Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for generating design variations. The technique involves identifying a first design variable and a second design variable associated with a first design. The technique further involves generating a first plurality of design variations based on the first design. Each design variation is generated by varying at least one of the first design variable and the second design variable. Finally, the technique involves causing the first plurality of design variations to be displayed to a user.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for manipulating the position and appearance of shadows cast by light striking objects within a three dimensional model. Typically, the location and appearance of shadows are determined using the position of a distant light source. A user selects a point from within a shadow bounded region to drag from an initial position to a destination position. Once a point is selected, the position of the light source may be adjusted about a pivot point. The adjusted position of the light source is determined based on the position of the destination position and the position of the pivot point within the 3D model.

Abstract: Systems, program products and program products for accepting a request to move a first geometric entity that is constrained to other geometric entities in a drawing that may contain both one-way and two-way geometric constraints. A set of affected geometric entities that need to be repositioned or otherwise changed as the result of moving the first geometric entity is identified. The affected geometric entities and the geometric constraints are classified into groups which are solved using a variational geometric constraint solver. If the geometric constraints cannot be satisfied, the movement of the first geometric entity is restricted. Otherwise the affected geometric entities are updated.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for generating design variations. The technique involves identifying a first design variable and a second design variable associated with a first design. The technique further involves generating a first plurality of design variations based on the first design. Each design variation is generated by varying at least one of the first design variable and the second design variable. Finally, the technique involves causing the first plurality of design variations to be displayed to a user.

Abstract: Systems, program products and program products for accepting a request to move a first geometric entity that is constrained to other geometric entities in a drawing that may contain both one-way and two-way geometric constraints. A set of affected geometric entities that need to be repositioned or otherwise changed as the result of moving the first geometric entity is identified. The affected geometric entities and the geometric constraints are classified into groups which are solved using a variational geometric constraint solver. If the geometric constraints cannot be satisfied, the movement of the first geometric entity is restricted. Otherwise the affected geometric entities are updated.

Abstract: Systems, program products and program products for accepting a request to move a first geometric entity that is constrained to other geometric entities in a drawing that may contain both one-way and two-way geometric constraints. A set of affected geometric entities that need to be repositioned or otherwise changed as the result of moving the first geometric entity is identified. The affected geometric entities and the geometric constraints are classified into groups which are solved using a variational geometric constraint solver. If the geometric constraints cannot be satisfied, the movement of the first geometric entity is restricted. Otherwise the affected geometric entities are updated.

Abstract: A production process is provided for a board of hydraulic binder with a facing on each of its sides. The process includes on one side first tapered parallel edges and on the same side or the other side, two second tapered parallel edges perpendicular to the first. The process also includes the use of a forming lath having at least two distal parts. The process can be used in a production line that includes a specific lath.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a graphics application configured to generate previews of a graphics object when a configurable parameter is modified. A computation engine computes the result of the modified parameter value and determines a set of additional parameter values based on configurable meta-data. The computation engine then computes results of each additional parameter value. Each computed result specifies a different change in the characteristic of the graphics object. The computation engine transmits the computed results to a preview generator, also included in the graphics application. For each computed result, the preview generator generates a preview of the graphics object that incorporates the change in the characteristic of the graphics object. The previews are transmitted to a preview pane for display. The user may then select one of the previews, and the parameter value of the configurable parameter is modified based on the selected preview.

