Abstract: Disclosed is a system and associated methods for improving interactions with three-dimensional (“3D”) objects in a 3D space by dynamically defining the positioning of the handles used to control the interactions with the camera and/or the 3D objects. The system analyzes the positioning of different constructs that form the 3D objects. From the analysis, the system defines handles at different dynamically determined positions about the 3D objects. The system applies an edit from a first dynamically determined position about a particular 3D object in response to a user interaction with a first handle defined at the first dynamically determined position, and applies the edit from a second dynamically determined position about the particular 3D object in response to a user interaction with a second handle defined at the second dynamically determined position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and associated methods for improving interactions with three-dimensional (“3D”) objects in a 3D space by dynamically defining the positioning of the handles used to control the interactions with the camera and/or the 3D objects. The system analyzes the positioning of different constructs that form the 3D objects. From the analysis, the system defines handles at different dynamically determined positions about the 3D objects. The system applies an edit from a first dynamically determined position about a particular 3D object in response to a user interaction with a first handle defined at the first dynamically determined position, and applies the edit from a second dynamically determined position about the particular 3D object in response to a user interaction with a second handle defined at the second dynamically determined position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a graphics system and associated methods for preserving or improving image quality when rendering a decimated image or three-dimensional (“3D”) that has been decimated to remove some primitives from the original representation of the undecimated image or 3D model. The graphics system receives decimated primitives that are defined with a position, visual characteristics, and at least first and second surface normals. The graphics system defines a light source for illuminating the decimated primitives, determines that the second surface normal of a particular decimated primitive receives more light from the light source than the first surface normal of the particular decimated primitive, and generates a visualization for the particular primitive at the position of the particular primitive with the visual characteristics of the particular primitive adjusted according to an amount of light from the light source reaching the particular primitive via the second surface normal.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) interactivity system automatically and dynamically generates shape-conforming and computationally efficient colliders for detecting collisions with automatically differentiated features represented by different sets of points in a point cloud. The system selects a set of points that represent a particular feature of a 3D object, decimates the set of points to a subset of points that represent an approximate shape of the particular feature with fewer points than the set of points, and generates a collider with the approximate shape represented by the subset of points. The system may then use the collider in determining whether a collision element collides with the particular feature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and associated methods for controlling computer operation through three-dimensional (“3D”) menus, 3D toolbars, and other 3D elements that provide an efficient and dynamic organization of application functionality and icons across three dimensions. The system generates a first 3D element with a first number of regions with each region of the first number of regions providing access to different functionality from a first set of functionality, and a second 3D element with a second number of regions with each region of the second number of regions providing access to different functionality from a second set of functionality. The system connects the first 3D element to the second 3D element, and rotates one or more of the first element and the second 3D element to change the functionality that is accessible from the one or more of the first element and the second element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for differentiating the selection of three-dimensional (“3D”) image data in a 3D space from other unselected 3D image data that may be positioned in front of the selected 3D image data, and for customizing editing operations that are presented in a user interface based on the object or material property represented in the selection. The system selects a set of 3D image data in response to a user input, and adjusts the transparency of unselected 3D image data that is positioned in front of the selected set of 3D image data. The system presents a differentiated visualization by rendering the selected set of 3D image data according to an original size, position, and visual characteristics defined for the selected set of 3D image, and by performing a partial or fully transparent rendering of the unselected 3D image as a result of the transparency adjustment.

Abstract: Disclosed is an editing system for postprocessing three-dimensional (“3D”) image data to realistically recreate the effects associated with viewing or imaging a represented scene with different camera settings or lenses. The system receives an original image and an edit command with a camera setting or a camera lens. The system associates the selection to multiple image adjustments. The system performs a first of the multiple image adjustments on a first set of 3D image data from the original image in response to the first set of 3D image data satisfying specific positional or non-positional values defined for the first image adjustment, and performs a second of the multiple image adjustments on a second set of 3D image data from the original image in response to the second set of 3D image data satisfying the specific positional or non-positional values defined for the second image adjustment.

