Abstract: A computerized editing system for 3 dimensional animation is provided that includes 3 dimensional characters, which expose behaviors. The 3 dimensional characters invoke their behaviors in response to trigger events, and the animation scene can be configured with the trigger events on a timeline. After designing the animation scene and refining it, the animator can cause the system to generate animation data that is representative of deterministic animation.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a property editor in a graphics image system in order to specify parameter values for effects in an effect tree. A separate instance of the property editor is not invoked for each effect within the effect tree, but rather the property editor permits the modification of multiple effects from the same instance of the editor. Advantageously, the user is not required to navigate between a view of the effect tree and the property editor in order to edit effects.

Abstract: A novel NLE system and method of constructing edit sequences includes reference clips which can be employed in the sequences. The reference clips include a reference to metadata defining a child sequence. The reference clip is loaded into a parent sequence in the NLE system, rather than the netadata for the child sequence and, as the reference clip and its reference typically have a much smaller memory footprint than the metadata for the child sequence, the memory requirements for the NLE system to load the parent sequence are reduced, as is the time required to accomplish the load. In addition, the metadata defining the child sequences can be persisted separately from the parent sequences, and used in a any parent sequence by employing a reference clip to the persisted child sequence. This also allows multiple instances of reference clips to a child sequence to be employed, in a single parent sequence or in multiple parent sequences and by multiple users.

Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides for a method and system that is operable on a computer system, for selectively determining parameters values or keys to be made available to graphical imaging system to drive a animation application. The method includes receiving a Parameter Set (PSet) having a plurality of parameters corresponding to the animation application, assigning one or more of said parameters a value; marking a subset of said parameters, modifying the keys of only marked parameters according to the parameter's value, and running the animation application in response to the keys after marking.

Abstract: A computerized editing system for 3 dimensional animation is provided that includes 3 dimensional characters, which expose behaviors. The 3 dimensional characters invoke their behaviors in response to trigger events, and the animation scene can be configured with the trigger events on a timeline. After designing the animation scene and refining it, the animator can cause the system to generate animation data that is representative of deterministic animation.

Abstract: A system has a hierarchical organization for modifying and applying tools for manipulating data types. The system has a user interface for displaying the hierarchical organization, an inspector for viewing and modifying an internal structure of the tools and a button for launching each of the inspectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus for presenting a graphical user interface for use in displaying graphics on a computer display. A frame window is launched that includes a main menu and defines a window border that bounds a user work surface on a display monitor. A first borderless child window is attached to the frame window. This first borderless window is a graphics display window for displaying an image on the user work surface. One or more additional borderless child windows are attached to the frame window. These other child windows display controls such as buttons and icons that allow the user to control depiction of the image within the first borderless child window. The buttons and icons have a sculpted appearance that appears raised in a first state and appear reversed when `depressed` or activated by the user.

Abstract: Graphics software for use in rendering an image on a computer display. The software is used in conjunction with special hardware including a high resolution computer monitor and high speed graphics imaging software. The software allows the user to create and manipulate paint objects that define the way images are modified by rendering tools such as a drawing tool or a titling tool. The attributes for a plurality of paint objects are defined in a hierarchy and can be stored on a memory device such as a computer hard drive. The organization into a hierarchy of the various attributes making up a complex object such as a paint stroke or a text body result in an ability to deal with branches of the hierarchy as persistable objects in their own right.

Abstract: A user interface receives user input representative of movement of a mouse pointer relative to a datum point. This datum point is established as a origin with four quadrants. The movement is determined to be either in a first sense or an opposite second sense relative to the datum point. A variable responsively increments when the movement is in the first sense and responsively decrements when the movement is in the second opposite sense. The user may move the pointer in a generally circular or spiral pattern in a clockwise or counterclockwise sense about the origin until the desired value is attained.

Abstract: For use in composing and/or editing a multimedia work that include one or more clips, a technique for indicating an active state of the clip or portion thereof, indicating effects applied to a track or a clip, and indicating a plurality of effects applied to a track or to a clip. At least a portion of the work is graphically represented by one or more timelines on which are disposed one or more clips. An active portion of a clip is indicated by a colored bar that extends under that portion of the clip. Different types of transitions between clips are indicated by using one of different predetermined colors for the colored bar. Effects applied to a track are also represented by color bars that extend above the portion of the track to which the effects apply and are independent of changes to any clip disposed on the track. Predetermined colors are used to indicate the type or class of effect(s) applied. A plurality of effects applied to a clip or to a track are indicated by stacking the colored bars.