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.

Abstract: Asymmetric animation links control motion propagation through motion element graphs of models. Asymmetric animation links have direction attributes. When a motion element is moved, the influence of this motion propagates away from this motion element through the motion element graph. Upon reaching an asymmetric animation link, if the direction of motion propagation through the graph matches the forward direction of the asymmetric animation link, this motion will pass through the asymmetric animation link to potentially influence additional motion elements. If the motion propagates through the graph in the reverse direction of an asymmetric animation link, then the asymmetric animation link will block the motion from traveling past the asymmetric animation link. Asymmetric animation links can be added or removed from models and can connect two or more models. Additionally, the direction attribute of an asymmetric animation link may be reversed as needed to change the behavior of the motion element.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simulating ballistic motion on an animated object by continuously defining rest poses of the animation object in a motion simulator. Tetrahedral finite element simulation may be used with control mechanisms that target the simulation pose towards the animation. A simulation mesh is generated for two or more animated poses based on a first simulation mesh corresponding to a first pose of the animated object. The simulation meshes of the two or more animated poses are provided to a simulator for use by the simulator such that in the absence of external force and acceleration the simulator output approximates the animated poses. Embodiments of the present invention are particularly useful for fleshy, blobby animation objects such as human characters, although the techniques can be used for other objects having different characteristics.

Abstract: A method allowing for quick manipulation of weight values associated with points on a polygonal mesh that is to be deformed. A point on the polygonal mesh may be selected by the user. Then, a solution space of possible positions for the selected point may be calculated by solving a deformation model for a range of weight values. A graphical representation of the solution space may be provided, such as a locus of possible positions for the selected point, where each point on the locus corresponds to a particular weight value. Manipulation of these weight values, and hence, the deformation of the polygonal mesh, may be achieved simply by selecting a position on the locus. The mesh may be updated to reflect the weight corresponding to the selected position.

Abstract: Visual representations of different versions of an object are automatically generated and presented to users. Users can compare these visual representations to determine appropriate level of detail transition points based on the visual appearances of different versions of an object. The specified level of detail transition points are converted into level of detail parameter values to be used to select one or more versions of an object for rendering, simulation, or other tasks. The visual representation of each version of an object can include an image sequence of the version at a range of distances from the camera. Each image corresponds to a view of the version at a specific level of detail parameter value. A user interface allows users to view the image sequences associated versions of an object as still images or animation. Users can select images in image sequences as level of detail transition points.

Abstract: A method for color grading within a component color space associated with a display includes receiving a source image comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel is associated with a color comprising a plurality of color component values in the component color space, wherein the component color space comprises RGB, and wherein a pixel is associated with a color inside a gamut of the display but outside a gamut of a target media, receiving a color grading signal from a user, modifying the color associated with the pixel from the plurality of pixels in response to the color grading signal, to form a graded image comprising the pixel, wherein the pixel is associated with a graded color comprising a plurality of color component values, displaying the graded image on the display to the user, automatically performing a gamut remapping of the graded color associated with the pixel, to form a gamut remapped image comprising the pixel, wherein the pixel is associated with a gamut remapped color comprising a p

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for rendering images as part of the production of animated features by generating an image of a surface or set of surfaces by modeling the reflection of light from the surface or set of surfaces. The invention may be used to provide a visually appealing and sufficiently realistic image of a surface or set of surfaces for use in production scale rendering, while requiring fewer computational resources than typically required by a strict physical model.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to computer-generated imagery (CGI) and computer-aided animation. More specifically, this disclosure relates to techniques for preserving the shape of simulated and dynamic objects for use in CGI and computer-aided animation.

Abstract: Test patterns and associated techniques for testing the fidelity of intensity reproduction are disclosed. One set of embodiments provide test patterns that incorporate anti-aliased features such as anti-aliased edges or lines. In various embodiments, these anti-aliased features expose undesirable, nonlinear transformations of the test patterns by one or more devices in an image output system or chain. Using these test patterns, users may more easily evaluate the end-to-end gamma response of the system, and may more easily calibrate gamma controls accordingly. Additionally, users may more easily identify nonlinear image resampling performed in gamma, rather than linear, space.

