Methods and systems for providing a preloader animation for image viewers

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions, that when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

• downloading a three-dimensional (3D) object data model of an object;
• selecting a given frame of the 3D object data model as an image of the object;
• determining an edge gradient value for pixels of the image;
• selecting pixels representative of the object that have a respective edge gradient value above a threshold;
• determining a model of the object including an approximate outline of the object and structures internal to the outline that are oriented based on the selected pixels being coupling points between the structures;
• and
• providing instructions to display the model in an incremental manner during the downloading of the 3D object data model so as to render given structures of the model over time during the downloading of the 3D object data model, wherein a duration of display of the model is about an amount of time to download the 3D object data model and a portion of the model displayed is indicative of a progress of the downloading of the 3D object data model.

A device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• data storage configured to store instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the device to:
• download a three-dimensional (3D) object data model of an object;
• select a given frame of the 3D object data model as an image of the object;
• determine an edge gradient value for pixels of the image;
• select pixels representative of the object that have a respective edge gradient value above a threshold;
• determine a model of the object including an approximate outline of the object and structures internal to the outline that are oriented based on the selected pixels being coupling points between the structures;
• and
• provide instructions to display the model in an incremental manner during the downloading of the 3D object data model so as to render given structures of the model over time during the downloading of the 3D object data model, wherein a duration of display of the model is about an amount of time to download the 3D object data model and a portion of the model displayed is indicative of a progress of the downloading of the 3D object data model.