Stroke-based posing of three-dimensional models
AssigneePacific Data Images LLC
InventorTerran Boylan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A posing system for three-dimensional characters and other models uses a stroke-based gestural language to position elements of the characters in a three-dimensional environment. A user draws a stroke in a two-dimensional interface in connection with a portion of model. The drawn stroke corresponds to an element of the model, such as a particular body part. A software program interprets the stroke and applies it to the placement or posing of the corresponding element. Additional elements are posed as necessary to further define the way in which the model as a whole should be posed. With a number of appropriate strokes for each of the elements, an animator can position the model in the scene.
Claims16
A method for posing a computer-animated three-dimensional model in a three-dimensional scene space, the model including a plurality of elements, the method comprising:
- receiving a stroke drawn in a two-dimensional screen space, the stroke having a starting point, an ending point, and a direction;
- associating the stroke with an element of the model;
- and
- positioning the element in the scene space based on the starting point, the ending point, and the direction of the stroke, wherein the element has a major axis of finite length that defines a position of the element in scene space, and positioning the element comprises:
- determining a set of candidate positions for which a projection of the major axis onto screen space is located on the screen space from the starting point to the ending point of the stroke;
- and
- selecting a candidate position from the set based at least in part on the direction of the stroke.
A method for posing a computer-animated three-dimensional model in a three-dimensional scene space, the model including a plurality of elements, the method comprising:
- receiving a stroke drawn in a two-dimensional screen space, the stroke having a starting point, an ending point, and a direction;
- associating the stroke with an element of the model;
- and
- positioning the element in the scene space based on the starting point, the ending point, and the direction of the stroke, wherein
- a position of the element in scene space is definable by:
- a first link located between a base joint of the element and a middle joint of the element;
- and a second link located between the middle joint and a tip point of the element;
- and
- positioning the element comprises:
- determining a set of candidate positions for which a projection of the base joint onto screen space is located at the starting point or the ending point of the stroke, and a projection of the tip joint onto screen space is located at the starting point or the ending point of the stroke;
- and selecting a candidate position from the set based at least in part on the direction of the stroke.
A computer program product for posing a computer-animated three-dimensional model in a three-dimensional scene space, the model including a plurality of elements, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code for performing the operations:
- receiving a stroke drawn in a two-dimensional screen space, the stroke having a starting point, an ending point, and a direction;
- associating the stroke with an element of the model;
- and
- positioning the element in the scene space based on the starting point, the ending point, and the direction of the stroke, wherein the element has a major axis of finite length that defines a position of the element in scene space, and positioning the element comprises:
- determining a set of candidate positions for which a projection of the major axis onto screen space is located on the screen space from the starting point to the ending point of the stroke;
- and
- selecting a candidate position from the set based at least in part on the direction of the stroke.
A computer program product for posing a computer-animated three-dimensional model in a three-dimensional scene space, the model including a plurality of elements, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code for performing the operations:
- receiving a stroke drawn in a two-dimensional screen space, the stroke having a starting point, an ending point, and a direction;
- associating the stroke with an element of the model;
- and
- positioning the element in the scene space based on the starting point, the ending point, and the direction of the stroke, wherein
- a position of the element in scene space is definable by:
- a first link located between a base joint of the element and a middle joint of the element;
- and a second link located between the middle joint and a tip point of the element;
- and
- positioning the element comprises:
- determining a set of candidate positions for which a projection of the base joint onto screen space is located at the starting point or the ending point of the stroke, and a projection of the tip joint onto screen space is located at the starting point or the ending point of the stroke;
- and selecting a candidate position from the set based at least in part on the direction of the stroke.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.