Transform manipulator control

• US 8,860,726 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Fowler, Gregory W., Bellenger, Jason, Brown, Hans-Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimbinh T
• Application Number:
  US13/085,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20120262458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/427, 345/156, 345/678, 715/764
• US Class Current: 345/427
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]

Abstract

A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage device provides the ability to manipulate an object in a three-dimensional (3D) modeling system. A first object is displayed and then selected in the 3D modeling system. In response to the selecting, a transform manipulator is displayed displaying coincident with the first object. The transform manipulator includes a two-dimensional (2D) control plane object and grips located on the 2D control plane object. One of the grips is activated and used to manipulate the first object.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for manipulating an object in a three-dimensional (3D) modeling system, comprising:

(a) displaying, on a display device communicatively coupled to a computer, a first object in the 3D modeling system;

(b) selecting the first object in the 3D modeling system;

(c) in response to the selecting, displaying, coincident with the first object, a transform manipulator, wherein the transform manipulator comprises;

(i) a two-dimensional (2D) control plane object; and

(ii) one or more grips located on the 2D control plane object;

wherein;

multiple different types of manipulation functionality to manipulate the first object, as represented by the one or more grips, are spread out around the 2D control plane object;

the transform manipulator is constrained to a 2D control plane; and

a display of the transform manipulator is constructed of a bounding box of the first object plus buffer space and the one or more grips;

(d) activating one of the one or more grips; and

(e) using the activated grip to manipulate the first object.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the transform manipulator comprises:

determining a viewpoint of the first object in the 3D modeling system;

based on the viewpoint, determining a currently active control plane as the 2D control plane; and

displaying the 2D control plane object on the currently active control plane.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the selecting of the first object comprises selecting a planar face of the first object; and

the displaying of the transform manipulator comprises displaying the 2D control plane object in a same plane as the planar face.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the selecting of the first object comprises selecting a vertex of the first object; and

the transform manipulator comprises a single move grip that is displayed on the 2D control plane object.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more grips are spread out around the 2D control plane object.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the transform manipulator comprises:

a pivot based grip; and

an object-based transform grip.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the transform manipulator comprises:

a first non-proportional scale grip, that is bounding box based, for scaling the first object in two axes;

a second non-proportional scale based grip, that is bounding box based, for scaling the first object in one axis;

a proportional scale based grip, that is pivot based, for scaling the first object;

a third non-proportional scale based grip, that is pivot based, for scaling the first object in one axis;

a move grip, for translating the first object;

a pivot point grip; and

a rotation grip, that is pivot based, for rotating the first object.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the first object is centered within the 2D control plane object;

(b) the activating activates a move grip for translating the first object; and

(c) the using comprises;

(i) moving the move grip, wherein such moving translates the 2D control plane object, with the first object remaining centered in the 2D control plane object during the translation, towards a second object;

(ii) when a 2D control plane object edge is within a first threshold distance of the second object, translating the first object within the 2D control plane object such that a first object edge is aligned with and mated to a second object edge;

(iii) further moving the move grip thereby translating the 2D control plane object while the first object does not move and remains mated to the second object edge, until a second edge of the control plane object is within a second threshold distance of a second edge of the first object; and

(iv) when the second edge of the control plane object is within a second threshold distance of a second edge of the first object, unmating the first object edge from the second object edge and moving the first object such that the first object is centered within the control plane object.

9. An apparatus for manipulating an object in a three-dimensional (3D) modeling system in a computer system comprising:

(a) a computer having a memory; and

(b) an application executing on the computer, wherein the application is configured to;

(i) display, on a display device communicatively coupled to a computer, a first object in the 3D modeling system;

(ii) select the first object in the 3D modeling system;

(iii) in response to the select, display, coincident with the first object, a transform manipulator, wherein the transform manipulator comprises;

(1) a two-dimensional (2D) control plane object; and

(2) one or more grips located on the 2D control plane object;

wherein;

multiple different types of manipulation functionality to manipulate the first object, as represented by the one or more grips, are spread out around the 2D control plane object;

the transform manipulator is constrained to a 2D control plane; and

a display of the transform manipulator is constructed of a bounding box of the first object plus buffer space and the one or more grips;

