Abstract: Processes for reviewing and editing a computer-generated animation are provided. In one example process, multiple images representing segments of a computer-generated animation may be displayed. In response to a selection of one or more of the images, geometry data associated with the corresponding segment(s) of computer-generated animation may be accessed. An editable geometric representation of the selected segment(s) of computer-generated animation may be displayed based on the accessed geometry data. In some examples, previously rendered representations and/or geometric representations of the same or other segments of the computer-generated animation may be concurrently displayed adjacent to, overlaid with, or in any other desired manner with the displayed geometric representation of the selected segment's) of computer-generated animation.

Abstract: Processes for reviewing and editing a computer-generated animation are provided. In one example process, multiple images representing segments of a computer-generated animation may be displayed. In response to a selection of one or more of the images, geometry data associated with the corresponding segment(s) of computer-generated animation may be accessed. An editable geometric representation of the selected segment(s) of computer-generated animation may be displayed based on the accessed geometry data. In some examples, previously rendered representations and/or geometric representations of the same or other segments of the computer-generated animation may be concurrently displayed adjacent to, overlaid with, or in any other desired manner with the displayed geometric representation of the selected segment's) of computer-generated animation.

Abstract: Processes for reviewing and editing a computer-generated animation are provided. In one example process, multiple images representing segments of a computer-generated animation may be displayed. In response to a selection of one or more of the images, geometry data associated with the corresponding segment(s) of computer-generated animation may be accessed. An editable geometric representation of the selected segment(s) of computer-generated animation may be displayed based on the accessed geometry data. In some examples, previously rendered representations and/or geometric representations of the same or other segments of the computer-generated animation may be concurrently displayed adjacent to, overlaid with, or in any other desired manner with the displayed geometric representation of the selected segment(s) of computer-generated animation.

Abstract: A method for composing a scene using a data module includes: receiving, from a user, an instruction to instantiate the data module to produce at least a first instance of the data module in a second data module; receiving, from the user, a first override for modifying the first instance of the data module; receiving, from the user, a second override for modifying the data module; identifying a conflict introduced by the first override or the second override; configuring a display interface to display an indication informing the user of the identified conflict; configuring the display interface to display one or more options for resolving the identified conflict; receiving, from the user, a selection of an option of the one or more options; and in response to the selection of the option, resolving the identified conflict by deleting the first override or the second override.

Abstract: A method for composing a scene using a data module includes: receiving, from a user, an instruction to instantiate the data module to produce at least a first instance of the data module in a second data module; receiving, from the user, a first override for modifying the first instance of the data module; receiving, from the user, a second override for modifying the data module; identifying a conflict introduced by the first override or the second override; configuring a display interface to display an indication informing the user of the identified conflict; configuring the display interface to display one or more options for resolving the identified conflict; receiving, from the user, a selection of an option of the one or more options; and in response to the selection of the option, resolving the identified conflict by deleting the first override or the second override.

Abstract: A skin deformation system for use in computer animation is disclosed. The skin deformation system accesses the skeleton structure of a computer generated character, and accesses a user's identification of features of the skeleton structure that may affect a skin deformation. The system also accesses the user's identification of a weighting strategy. Using the identified weighting strategy and identified features of the skeleton structure, the skin deformation system determines the degree to which each feature identified by the user may influence the deformation of a skin of the computer generated character. The skin deformation system may incorporate secondary operations including bulge, slide, scale and twist into the deformation of a skin. Information relating to a deformed skin may be stored by the skin deformation system so that the information may be used to produce a visual image for a viewer.

Abstract: A method of creating a computer-generated animation uses a graphical user interface including a two-dimensional array of cells. The array has a plurality of rows associated with computer-generated elements and a plurality of columns associated with frames of the animation. The array includes a first cell associated with a first computer-generated element and a first frame. A first view of the array is displayed in which the first cell has a first width and includes a key frame indicator that indicates that a designated value is associated with the first computer-generated element for the first frame. A second view is displayed in which the first cell has a second width and includes an element value indicator. The second width is greater than the first width, and the element value indicator represents the designated value associated with the first computer-generated element.

Abstract: A method of creating a computer-generated animation uses a graphical user interface including a two-dimensional array of cells. The array has a plurality of rows associated with computer-generated elements and a plurality of columns associated with frames of the animation. The array includes a first cell associated with a first computer-generated element and a first frame. A first view of the array is displayed in which the first cell has a first width and includes a key frame indicator that indicates that a designated value is associated with the first computer-generated element for the first frame. A second view is displayed in which the first cell has a second width and includes an element value indicator. The second width is greater than the first width, and the element value indicator represents the designated value associated with the first computer-generated element.

