Control interface for a three-dimensional graphical object
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsBarry John Ptak, David Mondelore, Alexander Charles Cullum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects of the technology described herein provide a control interface for manipulating a 3-D graphical object within a virtual drawing space. The control can be activated by selecting a graphical object or objects. When multiple objects are selected, the manipulations can occur as a group. In one aspect, the manipulations occur around the centroid of the 3-D graphical object, or groups of objects. The manipulations can include rotation, size adjustment, and positional adjustment within the virtual drawing space. The control interface comprises controls that rotate the object around an x-axis, an y-axis, or an z-axis.
Claims20
A method of manipulating a three-dimensional (3D) graphical object displayed in a virtual 3D drawing space generated by a computer, the method comprising:
- outputting for display, the virtual 3D drawing space comprising the 3D object;
- receiving a user selection of the 3D object;
- displaying a control having a visible bounding box that surrounds an exterior boundary of the 3D object, the control comprising an x-axis control located on a first exterior side of the visible bounding box, an y-axis control located on a second exterior side of the visible bounding box, and an z-axis control located on a third exterior side of the visible bounding box;
- receiving an input through the z-axis control;
- and
- in response to the input through the z-axis control, rotating the 3D object around the z-axis.
A method of manipulating a three-dimensional (3D) graphical object displayed in a virtual 3D drawing space generated by a computer, the method comprising:
- outputting for display, the virtual 3D drawing space comprising the 3D object;
- receiving a user selection of the 3D object;
- displaying a control having a visible bounding box that surrounds an exterior boundary of the 3D object, the control comprising a first axis control for a first axis located on a first exterior side of the visible bounding box, a second axis control for a second axis located on a second exterior side of the visible bounding box, and a third axis control for a third axis located on a third exterior side of the visible bounding box;
- receiving a first input through the first axis control, the first input indicating a first direction of rotation by selecting a first side of the first axis control;
- in response to the first input, rotating the 3D object around the first axis in the first direction of rotation;
- receiving a second input through the first control, the input indicating a second direction of rotation by selecting a second side of the first control that is opposite the first side;
- and
- in response to the second input, rotating the 3D object around the first axis in the second direction of rotation.
A method of manipulating a three-dimensional (3D) graphical object displayed in a virtual 3D drawing space generated by a computer, the method comprising:
- outputting for display, the virtual 3D drawing space comprising the 3D object;
- receiving a user selection of the 3D object;
- displaying a control around the 3D object, the control comprising an x-axis control, an y-axis control, an z-axis control, and a bounding box that surrounds an exterior boundary of the 3D object, wherein the x-axis control, an y-axis control, an z-axis control are located on different exterior sides of the bounding box;
- receiving an input through the z-axis control, the input indicating a direction of rotation;
- and
- in response to the input, rotating the 3D object around the z-axis in the direction of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.