System and method for special effects for text objects

A computer-implemented method of displaying a text object with a special effect that changes how the text object appears, the text object including a sequence of one or more characters, the method comprising:

• displaying the text object in a first display format of display pixels forming the sequence of characters of the text object, wherein the display pixels of the text object are arranged in rows in which a first plurality of rows is consecutively interspersed with a second plurality of rows;
• implementing the special effect by displaying a sequence of a predetermined plural number of animation frames, each animation frame being created by adjusting automatically one or more of the display pixels of the text object, wherein the special effect is a shimmer effect, and the implementing step includes shifting the first plurality of rows of the display pixels in a first direction and shifting the second plurality of rows of the display pixels in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
• and
• automatically re-displaying the text object in the first display format upon completion of the predetermined plural number of animation flames.

A computer system for displaying a text object with a special effect on a computer display, the text object including a sequence of one or more characters, the system comprising:

• means for displaying the text object on the computer display in a first display format of display pixels forming the sequence of characters of the text object, wherein the display pixels of the text object are arranged in rows in which a first plurality of rows is consecutively interspersed with a second plurality of rows;
• means for implementing the special effect by displaying a sequence of a predetermined plural number of animation frames, each animation frame being created by adjusting automatically one or more of the display pixels of the text object, wherein the special effect is a shimmer effect, and the implementing means includes means for shifting the first plurality of rows of the display pixels in a first direction and shifting the second plurality of rows of the display pixels in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
• and
• means for automatically re-displaying the text object on the computer display in the first display format upon completion of the predetermined plural number of animation frames.

A computer-readable memory device for displaying a text object with a special effect that changes how the text object appears, the text object including a sequence of one or more characters, the memory device including computer instructions controlling a computer to perform the following steps:

• displaying the text object in a first display format of display pixels forming the sequence of characters of the text object, wherein the display pixels of the text object are arranged in rows in which a first plurality of rows is consecutively interspersed with a second plurality of rows;
• implementing the special effect by displaying a sequence of a predetermined plural number of animation frames, each animation frame being created by adjusting automatically one or more of the display pixels of the text object, wherein the special effect is a shimmer effect, and the implementing step includes shifting the first plurality of rows of the display pixels in a first direction and shifting the second plurality of rows of the display pixels in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
• and
• automatically re-displaying the text object in the first display format upon completion of the predetermined plural number of animation frames.