Abstract: Component connections are preserved during destructive component operations. Upon receiving a notification of the destruction of a direct component connection, a direct component connection is converted to an implied component connection. The implied component connection may be specified as additional component attributes of one or both components associated with the direct component connection or as data external to the component data structures. This allows preservation of the component connection despite destructive component operations. Upon the creation of a component, it is determined if the newly created component corresponds with a previously destroyed component that was associated with a direct connection. If the newly created component corresponds with this previously destroyed component, a direct component connection is created for the newly created component as specified by the implied component connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for custom designing modeless rigs or sets of object control elements that can be used when manipulating one or more objects. Users define object control rigs that can be used to perform specific object manipulation tasks for the user when manipulating objects in a scene. Different rigs can be constructed for the same set of animation objects to perform different tasks. A rig is modeless in that a rig may include an arbitrary user-selected mixture of object control elements that are typically used in different modes of manipulation. When a user selects a rig, all of the visual representations of the object control elements specified for that rig are enabled to be displayed proximal the object(s) with which the control elements are associated. No additional selection of object parts is necessarily required to determine which control elements are associated with the object(s). The user may manipulate the object(s) using a displayed visual representation of an object control element.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating depth-of-field effects includes receiving information specifying an input image rendered using a pinhole camera. A first set of circles of confusion associated with portions of the input image are determined based a set of parameters associated with the pinhole camera. The first set of circles of confusion are then associated with heat conductivity of a medium. The portions of the input image are blurred according to heat diffusion in the medium to generate a first output image having a first depth-of-field effect.

Abstract: A method for rendering an image including objects defined by surfaces. A rendering application selects an object in a first image and determines a surface of the object. An initial set of illumination values is calculated and is separated into low and high spatial frequency components associated with the surface of the object. The rendering application independently adjusts the illumination values of the low and high spatial frequency components based lighting information in the first image, and generates a modified set of illumination values by combining the adjusted low and high spatial frequency components. The surface of the object is then rendered using the modified set of illumination values. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention provide techniques for rendering an object without introducing halo effects around the object. Additionally, embodiments of the invention provide for rendering a sequence of frames without introducing fluctuations in the low frequency components from across frame.

Abstract: Animation software enables the creation and manipulation of animation in terms of relationships between poses, as opposed to discrete values of computer graphics variable knots. Poses are automatically associated with animation structures that define object pose or poses over a time interval, rather than at a single discrete time. Animation structures may define and manipulate animation data defined over time intervals as a unit, as opposed to a set of unrelated computer graphics variable knots. Animation structures may be used to block out the general form, timing, and rhythm of animations. Optional transition animation structures, pose anticipations, and pose reactions may be automatically or manually defined between adjacent pose hold durations. General parameters of an animation structure may be applied to create or modify the animation data associated with the animation structure. Operations on animation structures can be applied to all of the animation data included in these animation structures.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a reel of motion picture film including a first plurality of frames of film, the method includes receiving the first plurality of frames of motion picture film to determine a first plurality of digital data, receiving a second plurality of digital data associated with source data, comparing digital data from the first plurality of digital data to respective digital data of the second plurality of digital data to determine plurality of anomalies associated with the first plurality of frames of motion picture film, and recording the plurality of anomalies associated with the first plurality of frames of motion picture film in a log.

Abstract: A method for determining behavior of an animatronics unit includes receiving animation data comprising artistically determined motions for at least a portion of an animated character, determining a plurality of control signals to be applied to at least the portion of the animatronics unit in response to the animation data, estimating the behavior of at least the portion of the animatronics unit in response to the plurality of control signals by driving a software simulation of at least the portion of the animatronics unit with the plurality of control signals, and outputting a representation of the behavior of at least the portion of the animatronics unit to a user.

Abstract: To assist users in identifying the contributions of specific computer graphics variable or animation variable knots to the timing, rhythm, and expression of complicated animations, an animation software interface includes a snapsheet mode for visualizing and authored poses of objects. The snapsheet mode presents a series of rendered still images corresponding with the authored poses of one or more selected entities. The snapsheet mode may use one or more computer graphics variables, one or more objects, or arbitrary frames or shot time values as selected entities. The snapsheet mode associates each still image with a portion of the shot time of the overall animation corresponding with the selected entity's influence in the animation. Users may modify animation data via the snapsheet mode using each image may act as a proxy for manipulating associated authored values of one or more computer graphics variables.

Abstract: A system and method for characterizing and adjusting an offset between displayed stereo image pairs allows for calibration of the stereo image content for each display environment. The stereo image content is typically authored assuming a particular display image size. When the stereo image content is displayed in a display environment that does not conform to the particular display image size the offset between displayed stereo image pairs is increased or decreased, resulting in a viewing experience that is different than intended. In some cases, the viewer may experience discomfort due to eye strain or eye fatigue. Adjusting the offset during the playback of the stereo image content may improve the viewer experience.