Computer graphics variable transformation interface

• US 8,379,030 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pixar (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Pixar (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Hahn, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chu, David H
• Application Number:
  US12/114,541
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/474
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/00 Animation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]

Abstract

A transformation region is displayed around a selection of knots defining one or more computer graphics variable curves. The transformation region includes transformation handles enabling the modification of the transformation region shape. The transformation region defines an envelope of the curves. Modifying the shape of the transformation region defines a new envelope of the curves. The input and/or output values of knots are scaled to match the modified envelope so that the computer graphics variable remains a function of its input variables. Associated tangent handles of the knots are scaled proportional to the knot value. The transformation region can include a retiming curve specifying a remapping of input variable values. Points on the retiming curve below this diagonal remap associated knots to lower input values. Point on the retiming curve above the diagonal remap associated knots to higher input values.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of modifying function data, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of knots of at least one function, each knot including a function input value, a function output value, and a function tangent value;

displaying a transformation region including at least one transformation handle;

receiving a position of the at least one transformation handle; and

transforming, via one or more processors, the selection of knots in accordance with the position of the at least one transformation handle to determine at least one transformed function, wherein the at least one transformed function includes a non-linear transformation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of knots is associated with a single computer graphics variable function.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of knots is associated with at least two computer graphics variable functions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transformation region encloses a graphical representation of the selection of knots.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transforming includes scaling at least a portion of the selection of knots, wherein scaling includes scaling at least one of the function input value, the function output value, or the function tangent value of each knot within the at least a portion of the selection of knots.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the scaling is centered around an edge of the transformation region.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a transformation center line; and

scaling the at least a portion of the selection of knots around the transformation center line.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transformation region specifies an envelope of at least one function curve specified by the selection of knots, and wherein the position of the transformation handle creates a modified envelope, and wherein transforming the selection of knots includes transforming the selection of knots so that the function curve conforms with the modified envelope.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the position of the at least one transformation handle specifies at least one curved edge of the transformation region, and wherein transforming the selection of knots includes applying a scaling factor to each knot within the selection of knots based on an attribute of the at least one curved edge at a location corresponding with the function input value of each knot within the selection of knots.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transforming the selection of knots includes scaling the function tangent value of each knot within the selection of knots based on the position of the at least one transformation handle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one function represents a computer graphics variable selected from a group consisting of an animation variable, a shader relationship, a weighting, and a mapping of influence of a first computer graphics component onto at least a second computer graphics component.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the function input is associated with time.

13. A computer-implemented method of modifying function data, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of knots of at least one function, each knot including a function input value and a function output value;

displaying a transformation region including a retiming curve;

receiving a modification of the retiming curve defining a remapping of function input values;

for each knot within the selection of knots, modifying the function input value, via one or more processors, based on the function input value of each knot within the selection of knots and the retiming curve; and

specifying at least one modified function using the selection of knots including the modified function input values.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the selection of knots is associated with a single computer graphics variable function.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the selection of knots is associated with at least two computer graphics variable functions.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the transformation region encloses a graphical representation of the selection of knots.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one function represents a computer graphics variable selected from a group consisting of an animation variable, a shader relationship, a weighting, and a mapping of influence of a first computer graphics component onto at least a second computer graphics component.

18. A computer-implemented method of modifying function data, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of knots of at least one non-linear function, each including a function input value, a function output value, and a function tangent value;

displaying a transformation region specifying an envelope of at least one function curve corresponding with the at least one non-linear function specified by the selection of knots;

receiving a modified transformation region specifying a modified envelope; and

transforming the selection of knots, via one or more processors, to conform with the modified envelope, wherein transforming includes scaling the function tangent value of each knot within the selection of knots;

wherein the modified transformation region includes at least one curved edge, and wherein transforming the selection includes applying a scaling factor to each one of the selection of knots based on an attribute of the at least one curved edge corresponding with the function input value for each of the knots.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

applying the scaling factor to the function tangent value of each knot within the selection of knots.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the modified transformation region specifies a retiming curve specifying a mapping of the function input value of each knot within the selection of knots to new function input values, and wherein transforming the selection of knots includes determining a new function input value for each knot within the selection of knots based on the retiming curve.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the selection of knots is associated with a single computer graphics variable.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the selection of knots is associated with at least two computer graphics variables.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the function input is associated with time.

24. A computer-implemented method of modifying function data, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of knots of at least one function, each knot including a function input value, a function output value, and a function tangent value;

displaying a transformation region including at least one transformation handle;

receiving a position of the at least one transformation handle; and

transforming, via one or more processors the selection of knots in accordance with the position of the at least one transformation handle to determine at least one transformed function;

wherein the position of the at least one transformation handle specifies at least one curved edge of the transformation region, and wherein transforming the selection of knots includes applying a scaling factor to each knot within the selection of knots based on an attribute of the at least one curved edge at a location corresponding with the function input value of each knot within the selection of knots.

25. A computer-implemented method of modifying function data, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of knots of at least one non-linear function, each including a function input value, a function output value, and a function tangent value;

displaying a transformation region specifying an envelope of at least one function curve corresponding with the at least one non-linear function specified by the selection of knots;

receiving a modified transformation region specifying a modified envelope; and

transforming, via one or more processors the selection of knots to conform with the modified envelope, wherein transforming includes scaling the function tangent value of each knot within the selection of knots;

wherein the modified transformation region specifies a retiming curve specifying a mapping of the function input value of each knot within the selection of knots to new function input values, and wherein transforming the selection of knots includes determining a new function input value for each knot within the selection of knots based on the retiming curve.