Abstract: A non-linear editing (NLE) system for editing and/or modifying 3D animation information comprises elements represented by clip objects which can be positioned and/or manipulated relative to a time line. The elements can comprise conventional 1D (audio) or 2D (video) information or can comprise 3D animation information which can include animation objects and animation parameters associated with them, as well as 2D renderings of those objects. Positioning and/or manipulation of clip objects representing 3D animation elements can result in alteration of the 2D rendering and or re-rendering of the 3D information, as appropriate.

Abstract: A non-linear editing (NLE) system for editing and/or modifying 3D animation information comprises elements represented by clip objects which can be positioned and/or manipulated relative to a time line. The elements can comprise conventional 1D (audio) or 2D (video) information or can comprise 3D animation information which can include animation objects and animation parameters associated with them, as well as 2D renderings of those objects. Positioning and/or manipulation of clip objects representing 3D animation elements can result in alteration of the 2D rendering and or re-rendering of the 3D information, as appropriate.

Abstract: A non-linear editing (NLE) system for editing and/or modifying 3D animation information comprises elements represented by clip objects which can be positioned and/or manipulated relative to a time line. The elements can comprise conventional 1D (audio) or 2D (video) information or can comprise 3D animation information which can include animation objects and animation parameters associated with them, as well as 2D renderings of those objects. Positioning and/or manipulation of clip objects representing 3D animation elements can result in alteration of the 2D rendering and or re-rendering of the 3D information, as appropriate.

Abstract: A method and system for editing function curves in a computer-based editing or animation environment. The method consists of defining a region having two dimensions. The region contains a number of selected keys associated with one or more function curves. Resizing or moving the region causes the selected keys to be resized or moved accordingly.

Abstract: An animation system and method for defining and using one or more groups of objects in an animation allows an animator to define at least one membership rule that determines membership of an object in a group. Parameters such as properties, operators, effects, constraints, expressions and the like can be defined for the groups and can be inherited by each member of the group. A membership rule is evaluated at defined intervals to determine which objects in a scene satisfy the rule. The objects that satisfy the rule are included in the group defined by the membership rule. At least one parameter, selected by the animator for application to the group, is then inherited by each member of the group.

Abstract: A system and method of accessing and manipulating time-based data allows data of at least two diverse types to be arranged with respect to a common internal time line of a meta-clip. The internal time line of the meta-clip is re-mapped, in use, to a global time line in a nonlinear editing system. The data within the meta-clip is accessed, modified and otherwise manipulated within the non-linear editing system environment as a single clip. A meta-clip in accordance with the present invention can comprise diverse data types including, without limitation, video, audio, 2D or 3D animations and their components and other meta-clips. Filters, effects or other operators can be applied to meta-clips, with some operators affecting each clip within the meta-clip and other operators affecting only clips of applicable data types within the meta clip.

Abstract: A user-interface (UI) device allows the assignment of multiple parameter values to a multiple-selection of objects through a familiar UI mechanism. A multiple selection of objects is made. A object inspector is opened such as would normally be used to enter single values to be applied to properties of all the selected objects. For example, a group of graphical objects is selected and a line-weight parameter is adjusted to make the lines of the objects heavier. According to the invention, the same type of inspector device may be used to apply multiple values by providing for the indication of a function definition instead of an explicit value in a field normally used to enter a single value. The text boxes normally used for entry of values are provided with the ability to accept symbolic notation, e.g, a string, to indicate value ranges instead ofjust discrete values.

Abstract: A system and method for managing the creation and production of computer generated works permits two or more users to create a work by a collaborative process. The work, or a component of a work, to be created and/or produced is organised into a project structure which includes a plurality of scene structures, each of which can include a plurality of element structures which are used to construct the scenes. A project manager device operates to manage the accessing and modification of elements structures and scenes in the project by the users and manages the relationships between elements structures. The project manager device performs read reference locking of element structures and scenes to ensure that users are always using an appropriate version of the elements and/or scenes and that updates to elements and scenes are correctly propagated to other elements and to users.

Abstract: A method and system employing an NLE to create and modify 3D animations by mixing and compositing animation data includes Actions which represent one or more animatable parameters for an animation object. The Actions are presented in an Action list from which a user may select and are positioned on an NLE-type time line for the animation object. Actions can be manipulated in a manner, which is believed to be intuitive, and is similar to the manipulation of clips in conventional NLE systems, to alter the length or speed of components of the animation and can be mixed and/or composited and otherwise manipulated to produce a desired 3D computer generated animation.

Abstract: A method of and a system for controlling an inverse kinematics generated animation of an articulated chain is described. A resolution plane in a default orientation is computed by determining a root-effector vector extending from a root of an articulated chain to an end effector of the articulated chain and letting the resolution plane extend through the root-effector vector. A control icon representative of a position relative to the root is visually displayed. The resolution plane of an articulated chain is manipulated by manipulating the icon and re-determining the resolution plane using the root-effector vector and a root-control vector extending from the root to the icon. The animation of the articulated chain is constrained relative to the resolution plane and a solution of positions and orientations of all limbs of the articulated chain in achieving a goal is computed and displayed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional graphic object appearing in an animation is deformed to simulate the effects of motion on the object. A user can selectively apply a stretch, yield, or flex deformation effect to the control vertices of the object, to change the shape of the object as a function of any of a linear velocity, angular velocity, linear acceleration, or angular acceleration of the object. Various other parameters for each of these deformation effects can also be selected and set by the user, including a sensitivity to the motion in generating the deformation and a maximum deformation. The flex deformation can selectively be set to either a linear or curved profile, simulating the effect of friction applied by the environment on one or more surfaces of the object. The stretch deformation can selectively be set to either a constant or a free volume to simulate the effect of inertia, causing a body to elongate or shrink in the direction of the movement.