing of information to include all points of one mesh and all points of the other mesh. Additionally, a volume correspondence between the models can be created to transfer information found within corresponding volumes or other n-D spaces associated with the models. Mesh information and other data at, near, or otherwise within a volume or other n-D space associated with one model can be “pushed through” the volume correspondences to transfer the data to its designated location on, at, near, or otherwise within a corresponding volume or other n-D space associated with the other model.

Abstract: Shading attributes for scene geometry are predetermined and cached in one or more alternate scene representations. Lighting, shading, geometric, and/or other attributes of the scene may be precalculated and stored for at least one of the scene representations at an appropriate level of detail. Rendering performance is improved generally and for a variety of visual effects by selecting between alternate scene representations during rendering. A renderer selects one or more of the alternate scene representations for each of the samples based on the size of its filter area relative to the feature sizes or other attributes of the alternate scene representations. If two or more alternate scene representations are selected, the sampled values from these scene representations may be blended. The selection of scene representations may vary on a per-sample basis and thus different scene representations may be used for different samples within the same image.

Abstract: A system and method for stereoscopic pair layers includes aligning a left eye image and a right eye image of a first stereo image pair layer according to a first calibrated offset to produce an aligned first stereo image pair layer that appears at a first depth in a display environment. A left eye image and a right eye image of a second stereo image pair layer are aligned according to a second calibrated offset to produce an aligned second stereo image pair layer that appears at a second depth in the display environment that is different than the first depth. The aligned first stereo image pair layer and the aligned second stereo image pair layer combined to produce a calibrated stereoscopic image that is suitable for display.

Abstract: Multiple time scales enable animations over multiple shots. Time-dependent data is specified with reference to time references. Data expressed in different time references may be combined to form animations, shots, and sequences of shots. Time transformations specifying mappings between time references are used to combine data expressed in different time references. Data can be viewed in arbitrary time references. Editing data specifying a sequence of shots may be used as a time reference for viewing data expressed in other time references. Data expressed in one time reference may be rearranged according to another time reference to indicate time reference relationships. Data authored in one time reference may be viewed and modified in another time reference. Modifications are converted from the viewing time reference to the data's original time reference for updating data. Time-dependent data may be expressed in layer data structures. Layer relationships may include time transformations.

Abstract: The pose of the model at an evaluation time is determined by interpolating pose attributes of the unconstrained pose degrees of freedom from previously defined poses. A neutral value of an attractor function at the evaluation time is based at least on the pose attributes of the unconstrained pose degrees of freedom. Because of this, the attractor function is time coherent. Similarly, pose constraints are determined by interpolating from previously defined pose constraints. Inverse kinematics or error minimization techniques modify the pose attributes of the unconstrained pose degrees of freedom to minimize the difference between the attractor function value for the pose attributes and the neutral value of the attractor function. The final pose of the model at the evaluation time is specified by the pose attributes corresponding with this minimization.

Abstract: Local histogram-based filters may create non-photorealistic computer graphics effects. An edge-preserving smoothing filter processes a source image to generate a smoothed image. An orientation filter processes the source image to generate a smoothed orientation image. At least one of the orientation filter and the edge-preserving smoothing filter include a local histogram-based filter. The non-photorealistic effect filter may generate a fine detail image from the smoothed image and the source image. The fine detail image may be diffused according to the smoothed orientation image to generate a brush stroke image. The brush stroke image is combined with a base image to create a non-photorealistic image. Local histogram-based filters include a closest mode, a local median, and a dominant mode filter. Local histogram-based filters are determined by convolving a neighborhood filter with one or more offset-kernel images, each based on the application of a shifted tonal filter kernel to the source image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating vector displacement maps, often in an interactive manner. Given a set of objects to be animated or imaged, they can be each represented by one or more faces. In a subdivision process, faces might be represented by polygons through a method of repeated subdividing. In the subdivision process, relative location of polygons relative to the original face (and possibly relative orientations) are maintained, for later use by other processes. This can be done by maintaining source data for each face of a subdivided surface, where source data indicates an original location on the original object that corresponds to that face and the polygons resulting from the subdividing. The source data can be a link, path, index or label for each face of the subdivision surface, where the source data indicates an original location on the original object that corresponds to that face.

Abstract: Digital production assets and their attributes are stored directly in a scene description database, without any association with a specific enclosing asset data file. Software applications perform database queries to retrieve assets and attributes from the database. Changes to assets or new assets are stored in the database. Query results may be cached to improve performance. Heterogeneous opinion sets including sparse opinions of attribute values may be used to specify scene description data. The database stores heterogeneous opinion set data in association with attribute values. Database-aware applications may change the scene description data in the database without loading, parsing, and instantiating scene description data. An application generates database queries and instantiates scene description data from query results for access and manipulation by other applications.

Abstract: An input device for controlling an object includes a joystick and a modal switch. A user may use the modal switch to select a subset of degrees of freedom of the object. The joystick may then be used to control a change over time of the selected subset, where the change over time is functionally depend on both a motion of the joystick and a state of the selected subset. A method for controlling an object via the input device is also provided. The method includes receiving inputs indicating a selection by the modal switch of a subset of degrees of freedom of the object, and a motion of the joystick. A configuration of the selected subset is then caused to be changed based on the motion of the joystick and a state of the selected subset.

Abstract: Variable motion blur is created by varying the evaluation time used to determine the poses of objects according to motion blur parameters when evaluating a blur frame. A blur parameter can be associated with one or more objects, portions of objects, or animation variables. The animation system modifies the time of the blur frame by a function including the blur parameter to determine poses of objects or portions thereof associated with the blur parameter in a blur frame. The animation system determines the values of animation variables at their modified times, rather than at the time of the blur frame, and poses objects or portions thereof accordingly. Multiple blur parameters can be used to evaluate the poses of different portions of a scene at different times for a blur frame. Portions of an object can be associated with different blur parameters, enabling motion blur to be varied within an object.