Abstract: A method of creating a computer-generated animation uses a graphical user interface including a two-dimensional array of cells. The array has a plurality of rows associated with visual characteristics of a computer-generated character and a plurality of columns associated with frames of the animation. The array includes a first cell associated with a first visual characteristic and a first frame. A first view of the array is displayed in which the first cell has a first width and includes a key frame indicator that indicates that a designated value is associated with the first visual characteristic for the first frame. A second view is displayed in which the first cell has a second width and includes an element value indicator. The second width is greater than the first width, and the element value indicator represents the value associated with the first visual characteristic.

Abstract: A skin deformation system for use in computer animation is disclosed. The skin deformation system accesses the skeleton structure of a computer generated character, and accesses a user's identification of features of the skeleton structure that may affect a skin deformation. The system also accesses the user's identification of a weighting strategy. Using the identified weighting strategy and identified features of the skeleton structure, the skin deformation system determines the degree to which each feature identified by the user may influence the deformation of a skin of the computer generated character. The skin deformation system may incorporate secondary operations including bulge, slide, scale and twist into the deformation of a skin. Information relating to a deformed skin may be stored by the skin deformation system so that the information may be used to produce a visual image for a viewer.

Abstract: A skin deformation system for use in computer animation is disclosed. The skin deformation system accesses the skeleton structure of a computer generated character, and accesses a user's identification of features of the skeleton structure that may affect a skin deformation. The system also accesses the user's identification of a weighting strategy. Using the identified weighting strategy and identified features of the skeleton structure, the skin deformation system determines the degree to which each feature identified by the user may influence the deformation of a skin of the computer generated character. The skin deformation system may incorporate secondary operations including bulge, slide, scale and twist into the deformation of a skin. Information relating to a deformed skin may be stored by the skin deformation system so that the information may be used to produce a visual image for a viewer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing MOS skin deformations are provided. In one example process, the in vector of a MOS transform may be manually configured by a user. In another example process, a slide/bulge operation may be configured to depend on two or more MOS transforms. Each of the MOS transforms may be assigned a weight that represents the transform's contribution to the overall slide/bulge. In yet another example process, a bulge operation for a MOS vertex may be performed in a direction orthogonal to the attached MOS curve regardless of the direction of the attachment vector. In yet another example process, a ghost transform may be inserted into a MOS closed curve and used to calculate skin deformations associated with first transform of the MOS closed curve.

Abstract: A method of creating a computer-generated animation uses a graphical user interface including a two-dimensional array of cells. The array has a plurality of rows associated with visual characteristics of a computer-generated character and a plurality of columns associated with frames of the animation. The array includes a first cell associated with a first visual characteristic and a first frame. A first view of the array is displayed in which the first cell has a first width and includes a key frame indicator that indicates that a designated value is associated with the first visual characteristic for the first frame. A second view is displayed in which the first cell has a second width and includes an element value indicator. The second width is greater than the first width, and the element value indicator represents the value associated with the first visual characteristic.

Abstract: Processes for reviewing and editing a computer-generated animation are provided. In one example process, multiple images representing segments of a computer-generated animation may be displayed. In response to a selection of one or more of the images, geometry data associated with the corresponding segment(s) of computer-generated animation may be accessed. An editable geometric representation of the selected segment(s) of computer-generated animation may be displayed based on the accessed geometry data. In some examples, previously rendered representations and/or geometric representations of the same or other segments of the computer-generated animation may be concurrently displayed adjacent to, overlaid with, or in any other desired manner with the displayed geometric representation of the selected segment(s) of computer-generated animation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing MOS skin deformations are provided. In one example process, the in vector of a MOS transform may be manually configured by a user. In another example process, a slide/bulge operation may be configured to depend on two or more MOS transforms. Each of the MOS transforms may be assigned a weight that represents the transform's contribution to the overall slide/bulge. In yet another example process, a bulge operation for a MOS vertex may be performed in a direction orthogonal to the attached MOS curve regardless of the direction of the attachment vector. In yet another example process, a ghost transform may be inserted into a MOS closed curve and used to calculate skin deformations associated with first transform of the MOS closed curve.

Abstract: A skin deformation system for use in computer animation is disclosed. The skin deformation system accesses the skeleton structure of a computer generated character, and accesses a user's identification of features of the skeleton structure that may affect a skin deformation. The system also accesses the user's identification of a weighting strategy. Using the identified weighting strategy and identified features of the skeleton structure, the skin deformation system determines the degree to which each feature identified by the user may influence the deformation of a skin of the computer generated character. The skin deformation system may incorporate secondary operations including bulge, slide, scale and twist into the deformation of a skin Information relating to a deformed skin may be stored by the skin deformation system so that the information may be used to produce a visual image for a viewer.