Abstract: A method and apparatus provide the ability to generate a graphical user interface. Two user interface groups are defined that both contain two or more user interface (UI) components that are used to perform operations in an image processing application. The two groups are displayed (in panels having panel dimensions) on a first display device having a first aspect ratio. Each UI component has a corresponding size that it is displayed in and spacing between the UI components has a defined spacing size. The two groups are displayed on a second display device having a second different aspect ratio. The second aspect ratio is such that both panels cannot be completely displayed in the panel dimensions. First UI components are displayed in a first panel while the second panel is displayed with a portion obscured by the first panel.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing image data 603, 604 is provided, which comprises processing means 201, 202, memory means 205, 206, 207, display means 104 and manually operable input means 102, 103, 105, 106, wherein said memory means stores said image data and instructions 602, said image data and said instructions configure said processing means to perform the steps of outputting said image data to said display means as a hierarchical structure 603 of image data processing nodes 303, 401 to 413 having respective hierarchical properties 701, 702, 703, said structure being configured with a dimension. In response to selecting a plurality of said nodes by way of said input means, a group node 1301 is generated having hierarchical properties 701, 702, 703 processed (1103) from said respective properties. Said group node 1301 is output in said hierarchical structure 603. In response to selecting (1106) said group node 1301, said dimension is reconfigured (1107, 1501).

Abstract: An image processing function is selected via a graphical user interface (GUI) 902 that receives input commands from manually operated input means 102-103, 106 configured with activation means. Image data 707, 1206 is selected by placing a pointer 905 operated by the input means over its representation 919 within said GUI 902 and activating said activation means. In response to a translation 1301, 1303, 1402 of said representation 919 over a hierarchical representation 925 of said function within said GUI 902, said function is initialised according to said hierarchy with said selected image data 1206 as default data. In response to said initialisation, said GUI 902 is updated. In response to deactivating said activation means, said function is configured for processing said image data according to input received from said input means. The updated representation 1403 of said function includes a representation 919 of said image data 1206.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating image data is provided which comprises memory means, display means, user input means, and processing means, wherein said memory means stores said image data and instructions and said instructions configure said processing means to perform the steps of defining first image data, as a first layer having respective co-ordinates within a three-dimensional volume configured with a reference co-ordinate system; upon selecting second image data as a second layer to composite with said first layer, generating a reference pose layer and configuring the co-ordinates thereof as a second reference co-ordinate system within said volume; positioning said reference pose layer relative to said first layer; and defining said second image data as said second layer having respective co-ordinates within said three-dimensional volume configured with said second reference co-ordinate system.

Abstract: On a display monitor (102) the first region is displayed representing a first timeline (601) showing transitions between a first set of image clips. A second region is displayed representing a second timeline (602) showing transitions between a second set of image clips. Control points (621,622) are displayed over said first timeline (601) and over second timeline (602). The location of the control points controls an effect upon a first clip (601) and upon a second clip (602).

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for generating a non-modular user interface are disclosed. The user interface is composed of layers (1701 to 1703) of user interface groups (201 to 204). The groups are assigned to layers (902) and their locations are optimized (903) so that their contents, including button icons (208 to 210) retain their relative spacing regardless of the aspect ratio of the monitor (102, 1101) on which they are displayed. This ensures that familiar interface operations can be performed efficiently on systems having monitors of different aspect ratios.

Abstract: Apparatus for image data processing, comprising memory means, processing means, display means and manual input means, wherein said memory means includes animation data comprising a plurality of attributes each having at least one keyframe and each keyframe having a time value, and a plurality of cue points each having a time value, wherein a cue point may be associated with one or more keyframes having the same time value; wherein changing the time value of a cue point changes the time values of its associated keyframes.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing image data 603, 604 is provided, which comprises processing means 201, 202, memory means 205, 206, 207, display means 104 and manually operable input means 102, 103, 105, 106, wherein said memory means stores said image data and instructions 602, said image data and said instructions configure said processing means to perform the steps of outputting said image data to said display means as a hierarchical structure 603 of image data processing nodes 303, 401 to 413 having respective hierarchical properties 701, 702, 703, said structure being configured with a dimension. In response to selecting a plurality of said nodes by way of said input means, a group node 1301 is generated having hierarchical properties 701, 702, 703 processed (1103) from said respective properties. Said group node 1301 is output in said hierarchical structure 603. In response to selecting (1106) said group node 1301, said dimension is reconfigured (1107, 1501).

Abstract: A graphical user interface 1401 allows function commands 901, 902 to be selected, such as function commands applied to image data 503, 504. A first user-generated input command, such as the pressing of a spacebar 106 on a keyboard 105, displays a plurality of function gates (1407) at the position (1504) of a pointer 704 located within a context 1403. Movement of said pointer by a mouse 107, stylus 102 or similar device to one of said displayed gates (1505, 1506, 1507, 1508) results in the selection of a specific function 902. Alternatively, said pointer is moved to a different context 1402 and said first user-generated input command displays another plurality of function gates (1407) at the position (1509), wherein one of said displayed gates (1510, 1511, 1512) results in the selection of another specific function 908.

Abstract: An image processing function is selected via a graphical user interface (GUI) 902 that receives input commands from manually operated input means 102-103, 106 configured with activation means. Image data 707, 1206 is selected by placing a pointer 905 operated by the input means over its representation 919 within said GUI 902 and activating said activation means. In response to a translation 1301, 1303, 1402 of said representation 919 over a hierarchical representation 925 of said function within said GUI 902, said function is initialised according to said hierarchy with said selected image data 1206 as default data. In response to said initialisation, said GUI 902 is updated. In response to deactivating said activation means, said function is configured for processing said image data according to input received from said input means. The updated representation 1403 of said function includes a representation 919 of said image data 1206.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating image data is provided which comprises memory means, display means, user input means, and processing means, wherein said memory means stores said image data and instructions and said instructions configure said processing means to perform the steps of defining first image data, as a first layer having respective co-ordinates within a three-dimensional volume configured with a reference co-ordinate system; upon selecting second image data as a second layer to composite with said first layer, generating a reference pose layer and configuring the co-ordinates thereof as a second reference co-ordinate system within said volume; positioning said reference pose layer relative to said first layer; and defining said second image data as said second layer having respective co-ordinates within said three-dimensional volume configured with said second reference co-ordinate system.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing image data is provided, comprising processing means, storage means, display means and stylus-like manually operable input means, wherein said processing means is configured to perform functions upon image data in response to an operator manually selecting a function from a function menu; said processing means responds to a first user-generated input command so as to display a plurality of function gates at a cursor position; movement of the stylus-like manually operable input means so as to move said cursor through one of said function gates results in a related menu being displayed; and manual selection of a function from said displayed menu results in the selected function being performed upon said image data.

Abstract: On a display monitor (102) the first region is displayed representing a first timeline (601) showing transitions between a first set of image clips. A second region is displayed representing a second timeline (602) showing transitions between a second set of image clips. Control points (621,622) are displayed over said first timeline (601) and over second timeline (602). The location of the control points controls an effect upon a first clip (601) and upon a second clip (602).