(iv) activate one of the one or more grips; and

(v) use the activated grip to manipulate the first object.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the application is configured to display the transform manipulator by:

determining a viewpoint of the first object in the 3D modeling system;

based on the viewpoint, determining a currently active control plane as the 2D control plane; and

displaying the 2D control plane object on the currently active control plane.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the first object is selected by selecting a planar face of the first object; and

the transform manipulator is displayed by displaying the 2D control plane object in a same plane as the planar face.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the first object is selected by selecting a vertex of the first object; and

the transform manipulator comprises a single move grip that is displayed on the 2D control plane object.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more grips are spread out around the 2D control plane object.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transform manipulator comprises:

a pivot based grip; and

an object-based transform grip.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transform manipulator comprises:

a first non-proportional scale grip, that is bounding box based, for scaling the first object in two axes;

a second non-proportional scale based grip, that is bounding box based, for scaling the first object in one axis;

a proportional scale based grip, that is pivot based, for scaling the first object;

a third non-proportional scale based grip, that is pivot based, for scaling the first object in one axis;

a move grip, for translating the first object;

a pivot point grip; and

a rotation grip, that is pivot based, for rotating the first object.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

(a) the first object is centered within the 2D control plane object;

(b) the activating activates a move grip for translating the first object; and

(c) the activated move grip is used by;

(i) moving the move grip, wherein such moving translates the 2D control plane object, with the first object remaining centered in the 2D control plane object during the translation, towards a second object;

(ii) when a 2D control plane object edge is within a first threshold distance of the second object, translating the first object within the 2D control plane object such that a first object edge is aligned with and mated to a second object edge;

(iii) further moving the move grip thereby translating the 2D control plane object while the first object does not move and remains mated to the second object edge, until a second edge of the control plane object is within a second threshold distance of a second edge of the first object; and

(iv) when the second edge of the control plane object is within a second threshold distance of a second edge of the first object, unmating the first object edge from the second object edge and moving the first object such that the first object is centered within the control plane object.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with computer program instructions which when accessed by a computer cause the computer to load the program instructions to a memory therein creating a special purpose data structure causing the computer to operate as a specially programmed computer, executing a method of manipulating an object in a three-dimensional (3D) modeling system, comprising:

(a) displaying, on a display device communicatively coupled to the specially programmed computer, a first object in the 3D modeling system;

(b) selecting, in the specially programmed computer, the first object in the 3D modeling system;

(c) in response to the selecting, displaying, in the specially programmed computer, coincident with the first object, a transform manipulator, wherein the transform manipulator comprises;

(i) a two-dimensional (2D) control plane object; and

(ii) one or more grips located on the 2D control plane object;

wherein;

multiple different types of manipulation functionality to manipulate the first object, as represented by the one or more grips, are spread out around the 2D control plane object;

the transform manipulator is constrained to a 2D control plane; and

a display of the transform manipulator is constructed of a bounding box of the first object plus buffer space and the one or more grips;

(d) activating, in the specially programmed computer, one of the one or more grips; and

(e) using, in the specially programmed computer, the activated grip to manipulate the first object.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the displaying of the transform manipulator comprises:

determining, in the specially programmed computer, a viewpoint of the first object in the 3D modeling system;

based on the viewpoint, determining, in the specially programmed computer, a currently active control plane as the 2D control plane; and

displaying, in the specially programmed computer, the 2D control plane object on the currently active control plane.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein:

the selecting of the first object comprises selecting, in the specially programmed computer, a planar face of the first object; and

the displaying of the transform manipulator comprises displaying, in the specially programmed computer, the 2D control plane object in a same plane as the planar face.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein:

the selecting of the first object comprises selecting, in the specially programmed computer, a vertex of the first object; and

the transform manipulator comprises a single move grip that is displayed on the 2D control plane object.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the one or more grips are spread out around the 2D control plane object.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the transform manipulator comprises:

a pivot based grip; and

an object-based transform grip.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the transform manipulator comprises:

a first non-proportional scale grip, that is bounding box based, for scaling the first object in two axes;

a second non-proportional scale based grip, that is bounding box based, for scaling the first object in one axis;

a proportional scale based grip, that is pivot based, for scaling the first object;

a third non-proportional scale based grip, that is pivot based, for scaling the first object in one axis;

a move grip, for translating the first object;

a pivot point grip; and

a rotation grip, that is pivot based, for rotating the first object.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein:

(a) the first object is centered within the 2D control plane object;

(b) the activating activates a move grip for translating the first object,

(c) the using comprises;

(i) moving the move grip, wherein such moving translates the 2D control plane object, with the first object remaining centered in the 2D control plane object during the translation, towards a second object;

(ii) when an 2D control plane object edge is within a first threshold distance of the second object, translating the first object within the 2D control plane object such that a first object edge is aligned with and mated to a second object edge;

(iii) further moving the move grip thereby translating the 2D control plane object while the first object does not move and remains mated to the second object edge, until a second edge of the control plane object is within a second threshold distance of a second edge of the first object; and

(iv) when the second edge of the control plane object is within a second threshold distance of a second edge of the first object, unmating the first object edge from the second object edge and moving the first object such that the first object is centered within the control plane object.