Spline drawing in a computer-implemented graphics program
AssigneeAutodesk Canada Inc.
InventorsMartin Helie, Marc-André Davignon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer-implemented graphics program for drawing a spline. The spline is drawn using a first method in the graphics program. Thereafter, the graphics program seamlessly switches from drawing the spline using the first method to drawing the spline using a second method, in response to a first user command. Further, the graphics program may also seamlessly switch from drawing the spline using the second method to drawing the spline using the first method, in response to a second user command.
Claims18
A computer-implemented method for drawing a spline in a computer-implemented graphics program, comprising:
- (a) drawing the spline using a first method;
- and
- (b) seamlessly switching from drawing the spline using the first method to drawing the spline using a second method, without terminating the drawing of the spline, in response to a first user command;
- (c) wherein the first method comprises a point-and-click method and the second method comprises a freehand method, or wherein the first method comprises a freehand method and the second method comprises a point-and-click method;
- (d) wherein the point-and-click method comprises selecting a cursor location and then placing a vertex for the spline at the cursor location;
- and
- (e) wherein the freehand method comprises selecting a cursor location and then dragging the cursor along a path, so that the spline follows the path, wherein one or more vertices are automatically placed on the path for the spline as the cursor is dragged.
A computer-implemented apparatus for drawing a spline in a computer-implemented graphics program, comprising:
- a computer having a monitor attached thereto;
- logic, performed by the computer, for:
- (a) drawing the spline using a first method;
- and
- (b) seamlessly switching from drawing the spline using the first method to drawing the spline using a second method, without terminating the drawing of the spline, in response to a first user command;
- (c) wherein the first method comprises a point-and-click method and the second method comprises a freehand method, or wherein the first method comprises a freehand method and the second method comprises a point-and-click method;
- (d) wherein the point-and-click method comprises selecting a cursor location and then placing a vertex for the spline at the cursor location;
- and
- (e) wherein the freehand method comprises selecting a cursor location and then dragging the cursor along a path, so that the spline follows the path, wherein one or more vertices are automatically placed on the path for the spline as the cursor is dragged.
An article of manufacture comprising a computer program storage device storing instructions that, when read and executed by a computer, results in the computer performing a method for drawing a spline, the method comprising:
- (a) drawing the spline using a first method;
- and
- (b) seamlessly switching from drawing the spline using the first method to drawing the spline using a second method, without terminating the drawing of the spline, in response to a first user command;
- (c) wherein the first method comprises a point-and-click method and the second method comprises a freehand method, or wherein the first method comprises a freehand method and the second method comprises a point-and-click method;
- (d) wherein the point-and-click method comprises selecting a cursor location and then placing a vertex for the spline at the cursor location;
- and
- (e) wherein freehand method comprises selecting a cursor location and then dragging the cursor along a path, so that the spline follows the path, wherein one or more vertices are automatically placed one the path for the spline as the cursor is dragged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.