Abstract: Dynamic motion path blur techniques are described. In one or more implementations, paths may be specified to constrain a motion blur effect to be applied to a single image. A variety of different techniques may be employed as part of the motion blur effects, including use of curved blur kernel shapes, use of a mesh representation of blur kernel parameter fields to support real time output of the motion blur effect to an image, use of flash effects, blur kernel positioning to support centered or directional blurring, tapered exposure modeling, and null paths.

Abstract: Certain embodiments involve using labels to track high-frequency offsets for patch-matching. For example, a processor identifies an offset between a first source image patch and a first target image patch. If the first source image patch and the first target image patch are sufficiently similar, the processor updates a data structure to include a label specifying the offset. The processor associates, via the data structure, the first source image patch with the label. The processor subsequently selects certain high-frequency offsets, including the identified offset, from frequently occurring offsets in the data structure. The processor uses these offsets to identify a second target image patch, which is located at the identified offset from a second source image patch. The processor associates, via the data structure, the second source image patch with the identified offset based on a sufficient similarity between the second source image patch and the second target image patch.

Abstract: Example systems and methods of providing a user interface are presented. In one example, a graphical object is displayed on an opaque display component on a user-facing side of a computing device. Using a sensing component of the computing device, movement of a physical pointer controlled by a user is sensed. The physical pointer may be located opposite the user-facing side of the computing device. On the opaque display component, a representation of the physical pointer is displayed during the movement of the physical pointer. The graphical object, as displayed on the opaque display component, is modified based on the sensed movement of the physical pointer during the movement of the physical pointer.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and systems for rendering digital images of a virtual environment utilizing full path space learning. In particular, one or more embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods estimate a global light transport function based on sampled paths within a virtual environment. Moreover, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods utilize the global light transport function to sample additional paths. Accordingly, the disclosed systems and methods can iteratively update an estimated global light transport function and utilize the estimated global light transport function to focus path sampling on regions of a virtual environment most likely to impact rendering a digital image of the virtual environment from a particular camera perspective.

Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods of selecting colors to points in a digital three-dimensional (3D) model representing a scanned object, based on points and color images associated with the 3D model. Certain embodiments involve selecting from the images a patch for each point in the 3D model, and determining a quality of the patches. The selected patches are analyzed to determine an overall score, representing aggregated quality of the patches and an aggregated smoothness indicating variation between patches selected for neighboring points. In some examples, multiple sets of selected patches are analyzed and scored, and the scores are compared to determine a representative patch set that optimizes the quality and the smoothness. Colors are assigned to the points of the digital model based on the representative set of patches.

Abstract: An analytical method to efficiently convert a function that is stored in spherical harmonics into a function that is stored in a wavelet or mip map representation enables a variety of computer graphics functions to be efficiently performed. A function may be stored as a spherical harmonic representation and rotated in the spherical harmonic domain; the function can then be converted to a wavelet representation. The conversion method may be used to convert a spherical harmonic function to wavelets, and then an importance sampling technique may be applied to the wavelet representation to generate a set of importance samples for the function. The conversion method may be applied to convert a spherical harmonic representation into the wavelet domain, and an importance sampling technique may then be applied which samples the product of the function and another function in the wavelet domain.

Abstract: Content update and suggestion techniques are described. In one or more implementations, techniques are implemented to generate suggestions that are usable to guide creative professionals in updating content such as images, video, sound, multimedia, and so forth. A variety of techniques are usable to generate suggestions for the content professionals. In one example, suggestions are based on shared characteristics of images licensed by users of a content sharing service, e.g., licensed by the users. In another example, suggestions are based on metadata of the images licensed by the users, the metadata describing characteristics of how the images are created. These suggestions are then used to guide transformation of a user's image such that the image exhibits these characteristics and thus has an increased likelihood of being desired for licensing by customers of the service.

Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods of selecting colors to points in a digital three-dimensional (3D) model representing a scanned object, based on points and color images associated with the 3D model. Certain embodiments involve selecting from the images a patch for each point in the 3D model, and determining a quality of the patches. The selected patches are analyzed to determine an overall score, representing aggregated quality of the patches and an aggregated smoothness indicating variation between patches selected for neighboring points. In some examples, multiple sets of selected patches are analyzed and scored, and the scores are compared to determine a representative patch set that optimizes the quality and the smoothness. Colors are assigned to the points of the digital model based on the representative set of patches.

Abstract: Smoothing images using machine learning is described. In one or more embodiments, a machine learning system is trained using multiple training items. Each training item includes a boundary shape representation and a positional indicator. To generate the training item, a smooth image is downscaled to produce a corresponding blocky image that includes multiple blocks. For a given block, the boundary shape representation encodes a blocky boundary in a neighborhood around the given block. The positional indicator reflects a distance between the given block and a smooth boundary of the smooth image. In one or more embodiments to smooth a blocky image, a boundary shape representation around a selected block is determined. The representation is encoded as a feature vector and applied to the machine learning system to obtain a positional indicator. The positional indicator is used to compute a location of a smooth boundary of a smooth image.

Abstract: Dynamic motion path blur techniques are described. In one or more implementations, paths may be specified to constrain a motion blur effect to be applied to a single image. A variety of different techniques may be employed as part of the motion blur effects, including use of curved blur kernel shapes, use of a mesh representation of blur kernel parameter fields to support real time output of the motion blur effect to an image, use of flash effects, blur kernel positioning to support centered or directional blurring, tapered exposure modeling, and null paths.