Abstract: An editing system and associated methods execute a workflow involving a sequence of two-dimensional/three-dimensional (“2D/3D”) data manipulations and/or associated operations to 2D/3D data of different formats by calling functions of different applications that are compatible with the changing format of the 2D/3D data throughout the workflow. The system determines that the 2D/3D data provided as input to a first workflow node is in a first format, and executes the first node by invoking a function of a first application that implements the operations associated with the first node on the 2D/3D data in the first format. Execution of the first node converts the 2D/3D data to a different second format that is passed to a second workflow node. The system executes a second workflow node by invoking a function of a second application that implements the operations associated with the second node on the 2D/3D data in the second format.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and associated methods for dynamically enhancing a three-dimensional (“3D”) animation that is generated from points of one or more point clouds. The system reduces noise and corrects gaps, holes, and/or distortions that are created in different frames as a result of adjusting the point cloud points to create the 3D animation. The system detects a set of points that share positional and/or non-positional commonality of a feature in the 3D animation. The system applies one or more adjustments to the set of points to animate feature from a current frame to a next frame, and detects a point from the set of points that deviates from the positional and/or non-positional commonality of the feature after applying the adjustments. The system dynamically enhances the 3D animation by correcting the point prior to rendering the next frame of the 3D animation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and associated methods for improving interactions with three-dimensional (“3D”) objects in a 3D space by dynamically defining the positioning of the handles used to control the interactions with the camera and/or the 3D objects. The system analyzes the positioning of different constructs that form the 3D objects. From the analysis, the system defines handles at different dynamically determined positions about the 3D objects. The system applies an edit from a first dynamically determined position about a particular 3D object in response to a user interaction with a first handle defined at the first dynamically determined position, and applies the edit from a second dynamically determined position about the particular 3D object in response to a user interaction with a second handle defined at the second dynamically determined position.

Abstract: A graphics system and associated methods produce a continuous presentation and/or visualization from a point cloud with a distributed and disconnected set of data points that otherwise produce a discontinuous presentation and/or visualization of a scene. The graphics system receives the data points, and expands a polygonal mesh from the position of each particular data point such that each side of the polygonal mesh connects to a side of a polygonal mesh that is expanded from the position of each data point of a set of data points that neighbors the particular data point. The polygonal mesh of the particular data point spans a larger area or volume of the space than the particular data point. The graphics system produces the continuous visualization of the scene from rendering the polygonal mesh that is expanded from the position of each particular data point instead of rendering the data points.

Abstract: An editing system may dynamically and intelligently determine which data points to remove, replace, and/or modify from a point cloud space so that more features, color information, and/or detail of the point cloud are preserved after decimation. The system may receive data points that are distributed in space, and may select one or more elements of the data points on which to base the decimation. For instance, the system may decimate a first subset of the data points by a first amount based on a first difference in values defined for the one or more elements of the first subset of data points, and may decimate a different second subset of the data points by a different second amount based on a second difference in values defined for the one or more elements of the second subset of data points.