Abstract: A Sheet Set Manager for a computer-implemented graphics program allows drawings to be organized logically as a Sheet Set comprising a collection of Sheets and Subsets of Sheets, wherein each Sheet comprises a drawing, layout or view. The Sheet Set Manager is a graphical user interface for displaying, accessing and managing the Sheet Sets, Subsets and Sheets, as well as editing components of the Sheet Sets, Subsets and Sheets.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a computer readable storage medium provide the ability to manipulate a segment of a network in a computer drawing application. A graphics drawing program is displayed on a display device. User input is accept that obtains a drawing having graphics objects. A connected object network object is created. A subset of the graphics objects (that are connected to each other) are added to the connected object network object. User input is accepted that selects a first graphic object in the subset and in response, an alignment line is displayed across all of the graphic objects in the connected object network object. The alignment line graphically indicates that all of the graphic objects in the subset are part of the connected object network object.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a graphics application configured to generate previews of a graphics object when a configurable parameter is modified. A computation engine computes the result of the modified parameter value and determines a set of additional parameter values based on configurable meta-data. The computation engine then computes results of each additional parameter value. Each computed result specifies a different change in the characteristic of the graphics object. The computation engine transmits the computed results to a preview generator, also included in the graphics application. For each computed result, the preview generator generates a preview of the graphics object that incorporates the change in the characteristic of the graphics object. The previews are transmitted to a preview pane for display. The user may then select one of the previews, and the parameter value of the configurable parameter is modified based on the selected preview.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for overriding layer display properties in computer-aided design (CAD) viewports. A method of generating a display representation of a CAD drawing includes identifying one or more layers of the CAD drawing to include in the display representation. Each of the one or more layers may be associated with a set of drawing elements and a set of layer display properties. The method also includes identifying a viewport display property for a first layer of the one or more layers and generating the display representation. The display representation may include the drawing elements associated with the one or more layers, and the appearance of the drawing elements associated with the first layer is based on the viewport display property.

Abstract: A production process is provided for a board of hydraulic binder with a facing on each of its sides. The process includes on one side first tapered parallel edges and on the same side or the other side, two second tapered parallel edges perpendicular to the first. The process also includes the use of a forming lath having at least two distal parts. The process can be used in a production line that includes a specific lath.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to modify an appearance style of a computer generated rendering. A computer generated rendering consisting of vector geometry is obtained. A closed second geometry is created in the computer generated rendering. The closed second geometry is then converted to a domain. An appearance style for an active region of the domain is identified and applied to all vector geometry in the active region on a per-pixel basis.

Abstract: Systems, program products and program products for accepting a request to move a first geometric entity that is constrained to other geometric entities in a drawing that may contain both one-way and two-way geometric constraints. A set of affected geometric entities that need to be repositioned or otherwise changed as the result of moving the first geometric entity is identified. The affected geometric entities and the geometric constraints are classified into groups which are solved using a variational geometric constraint solver. If the geometric constraints cannot be satisfied, the movement of the first geometric entity is restricted. Otherwise the affected geometric entities are updated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for overriding layer display properties in computer-aided design (CAD) viewports. A method of generating a display representation of a CAD drawing includes identifying one or more layers of the CAD drawing to include in the display representation. Each of the one or more layers may be associated with a set of drawing elements and a set of layer display properties. The method also includes identifying a viewport display property for a first layer of the one or more layers and generating the display representation. The display representation may include the drawing elements associated with the one or more layers, and the appearance of the drawing elements associated with the first layer is based on the viewport display property.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability adaptively render/adjust a display. A visual style comprising an encapsulated set of one or more (or all of the) display properties may be set. An adaptive degradation chain is then determined/established that comprises an ordered sequence of the display properties. The ordered sequence determines an order for changing the one or more display properties when adjusting a rendering quality. The rendering quality is set. The rendering quality is temporarily adjusted by changing one or more of the display properties based on the adaptive degradation chain.

Abstract: A method for identifying the limits of an object (10) in a digitized video display (12) having a series of video frames (14). A seed (26) is introduced into an initial object (18a) in an initial frame (14b) and the seed (26) is expanded to define the limits of the initial object (18a). The modified seed (26a) is then superimposed upon a modified object (18b) and a common area (36) is identified. The common area (36) is modified to become yet another iteration of the seed (26) for continuing the operation into yet another frame (14) having a subsequent version of the object (18). The video seed fill over time method (10) proceeds until no common area (36) is identified for a specified number of frames 14.