Animation of three-dimensional characters along a path for motion video sequences

• US 6,512,522 B1
• Filed: 04/15/1999
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avid Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avid Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Paul, Paul, Brian E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jankus, Almis R.
• Application Number:
  US09/293,497
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 345/467, 345/468, 345/660, 345/661, 345/662, 345/471, 345/472, 345/473, 345/474
• US Class Current: 345/474
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/203 Drawing of straight lines or curves
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/20 3D [Three Dimensional] animation

Abstract

A character is represented in a character generator as a set of polygons. The character may be manipulated using three-dimensional animation techniques. A code for a character may be used to access a set of curves defining the outline of the character. This set of curves is transformed into a set of polygons. The set of polygons may be rendered as a three-dimensional object. The set of polygons may be created by converting the curves into sets of connected line segments and then tessellating the polygon defined by the line segments. Animation properties are represented using a normalized scale along a path or over time. Animation may be provided in a manner that is independent of the spatial and temporal resolution of the video to which it is applied. Such animation may be applied to characters defined by a set of polygons. Various three-dimensional spatial transformations, lighting effects and other colorizations may be provided. A user interface for editing a character string may provide two alternate displays. A first display allows a user to input and view any desired portion of the character string for the purpose of editing. A second display allows a user to view how the character string appears at a selected point in time during a titling effect for the purpose of animation. In both displays, the text is displayed in a three-dimensional form. This interface may be combined with a timeline editing interface for editing an associated video program, or other user interface, to permit layering of titling effects and adjustment of animation properties, positioning and timing.

Claims

1. A method for producing three-dimensional animation of an alphanumeric character string along a path, comprising:

interactively receiving, data indicating chances to the alphanumeric character string;

receiving an input defining a position of they alphanumeric character string along the path as a function of time;

receiving an input defining a three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string;

receiving an input defining properties defining three-dimensional attributes of each alphanumeric character according to a position of the alphanumeric character alone the path;

interactively rendering and displaying the alphanumeric character string in real time in three dimensions on a displan as changes to the alphanumeric character string are received, according to the three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character, the position along the path of the alphanumeric character string at a specified point in time in the animation, and the properties defining three-dimensional attributes of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string according to the position of the alphanumeric character along the path; and

rendering and displaying in real time on a display the three-dimensional animation of the alphanumeric character string according to the position of the alphanumeric character string along the path as a function of time, the three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string, and the properties defining three-dimensional attributes of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string according to the position of the alphanumeric character along the path.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input indicating editing operations performed on the path.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input defining a curve, wherein the alphanumeric character string is placed between the path and the curve and has a size defined by a distance between the path and the curve.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the path and the curve are parallel.

5. A computer system for producing three-dimensional animation of an alphanumeric character string along a path, comprising:

means for interactively receiving data indicating changes to the alphanumeric character string;

means for receiving an input defining a position of the alphanumeric character string along the path as a function of time;

means for receiving an input defining a three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string;

means for receiving an input defining properties defining three-dimensional attributes of each alphanumeric character according to a position of the alphanumeric character along the path;

means for interactively rendering and displaying the alphanumeric character string in real time in three dimensions on a display as chances to the alphanumeric character string are received, according to the three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character, the position along the path of the alphanumeric character string a at a specified point in time in the animation, and the properties defining three-dimensional attributes of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string according to the position of the alphanumeric character along the path; and

means for rendering, and displaying in real time on a display the three-dimensional animation of the alphanumeric character string according to the position of the alphanumeric character string along the path as a function of time, the three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string, and the properties defining three-dimensional attributes of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string according to the position of the alphanumeric character alone the path.

6. The computer system of claim 5, further comprising:

means for allowing the user to edit the path.

7. The computer system of claim 5, further comprising:

means for allowing a user to define a curve, wherein the alphanumeric character string is placed between the path and the curve and has a size defined by a distance between the path and the curve.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the path and the curve are parallel.

9. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium;

computer program instructions stored on the computer readable medium that, when executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a method for producing three-dimensional animation of a alphanumeric character string along a path, comprising;

interactively receiving data indicating changes to the alphanumeric character string;

receiving an input defining a position of the alphanumeric character string along the path as a function of time;

receiving an input defining a three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string;

receiving an input defining properties defining three-dimensional attributes of each alphanumeric character according to a position of the alphanumeric character along the path;

interactively rendering and displaying the alphanumeric character string in real time in three dimensions on a display as changes to the alphanumeric character string are received, according to the three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character, the position along the path of the alphanumeric character string at a specified point in time in the animation, and the properties defining three-dimensional attributes of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string according to the position of the alphanumeric character along the path; and

rendering and displaying in real time on a display the three-dimensional animation of the alphanumeric character string according to the position of the alphanumeric character string along the path as a function of time, the three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string, and the properties defining three-dimensional attributes of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string according to the position of the alphanumeric character along the path.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an input indicating editing operations performed on the path.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an input defining a curve, wherein the alphanumeric character string is placed between the path and the curve and has a size defined by a distance between the path and the curve.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the path and the curve are parallel.

13. A computer system for facilitating creation of three-dimensional animation of an alphanumeric character string along a path, comprising:

means for specifying a position along the path for the alphanumeric character string as a function of time;

means for specifying at least one property for alphanumeric characters in the alphanumeric character string as a function of position of the alphanumeric character along the path;

means for specifying a shape for each alphanumeric character;

means for allowing a user to interactively edit the alphanumeric character string;

means for specifying a point in time in the three-dimensional animation;

means for rendering and displaying the alphanumeric character string in real time in three dimensions at the specified point in time in the animation, during the editing of the alphanumeric character stringy by the user, according to the specified position alone the path of the alphanumeric character string at the specified point in time in the animation and according to the specified property for each alphanumeric character at the position of the alphanumeric character along the path at the specified point in time in the animation and according to the shape specified for each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string; and

means for rendering and displaying the three-dimensional animation of the alphanumeric character string according to the position specified for the alphanumeric character string at each point in time in the three-dimensional animation, according to the property specified for each alphanumeric character at each position of the alphanumeric character along the path in the three-dimensional animation and according to the shape specified for each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein each property is defined by a property specification having values associated with a position scale ranging from zero to one and corresponding to the length of the path.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the means for specifying a position along the path comprises:

means for receiving an indication of a specified image in the animation;

means for determining the number of images in the animation; and

means for determining a position between zero and one corresponding to the position in the animation of the specified image as the specified position along the path.

16. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for allowing a user to edit the path.

17. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for allowing a user to define a curve, wherein the alphanumeric character string is placed between the path and the curve and has a size defined by a distance between the path and the curve.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the path and the curve are parallel.

19. A computer system for facilitating creation of a three-dimensional animated title for video, comprising:

means for specifying a title having a point in time and duration associated with the video and an associated alphanumeric character string;

means for specifying a position along a path for the alphanumeric character string as a function of time;

means for specifying at least one property for alphanumeric characters as a function of position along the path;

means for specifying a shape for each alphanumeric character;

means for allowing a user to interactively edit an alphanumeric character string associated with the title;

means for specifying a point in time in the duration of the title;

means for rendering and displaying, on an associated image of the video, the alphanumeric character string in real time in three dimensions at the specified point in time in the duration of the title, during the editing of the alphanumeric character string by the user, according to the specified position along the path of the alphanumeric character string at the specified point in time in the duration of the title and according to the specified property for each alphanumeric character at the position of the alphanumeric character along the path at the specified point in time in the duration of the title and according to the shape specified for each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string; and

means for rendering and displaying with the video, over the duration of the title, the three-dimensional animated title using the alphanumeric character string animated according to the position specified for the alphanumeric character string at each point in time in the three-dimensional animated title, according to the property specified for each alphanumeric character at each position of the alphanumeric character along the path in the three-dimensional animated title and according to the shape specified for each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein each property is defined by a property specification having values associated with a position scale ranging from zero to one and corresponding to the length of the path.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the means for specifying a position along the path comprises:

means for receiving an indication of a specified image in the animation;

means for determining the number of images in the animation; and

means for determining a position between zero and one corresponding to the position in the animation of the specified image as the specified position along the path.