Abstract: Disclosed is an editing system that accounts for or leverages the three-dimensional (“3D”) positioning of 3D image data to edit attributes of a selected first set of image data based on attributes of an unselected second set of image data that is determined to be a threshold distance from the first set of image data and on the same surface as the first set of image data. The system leverages x, y, and z coordinates as well as surface normals to exclude image data from the editing that is within the threshold distance but that forms part of a different object, surface, or side about an edge of a surface than the first set of image data. The system also modifies the attribute adjustment based on the distance separating the first set of image data from a render position or each instance of the second set of image data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and associated methods for controlling computer operation through three-dimensional (“3D”) menus, 3D toolbars, and other 3D elements that provide an efficient and dynamic organization of application functionality and icons across three dimensions. The system generates a first 3D element with a first number of regions with each region of the first number of regions providing access to different functionality from a first set of functionality, and a second 3D element with a second number of regions with each region of the second number of regions providing access to different functionality from a second set of functionality. The system connects the first 3D element to the second 3D element, and rotates one or more of the first element and the second 3D element to change the functionality that is accessible from the one or more of the first element and the second element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for differentiating the selection of three-dimensional (“3D”) image data in a 3D space from other unselected 3D image data that may be positioned in front of the selected 3D image data, and for customizing editing operations that are presented in a user interface based on the object or material property represented in the selection. The system selects a set of 3D image data in response to a user input, and adjusts the transparency of unselected 3D image data that is positioned in front of the selected set of 3D image data. The system presents a differentiated visualization by rendering the selected set of 3D image data according to an original size, position, and visual characteristics defined for the selected set of 3D image, and by performing a partial or fully transparent rendering of the unselected 3D image as a result of the transparency adjustment.

Abstract: An editing system may dynamically and intelligently determine which data points to remove, replace, and/or modify from a point cloud space so that more features, color information, and/or detail of the point cloud are preserved after decimation. The system may receive data points that are distributed in space, and may select one or more elements of the data points on which to base the decimation. For instance, the system may decimate a first subset of the data points by a first amount based on a first difference in values defined for the one or more elements of the first subset of data points, and may decimate a different second subset of the data points by a different second amount based on a second difference in values defined for the one or more elements of the second subset of data points.

Abstract: Disclosed are editing tools for manipulating a three-dimensional (“3D”) data file or point cloud. An editing application may generate a visualization of the 3D data file or point cloud, and a user may invoke an editing tool over a particular region of the visualization that is rendered based on the positional and non-positional values of a first data point set and a second data point set from the 3D data file or point cloud. The editing tool may differentiate the first data point set from the second data point set based on unique commonality in the positional and/or non-positional values of the first data point set, and may edit less than all of the particular region by adjusting one or more of the positional and/or non-positional values of the first data point set while retaining the positional and non-positional values of the second data point set.

Abstract: Disclosed is an editing system for postprocessing three-dimensional (“3D”) image data to realistically recreate the effects associated with viewing or imaging a represented scene with different camera settings or lenses. The system receives an original image and an edit command with a camera setting or a camera lens. The system associates the selection to multiple image adjustments. The system performs a first of the multiple image adjustments on a first set of 3D image data from the original image in response to the first set of 3D image data satisfying specific positional or non-positional values defined for the first image adjustment, and performs a second of the multiple image adjustments on a second set of 3D image data from the original image in response to the second set of 3D image data satisfying the specific positional or non-positional values defined for the second image adjustment.

Abstract: An editing system and associated methods execute a workflow involving a sequence of two-dimensional/three-dimensional (“2D/3D”) data manipulations and/or associated operations to 2D/3D data of different formats by calling functions of different applications that are compatible with the changing format of the 2D/3D data throughout the workflow. The system determines that the 2D/3D data provided as input to a first workflow node is in a first format, and executes the first node by invoking a function of a first application that implements the operations associated with the first node on the 2D/3D data in the first format. Execution of the first node converts the 2D/3D data to a different second format that is passed to a second workflow node. The system executes a second workflow node by invoking a function of a second application that implements the operations associated with the second node on the 2D/3D data in the second format.

Abstract: Disclosed is an editing system that accounts for or leverages the three-dimensional (“3D”) positioning of 3D image data to edit attributes of a selected first set of image data based on attributes of an unselected second set of image data that is determined to be a threshold distance from the first set of image data and on the same surface as the first set of image data. The system leverages x, y, and z coordinates as well as surface normals to exclude image data from the editing that is within the threshold distance but that forms part of a different object, surface, or side about an edge of a surface than the first set of image data. The system also modifies the attribute adjustment based on the distance separating the first set of image data from a render position or each instance of the second set of image data.