Abstract: A method for a computer system includes receiving a surface deformation for an object from a computer system user, wherein an object model comprises animation variables used to determine the surface of the object model, determining at least one pre-defined object pose from pre-defined object poses in response to the surface deformation, wherein the predefined object poses includes a first predefined object pose and comprises animation variable values, wherein the animation variable values are determined from physical motion capture data of surface positions of a physical representation of the object posed in a first pose, posing the object model in a pose in response to at least the animation variable values, and displaying the object model in the pose on a display to the computer system user.

Abstract: Any image capturing system, and a method to use same, that includes one or more image capturing devices that have known and fixed positions relative to one another and the eye of a subject, wherein the image capturing devices capture a plurality of images of eye of a subject during a performance is disclosed. The images of the eye, along with the known and fixed relative positions of the image capturing devices are used define eye-lines for the eye of the subject. The eye-lines can then be used to manually or automatically retarget the eye of a rendered or animated figure based on the performance of the subject to retarget the gaze intent of the rendered or animated figure within a scene.

Abstract: A method for rendering an image on computer system including a display includes determining a first displacement map associated with a surface material and a first input parameter, determining a second displacement map associated with the surface material and a second input parameter. determining a three-dimensional displacement data structure in response to the first displacement map, the first input parameter, the second displacement map and the second input parameter in the computer system, receiving a third input parameter, determining a third displacement map associated with the surface material in response to the three-dimensional displacement data structure and the third input parameter in the computer system, rendering an image of an object in the computer system, wherein an appearance of a surface of the object is determined in response to the third displacement map, and displaying the image on the display to a user.

Abstract: A method for a computer system comprising receiving a displacement for a first object model surface from a user determined in response to a first physical motion captured pose, determining a weighted combination of a first displacement group and a second displacement group from the displacement, wherein the first displacement group is determined from displacements between the first object model surface and a second object model surface, wherein the second object model surface is determined from displacements between a second physical motion captured pose, wherein the second displacement group is determined from displacements between the first object model surface and a third object model surface, wherein the third object model surface is determined from a third physical motion captured pose, determining a fourth object model surface from the first object model surface and the weighted combination, and displaying the fourth object model surface to the user on a display.

Abstract: An image capturing system includes one or more image capturing devices and one or more illumination sources that have known and fixed positions relative to one another, wherein the illumination source is held constant or can be calibrated to provide a known illumination level on a subject, such that the variation in shading at various points on the surface of the subject, with different orientations relative to the illumination source, can be used to determine the orientation of the surface of the subject and thereby used to more accurately render an image or other representation of the subject.

Abstract: Any image capturing system, and a method to use same, that includes one or more image capturing devices that have known and fixed positions relative to one another and the eye of a subject, wherein the image capturing devices capture a plurality of images of eye of a subject during a performance is disclosed. The images of the eye, along with the known and fixed relative positions of the image capturing devices are used define eye-lines for the eye of the subject. The eye-lines can then be used to manually or automatically retarget the eye of a rendered or animated figure based on the performance of the subject to retarget the gaze intent of the rendered or animated figure within a scene.

Abstract: A method for a computer system comprising receiving a displacement for a first object model surface from a user determined in response to a first physical motion captured pose, determining a weighted combination of a first displacement group and a second displacement group from the displacement, wherein the first displacement group is determined from displacements between the first object model surface and a second object model surface, wherein the second object model surface is determined from displacements between a second physical motion captured pose, wherein the second displacement group is determined from displacements between the first object model surface and a third object model surface, wherein the third object model surface is determined from a third physical motion captured pose, determining a fourth object model surface from the first object model surface and the weighted combination, and displaying the fourth object model surface to the user on a display.