Abstract: An analytical method to efficiently convert a function that is stored in spherical harmonics into a function that is stored in a wavelet or mip map representation enables a variety of computer graphics functions to be efficiently performed. A function may be stored as a spherical harmonic representation and rotated in the spherical harmonic domain; the function can then be converted to a wavelet representation. The conversion method may be used to convert a spherical harmonic function to wavelets, and then an importance sampling technique may be applied to the wavelet representation to generate a set of importance samples for the function. The conversion method may be applied to convert a spherical harmonic representation into the wavelet domain, and an importance sampling technique may then be applied which samples the product of the function and another function in the wavelet domain.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to generating enhanced curves that are aesthetically pleasing. To create enhanced a curve that is aesthetically pleasing, a curve enhancement system uses non-uniformly scaled cubic variation of curvature (CVC) curves. For example, the curve enhancement system non-uniformly scales a curve in a spline. Based on the scaling, the curve enhancement system can generate CVC curves having the desired end point constraints. Then, using the end point constraints, the curve enhancement system can inversely downscale the non-uniform scaled curve while maintaining the end point constraints from the CVC curves to achieve an enhanced curve in the spline.

Abstract: Blending techniques for curve fitting are described. In one or more implementations, an indication is received of three or more data points. A blending factor is computed based on a spatial relationship of the three or more data points to each other. A curve is fit to the three or more data points by blending a plurality or curve fitting techniques using the computed blending factor.

Abstract: Dynamic motion path blur techniques are described. In one or more implementations, paths may be specified to constrain a motion blur effect to be applied to a single image. A variety of different techniques may be employed as part of the motion blur effects, including use of curved blur kernel shapes, use of a mesh representation of blur kernel parameter fields to support real time output of the motion blur effect to an image, use of flash effects, blur kernel positioning to support centered or directional blurring, tapered exposure modeling, and null paths.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are described to generate a three-dimensional model from two-dimensional images. A plurality of inputs is received, formed through user interaction with a user interface. Each of the plurality of inputs define a respective user-specified point on the object in a respective one of the plurality of images. A plurality of estimated points on the object are generated automatically and without user intervention. Each of the plurality of estimated points corresponds to a respective user-specified point for other ones of the plurality of images. The plurality of estimated points is displayed for the other ones of the plurality of images in the user interface by a computing device. A mesh of the three-dimensional model of the object is generated by the computing device by mapping respective ones of the user-specified points to respective ones of the estimated points in the plurality of images.

Abstract: An analytical method to efficiently convert a function that is stored in spherical harmonics into a function that is stored in a wavelet or mip map representation enables a variety of computer graphics functions to be efficiently performed. A function may be stored as a spherical harmonic representation and rotated in the spherical harmonic domain; the function can then be converted to a wavelet representation. The conversion method may be used to convert a spherical harmonic function to wavelets, and then an importance sampling technique may be applied to the wavelet representation to generate a set of importance samples for the function. The conversion method may be applied to convert a spherical harmonic representation into the wavelet domain, and an importance sampling technique may then be applied which samples the product of the function and another function in the wavelet domain.

Abstract: Paintbrush and liquid simulation techniques are described. In one or more implementations, input is received to perform brush strokes with a virtual paintbrush on a virtual canvas. For virtual paint on the virtual canvas, lifelike paint qualities are simulated. However, the lifelike paint qualities are simulated solely for the virtual paint that is within a region of the canvas. The lifelike paint qualities are not simulated for virtual paint located outside the region. As part of simulating the interaction between the virtual paint, the virtual paintbrush, and the virtual canvas, various parts of the simulation may be performed by different processing units. For example, bristles of the virtual paintbrush may be simulated utilizing a first processing device such as a central processing unit (CPU). A second processing unit, such as a graphics processing unit (GPU), may be employed to simulate the lifelike effects of the virtual paint.

Abstract: A complete augmented fantasy game system (including all supporting processes), which combines the traditional integration of real-life events within fantasy games with an additional bonus competition. A Participant creates a team composed of real-life Competitors. When an owned, real-life Competitor completes a key event, a bonus stage is initiated. The bonus stage enables a Participant to compete directly with an opponent for bonus points. New inventions pertaining to Participant Ratings/rankings and tournament implementation are also claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for 3-Dimensional portrait reconstruction from a single photo. A face portion of a person depicted in a portrait photo is detected and a 3-Dimensional model of the person depicted in the portrait photo constructed. In one embodiment, constructing the 3-Dimensional model involves fitting hair portions of the portrait photo to one or more helices. In another embodiment, constructing the 3-Dimensional model involves applying positional and normal boundary conditions determined based on one or more relationships between face portion shape and hair portion shape. In yet another embodiment, constructing the 3-Dimensional model involves using shape from shading to capture fine-scale details in a form of surface normals, the shape from shading based on an adaptive albedo model and/or a lighting condition estimated based on shape fitting the face portion.

Abstract: Smoothing images using machine learning is described. In one or more embodiments, a machine learning system is trained using multiple training items. Each training item includes a boundary shape representation and a positional indicator. To generate the training item, a smooth image is downscaled to produce a corresponding blocky image that includes multiple blocks. For a given block, the boundary shape representation encodes a blocky boundary in a neighborhood around the given block. The positional indicator reflects a distance between the given block and a smooth boundary of the smooth image. In one or more embodiments to smooth a blocky image, a boundary shape representation around a selected block is determined. The representation is encoded as a feature vector and applied to the machine learning system to obtain a positional indicator. The positional indicator is used to compute a location of a smooth boundary of a smooth image.