Combining shapes for animation
Granted: December 24, 2013
Patent Number:
8614714
A system includes a computing device that includes a memory for storing instructions. The computing device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes combining, in a nonlinear manner, a first set of vertex displacements that represent the difference between a first animated expression and a neutral animated expression with a second set of vertex displacements that represent the difference between a second animated expression and the…
Retaining a surface detail
Granted: December 17, 2013
Patent Number:
8610716
Among other disclosure, a computer-implemented method for retaining a surface detail includes identifying a surface that is to be used for generating an image in a rendering process. The surface includes polygons to be changed from an initial size to a larger size as the surface is changed to a lower resolution as part of tessellating the surface. The surface includes at least one surface detail smaller than the larger polygon size. The method includes storing information corresponding…
Reconstituting 3D scenes for retakes
Granted: December 17, 2013
Patent Number:
8610713
In general, one or more aspects of the subject matter described in this specification can include associating with each clip in a sequence of one or more clips a copy of a three dimensional (3D) scene that was used to create the clip, where the clip is a sequence of one or more images that depict the clip's respective 3D scene from the perspective of one or more virtual cameras. Input identifying a clip in the sequence is received. In response to the receiving, a copy of the identified…
Adjusting stereo images
Granted: October 22, 2013
Patent Number:
8564641
A computer-implemented method for adjusting stereo images includes receiving a video sequence associated with a recorded setting of a stereoscopic camera, the video sequence comprising pairs of left and right images. The method includes processing the pairs of left and right images to reduce influence of a discrepancy between the recorded setting and an actual configuration of the stereoscopic camera.
Generating animation libraries
Granted: September 24, 2013
Patent Number:
8542236
A computer-implemented method includes transferring motion information from one or more motion meshes to an animation mesh. The motion mesh represents the motion of surface features of an object. A shape mesh provides a portion of the shape of the object to the animation mesh.
Animation retargeting
Granted: September 17, 2013
Patent Number:
8537164
Systems and methods are described, which create a mapping from a space of a source object (e.g., source facial expressions) to a space of a target object (e.g., target facial expressions). In certain implementations, the mapping is learned based a training set composed of corresponding shapes (e.g. facial expressions) in each space. The user can create the training set by selecting expressions from, for example, captured source performance data, and by sculpting corresponding target…
Simulating skin deformation relative to a muscle
Granted: September 10, 2013
Patent Number:
8531464
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are disclosed for animations that simulate skin deformation relative to a muscle. Displacement of a skin representation in response to deformation of a muscle representation and sliding of the skin representation over the deformed muscle representation can be determined quickly and interactively by monitoring changes in position and scale of defining ring elements of the muscle…
Allocating and managing software assets
Granted: September 10, 2013
Patent Number:
8529346
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer program product is tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium and includes instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method for allocating assets. The method includes assigning each of multiple operation sectors defined by a software program to respective ones of multiple load groups, each load group grouping at least one operation sector for loading assets of the operation sector into memory. The method…
Creating character for animation
Granted: July 2, 2013
Patent Number:
8477140
A computer-implemented method for creating a character for an animation includes modifying a first polygonal geometric structure, having a specific form, to generate a second polygonal geometric structure having another form. The first polygonal geometric structure is associated with a definition of multiple points relative to vertices on the first polygonal geometric structure. The method includes transforming the definition, in multiple progressive refinements, to generate a…
Copying an object in an animation creation application
Granted: June 11, 2013
Patent Number:
8464153
A first input is received in an animation creation application having a user interface showing a virtual-space area for first objects, and a timeline area for second objects representing events. To generate the first input, a user presses and holds an input control while a cursor is over one of the first or second objects. It is determined whether the input control is held for at least a predefined duration. If so, a copy of the object is assigned to the cursor, and the copy is…
Translating RenderMan shading language code
Granted: June 11, 2013
Patent Number:
8462158
The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for translating RenderMan shading language code.
Predicting constraint enforcement in online applications
Granted: June 4, 2013
Patent Number:
8456476
A computer-implemented method includes identifying a primary node that represents a first pose of an online character. The first pose is associated with a constraint being inactive. The method also includes identifying the primary node representing a second pose of the online character. The second pose is associated with the constraint being active. The method also includes calculating the difference between the primary node of the second pose and the primary node of the first pose.…
Interactive visual distortion processing
Granted: May 21, 2013
Patent Number:
8446433
A system includes a computing device that includes a memory for storing one or more computer graphics, and a graphics distorter. The graphics distorter applies a distortion model to the computer graphic to produce a distorted version of the computer graphic, while substantially simultaneously allowing user interactions with the computer graphic. The applied distortion model represents lens distortion.
Simulating granular material
Granted: April 9, 2013
Patent Number:
8417492
A computer-implemented method for simulating a granular material includes removing, from a layer of granular material in a virtual domain defined by a data structure stored in a computer readable storage medium, a portion of the granular material in a closed region where the portion and a part of an object impacting the granular material are defined as occupying a same space. The method includes determining a value for a size aspect of the portion based on applying a numerical solver…
Generating a surface representation of an item
Granted: April 9, 2013
Patent Number:
8416246
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for generating a surface representation of an item includes identifying, for a point on an item in an animation process, at least first and second transformation points corresponding to respective first and second transformations of the point. Each of the first and second transformations represents an influence on a location of the point of respective first and second joints associated with the item. The method includes…
Inversion of post-skinning features
Granted: March 26, 2013
Patent Number:
8405664
A computer-implemented method includes identifying a representation of a feature of an animated character by inverting an skinned representation of the feature in one position. The inversion includes a non-linear inversion of the skinned representation of the feature. The method also includes skinning the identified feature representation to produce the animated character in another position.
Pattern matching using convolution of mask image and search image
Granted: March 19, 2013
Patent Number:
8401294
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for pattern matching includes receiving a pattern image, a mask image and a search image, the mask image having an arbitrary shape and identifying a portion of the pattern image. The method includes evaluating a normalized cross-correlation equation based on the pattern image, the mask image and the search image, including at least a convolution of the mask image and the search image. The method includes outputting a…
Polygon kernels for image processing
Granted: March 19, 2013
Patent Number:
8400461
A computer-implemented method includes selecting a polygon that includes a convex shape defined by vertices represented by integer coordinates. The method also includes determining a polygon transfer function from cones defined by some of the vertices. The polygon transfer function defines image processing operations independent of the scale of the polygon.
Reducing data stored in a deep-frame buffer
Granted: March 12, 2013
Patent Number:
8395629
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes generating intermediate values from an evaluation of one or more static expressions within shader programming code that is configured to modify an appearance of an image, compressing the intermediate values based on a determination of which intermediate values are duplicative, and storing the compressed intermediate values in a buffer accessible to an image rendering application.
Multi-stage fire simulation
Granted: October 16, 2012
Patent Number:
8289327
A system includes a computing device that includes a memory for storing a three-dimensional model that represents particles of a coarse fire simulation. The computing device also includes a graphics refiner for producing two-dimensional simulation segments from the three-dimensional model that represents particles of a coarse fire simulation. The separation distance between two or more of the two-dimensional simulation segments is based upon a level of spatial detail provided by the…
