Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for displaying lighting values associated with a 3-D graphics model by superimposing an overlay grid with lighting values on the 3-D graphics model. A software rendering engine computes lighting values for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model, where each frame may have different lighting settings. An overlay grid with lighting values may be superimposed on an area defined by a light meter on the 3-D graphics model. The lighting values on the overlay grid are associated with the light meter and may vary frame-over-frame. In another embodiment, a JPEG image with a superimposed overlay grid with per-pixel lighting values covering a 3-D graphics model is generated for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model. These JPEG images may be displayed on the screen and stored to an external memory.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for displaying lighting values associated with a 3-D graphics model by superimposing an overlay grid with lighting values on the 3-D graphics model. A software rendering engine computes lighting values for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model, where each frame may have different lighting settings. An overlay grid with lighting values may be superimposed on an area defined by a light meter on the 3-D graphics model. The lighting values on the overlay grid are associated with the light meter and may vary frame-over-frame. In another embodiment, a JPEG image with a superimposed overlay grid with per-pixel lighting values covering a 3-D graphics model is generated for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model. These JPEG images may be displayed on the screen and stored to an external memory.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a technique for placing objects across a surface of a graphics object. The technique includes establishing a first plurality of grid points over the surface of the graphics object, wherein each grid point in the plurality of grid points is located either inside or outside the surface, establishing a second plurality of grid points that includes only grid points in the first plurality of grid points that are located inside the surface, marking each grid point in the second plurality of grid points as an eligible area or an ineligible area onto which objects can be placed, selecting from the second plurality of grid points a grid point that is marked as an eligible area, and placing an object onto the selected grid point.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for displaying lighting values associated with a 3-D graphics model by superimposing an overlay grid with lighting values on the 3-D graphics model. A software rendering engine computes lighting values for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model, where each frame may have different lighting settings. An overlay grid with lighting values may be superimposed on an area defined by a light meter on the 3-D graphics model. The lighting values on the overlay grid are associated with the light meter and may vary frame-over-frame. In another embodiment, a JPEG image with a superimposed overlay grid with per-pixel lighting values covering a 3-D graphics model is generated for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model. These JPEG images may be displayed on the screen and stored to an external memory.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for displaying lighting values associated with a 3-D graphics model by superimposing an overlay grid with lighting values on the 3-D graphics model. A software rendering engine computes lighting values for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model, where each frame may have different lighting settings. An overlay grid with lighting values may be superimposed on an area defined by a light meter on the 3-D graphics model. The lighting values on the overlay grid are associated with the light meter and may vary frame-over-frame. In another embodiment, a JPEG image with a superimposed overlay grid with per-pixel lighting values covering a 3-D graphics model is generated for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model. These JPEG images may be displayed on the screen and stored to an external memory.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a technique for placing objects across a surface of a graphics object. The technique includes establishing a first plurality of grid points over the surface of the graphics object, wherein each grid point in the plurality of grid points is located either inside or outside the surface, establishing a second plurality of grid points that includes only grid points in the first plurality of grid points that are located inside the surface, marking each grid point in the second plurality of grid points as an eligible area or an ineligible area onto which objects can be placed, selecting from the second plurality of grid points a grid point that is marked as an eligible area, and placing an object onto the selected grid point.

Abstract: A method for projecting a data set from a first object to a second object includes the steps of defining one or more sub-objects, wherein each sub-object represents a portion of the second object, associating the first object with a first sub-object, expanding a projection cage to substantially encompass both the first sub-object and the first object, and transferring the data set from the first object to the first sub-object using the projection cage. The disclosed method advantageously allows the first sub-object to be defined in a way that avoids undesirable cage intersections, thereby enabling the data set from the first object to be transferred without tedious manual manipulations of the projection cage.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for displaying lighting values associated with a 3-D graphics model by superimposing an overlay grid with lighting values on the 3-D graphics model. A software rendering engine computes lighting values for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model, where each frame may have different lighting settings. An overlay grid with lighting values may be superimposed on an area defined by a light meter on the 3-D graphics model. The lighting values on the overlay grid are associated with the light meter and may vary frame-over-frame. In another embodiment, a JPEG image with a superimposed overlay grid with per-pixel lighting values covering a 3-D graphics model is generated for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model. These JPEG images may be displayed on the screen and stored to an external memory.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for displaying lighting values associated with a 3-D graphics model by superimposing an overlay grid with lighting values on the 3-D graphics model. A software rendering engine computes lighting values for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model, where each frame may have different lighting settings. An overlay grid with lighting values may be superimposed on an area defined by a light meter on the 3-D graphics model. The lighting values on the overlay grid are associated with the light meter and may vary frame-over-frame. In another embodiment, a JPEG image with a superimposed overlay grid with per-pixel lighting values covering a 3-D graphics model is generated for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model. These JPEG images may be displayed on the screen and stored to an external memory.

Abstract: A method for projecting a data set from a first object to a second object includes the steps of defining one or more sub-objects, wherein each sub-object represents a portion of the second object, associating the first object with a first sub-object, expanding a projection cage to substantially encompass both the first sub-object and the first object, and transferring the data set from the first object to the first sub-object using the projection cage. The disclosed method advantageously allows the first sub-object to be defined in a way that avoids undesirable cage intersections, thereby enabling the data set from the first object to be transferred without tedious manual manipulations of the projection cage.