Abstract: One embodiment of the present application includes an approach by which an animation system manipulates an animatable object. The animation system detects that a pointer device has positioned a pointer location at a first location, the first location coinciding with a first portion of geometry of the animatable object. The animation system indicates that a first manipulator associated with the first portion of geometry is tentatively selected. Prior to receiving a selection event from the pointer device, the animation system displays a representation of the first manipulator.

Abstract: Techniques for animating a non-rigid object in a computer graphics environment. A three-dimensional (3D) curve rigging element representing the non-rigid object is defined, the 3D curve rigging element comprising a plurality of knot primitives. One or more defined values are received for an animation control attribute of a first knot primitive. One or more values are generated, for a second animation control attribute for a second knot primitive, based on the plurality of animation control attributes of a neighboring knot primitive. An animation is then rendered using the 3D curve rigging element. More specifically, one or more defined values for the first attribute of the first knot primitive and the generated value for the second attributes of the second knot primitive are used to generate the animation. The rendered animation is output for display.

Abstract: Techniques for animating a non-rigid object in a computer graphics environment. A three-dimensional (3D) curve rigging element representing the non-rigid object is defined, the 3D curve rigging element comprising a plurality of knot primitives. One or more defined values are received for an animation control attribute of a first knot primitive. One or more values are generated, for a second animation control attribute for a second knot primitive, based on the plurality of animation control attributes of a neighboring knot primitive. An animation is then rendered using the 3D curve rigging element. More specifically, one or more defined values for the first attribute of the first knot primitive and the generated value for the second attributes of the second knot primitive are used to generate the animation. The rendered animation is output for display.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present application includes an approach by which an animation system manipulates an animatable object. The animation system detects that a pointer device has positioned a pointer location at a first location, the first location coinciding with a first portion of geometry of the animatable object. The animation system indicates that a first manipulator associated with the first portion of geometry is tentatively selected. Prior to receiving a selection event from the pointer device, the animation system displays a representation of the first manipulator.

Abstract: A system and method of animating an object using chained kinematic logic is provided. An animated object may be comprised of several components, each having a corresponding solver. An animator may designate a final desired position of a primary component. The method further includes automatically determining a hierarchical chained relationship between the primary component and one or more secondary associated components. Using chained kinematic logic defined by constraints, the statuses of the solvers for the secondary components may change based on the statuses of the primary component's solver and final desired position. Thus, a pose of the entire object, including the states of all its associated secondary components, may change based on an updated status of the solver of the first component designated by the animator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deformation of surface objects are disclosed. A method may include receiving an initial pose of a model comprising an underlying object and a plurality of surface objects, and a deformation of the model to a second pose. A measurement of the surface objects in the second pose can be used to determine inversely distorted surface objects, such that the lengths of the edges in the inversely distorted surface object are adjusted to counteract the distortion. Thus, when the inversely distorted surface objects are deformed to the second pose, they may appear less distorted than when the original surface objects are deformed to the second pose. Furthermore, a user may direct the level of inverse distortion, so that the surface objects, when inversely distorted and deformed to the second pose, may appear entirely rigid, entirely flexible, or some combination thereof.