Abstract: Techniques for aligning object representations for animation include analyzing a source object representation and a target object representation to identify a category of the source object and a category of the target object. Based on the category or categories of the objects, a feature extraction machine learning models is selected. The source object representation and the target object representation are provided as input to the selected feature extraction machine learning model to generate respective semantic descriptors and shape vectors for the source and target objects. Based on the semantic descriptors and the shape vectors for the source and target objects, an alignment machine learning model generates an aligned target object representation that is aligned with the source object representation and usable for animating the target object.

Abstract: A method and system for simulation of deformation of a thin-shelled member are disclosed herein. The method includes: receiving at one or more computer systems, information identifying a computer-generated object. The computer-generated object can be a thin-shelled member. The method includes: receiving information identifying a discretization of the computer-generated object, which discretization can be a plurality of nodes; receiving information identifying a set of material properties for the computer-generated object; pre-filtering nodes from the discretization based on predicted collisions; generating a preconditioner via a preconditioning algorithm; and iteratively solving for nodes at a plurality of time points via a conjugate gradient method.

Abstract: A method and system for simulation of deformation of elastic materials are disclosed herein. A matrix-free geometric multigrid method utilizing a direct coarse grid discretization is presented for the solution of linear systems resulting from an octree discretization of the equations of corotational linear elasticity. The diagonal component of the stiffness matrix needed for the multigrid smoother is calculated without generating the stiffness matrix. The use of an incomplete linear octree data structure supports the efficient simulation of objects with complicated boundaries. Furthermore, the method is robust to large deformations, making it suitable for character skinning applications in computer animation.

Abstract: A method and system for simulation of deformation of a thin-shelled member are disclosed herein. The method includes: receiving at one or more computer systems, information identifying a computer-generated object. The computer-generated object can be a thin-shelled member. The method includes: receiving information identifying a discretization of the computer-generated object, which discretization can be a plurality of nodes; receiving information identifying a set of material properties for the computer-generated object; pre-filtering nodes from the discretization based on predicted collisions; generating a preconditioner via a preconditioning algorithm; and iteratively solving for nodes at a plurality of time points via a conjugate gradient method.

Abstract: A method and system for simulation of deformation of elastic materials are disclosed herein. A matrix-free geometric multigrid method utilizing a direct coarse grid discretization is presented for the solution of linear systems resulting from an octree discretization of the equations of corotational linear elasticity. The diagonal component of the stiffness matrix needed for the multigrid smoother is calculated without generating the stiffness matrix. The use of an incomplete linear octree data structure supports the efficient simulation of objects with complicated boundaries. Furthermore, the method is robust to large deformations, making it suitable for character skinning applications in computer animation.

Abstract: A novel algorithmic framework is presented for the simulation of hyperelastic soft tissues that drastically improves each aspect discussed above compared to existing techniques. The approach is robust to large deformation (even inverted configurations) and extremely stable by virtue of careful treatment of linearization. Additionally, a new multigrid approach is presented to efficiently support hundreds of thousands of degrees of freedom (rather than the few thousands typical of existing techniques) in a production environment. Furthermore, these performance and robustness improvements are guaranteed in the presence of both collision and quasistatic/implicit time stepping techniques. The result is a significant advance in the applicability of hyperelastic simulation to skeleton driven character skinning.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods enabling reliable simulation of objects in contact scenarios. Embodiments of the invention utilize methods providing three parameter-independent guarantees. According to embodiments of the invention, simulations of well-posed problems: have no interpenetrations; obey causality, momentum and energy conservation laws; and complete in finite time.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for artist friendly control of three-dimensional object shading, particularly hair. A methodology is disclosed for deriving a pseudo scattering function over a domain of Artist Friendly Controls (AFCs) from a physically based scattering function over a domain of Physically Based Controls (PBCs). The pseudo scattering function can provide intuitive decoupled adjustments of specific important visual characteristics while still providing a convincing and aesthetically pleasing result. An end user such as an artist may thus control the values, or AFCs, to implement specific aesthetic features for the shading of objects as seen on a display. The pseudo scattering function may be utilized for single scattering and multiple scattering models of hair shading.

Abstract: Where images are displayed such that unintended light is also included and that light cannot be fully subtracted from the displayed image, an image processor compensates by compensating for the remaining light using perceptual models. In some cases, the perceptual model includes a plurality of user sensitivities and computation is performed, at least in part, based on expected user sensitivity to light pollution in portions of the images. The perceptual model might include a contrast sensitivity function, threshold-vs-intensity, saliency prediction and visual masking. The model might include artist indications of view attention. A light pollution likelihood map might be used to reduce the amount of computation needed, using a likelihood measure to determine an amount of computation to perform.

Abstract: A novel algorithmic framework is presented for the simulation of hyperelastic soft tissues that drastically improves each aspect discussed above compared to existing techniques. The approach is robust to large deformation (even inverted configurations) and extremely stable by virtue of careful treatment of linearization. Additionally, a new multigrid approach is presented to efficiently support hundreds of thousands of degrees of freedom (rather than the few thousands typical of existing techniques) in a production environment. Furthermore, these performance and robustness improvements are guaranteed in the presence of both collision and quasistatic/implicit time stepping techniques. The result is a significant advance in the applicability of hyperelastic simulation to skeleton driven character skinning.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for artist friendly control of three-dimensional object shading, particularly hair. A methodology is disclosed for deriving a pseudo scattering function over a domain of Artist Friendly Controls (AFCs) from a physically based scattering function over a domain of Physically Based Controls (PBCs). The pseudo scattering function can provide intuitive decoupled adjustments of specific important visual characteristics while still providing a convincing and aesthetically pleasing result. An end user such as an artist may thus control the values, or AFCs, to implement specific aesthetic features for the shading of objects as seen on a display. The pseudo scattering function may be utilized for single scattering and multiple scattering models of hair shading.

Abstract: Where images are displayed such that unintended light is also included and that light cannot be fully subtracted from the displayed image, an image processor compensates by compensating for the remaining light using perceptual models. In some cases, the perceptual model includes a plurality of user sensitivities and computation is performed, at least in part, based on expected user sensitivity to light pollution in portions of the images. The perceptual model might include a contrast sensitivity function, threshold-vs-intensity, saliency prediction and visual masking. The model might include artist indications of view attention. A light pollution likelihood map might be used to reduce the amount of computation needed, using a likelihood measure to determine an amount of computation to perform.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods enabling reliable simulation of objects in contact scenarios. Embodiments of the invention utilize methods providing three parameter-independent guarantees. According to embodiments of the invention, simulations of well-posed problems: have no interpenetrations; obey causality, momentum and energy conservation laws; and complete in finite time.