Modifying an animation having a constraint

A computer program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method for handling a modification of an animation having a constraint, the method comprising:

• receiving an animation involving at least first and second objects animated with respect to a global space of the animation;
• detecting a user modification of the animation that involves at least first and second objects, the first object constrained to the second object during a constrained period and non-constrained to the second object during a non-constrained period, wherein a first parameter is associated with the first object and a second parameter is associated with the second object, the second parameter being defined with respect to a coordinate system of the global space of the animation, and during the constrained period the first parameter is defined relative to the second parameter and with respect to a local coordinate system of the second object;
• based on the user modification, selecting one of at least first and second compensation adjustments for the animation based on a compensation policy;
• and
• adjusting the animation according to the selected compensation adjustment.

A computer-implemented method for handling a modification of an animation having a constraint, the method comprising:

• receiving an animation involving at least first and second objects animated with respect to a global space of the animation;
• detecting a user modification of the animation that involves at least the first and second objects, the first object constrained to the second object during a constrained period and non-constrained to the second object during a non-constrained period, wherein a first parameter is associated with the first object and a second parameter is associated with the second object, the second parameter being defined with respect to a coordinate system of the global space of the animation, and during the constrained period the first parameter is defined relative to the second parameter and with respect to a local coordinate system of the second object;
• based on the user modification, traversing constraints in the animation to identify at least one step key as being affected by the user modification;
• and
• adjusting the identified step key to compensate for the user modification.

A computer program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method for handling a modification of an animation having a constraint, the method comprising:

• receiving an animation involving at least first and second objects animated with respect to a global space of the animation;
• detecting a user modification of the animation that involves at least the first and second objects, the first object constrained to the second object during a constrained period and non-constrained to the second object during a non-constrained period, wherein a first parameter is associated with the first object and a second parameter is associated with the second object, the second parameter being defined with respect to a coordinate system of the global space of the animation, and during the constrained period the first parameter is defined relative to the second parameter and with respect to a local coordinate system of the second object;
• based on the user modification, traversing constraints in the animation to identify at least one step key as being affected by the user modification;
• and
• adjusting the identified step key to compensate for the user modification.

A system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable storage device having stored therein instructions that when executed cause the processor to generate:
• a graphical user interface comprising at least an animation area for displaying an animation that involves at least first and second objects, the first and second objects being animated with respect to a global space of the animation, the first object constrained to the second object during a constrained period and non-constrained to the second object during a non-constrained period, wherein a first parameter is associated with the first object and a second parameter is associated with the second object, the second parameter being defined with respect to a coordinate system of the global space of the animation, and during the constrained period the first parameter is defined relative to the second parameter and with respect to a local coordinate system of the second object;
• and
• a constraint object controlling when the first object is constrained to the second object and when the first object is non-constrained to the second object.

A computer program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a display device, cause the display device to:

• receive an animation having a constraint and involving at least first and second objects animated with respect to a global space of the animation;
• generate a graphical user interface for handling a modification of the animation, the graphical user interface comprising:
• a view area for displaying the animation that involves at least the first and second objects, the first object constrained to the second object during a constrained period and non-constrained to the second object during a non-constrained period, wherein a first parameter is associated with the first object and a second parameter is associated with the second object, the second parameter being defined with respect to a coordinate system of the global space of the animation, and during the constrained period the first parameter is defined relative to the second parameter and with respect to a local coordinate system of the second object;
• and
• a timeline area for at least visualizing constraints for the animation;
• and
• upon receiving a user modification of the animation, traversing at least one of the constraints in the animation to identify at least one step key as being affected by the user modification and adjusting the identified step key to compensate for the user modification.