22. The computer system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for allowing a user to edit the path.

23. The computer system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for allowing a user to define a curve, wherein the alphanumeric character string is placed between the path and the curve and has a size defined by a distance between the path and the curve.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the path and the curve are parallel.

25. A computer-implemented method for use in producing three-dimensional video animation of alphanumeric characters, comprising the steps of:

interactively receiving data indicating changes to an alphanumeric character string;

receiving data defining a three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string, a sequence of temporally related images, properties defining variation in position alone a path of the alphanumeric character string, and properties defining variation of three-dimensional attributes of the alphanumeric characters in the alphanumeric character string according to a position of the alphanumeric character along the path;

receiving data indicative of a selection of a user defining an image of the sequence of temporally related images;

interactively rendering and displaying, the alphanumeric character string in real time in three dimensions as changes to the alphanumeric character string are received on a display in the selected image of the sequence of temporally related images, according to the received data defining the three-dimensional model and the received properties for each alphanumeric character according to the position of the alphanumeric character on the path in the selected image of the sequence of temporally related images; and

rendering and displaying in real time on a display, on each of the images in the sequence of temporally related images, the alphanumeric character string according to the received data defining the three-dimensional model, the properties defining variation in position and the properties defining a variation of three dimensional attributes.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving an input indicating editing operations performed on the path.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving an input defining a curve, wherein the alphanumeric character string is placed between the path and the curve and has a size defined by a distance between the path and the curve.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 27, wherein the path and the curve are parallel.

29. A computer system for use in producing three-dimensional video animation of alphanumeric characters, comprising the steps of:

means for interactively receiving data indicating changes to an alphanumeric character string;

means for receiving data defining a three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string, a sequence of temporally related images, properties defining variation in position along a path of the alphanumeric character string, and properties defining variation of three-dimensional attributes of the alphanumeric characters in the alphanumeric character string according to a position of the alphanumeric character along the path;

means for receiving data indicative of a selection of a user defining an image of the sequence of temporally related images;

means for interactively rendering and displaying the alphanumeric character string in real time in three dimensions as changes to the alphanumeric character string are received on a display in the selected image of the sequence of temporally related images, according to the received data defining the three-dimensional model and the received properties for each alphanumeric character according to the position of the alphanumeric character on the path in the the selected image of the sequence of temporally related images; and

means for rendering and displaying in real time on a display, on each of the images in the sequence of temporally related images, the alphanumeric character string according to the received data defining the three-dimensional model, the properties defining variation in position and the properties defining variation of three dimensional attributes.

30. The computer system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for allowing a user to edit the path.

31. The computer system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for allowing a user to define a curve, wherein the object is placed between the path and the curve and has a size defined by a distance between the path and the curve.

32. The computer system of claim 31, further comprising:

wherein the path and the curve are parallel.

33. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

computer program instructions stored on the computer readable medium that, when executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a method for computer-implemented method for use in producing three-dimensional video animation of alphanumeric characters, comprising the steps of;

interactively receiving data indicating changes to an alphanumeric character string;

receiving data defining a three-dimensional model of each alphanumeric character in the alphanumeric character string, a sequence of temporally related images, properties defining variation in position along a path of the alphanumeric character string, and properties defining variation of three-dimensional attributes of the alphanumeric characters in the alphanumeric character string according to a position of the alphanumeric character along the path;

receiving, data indicative of a selection of a user defining an image of the sequence of temporally related images;

interactively rendering and displaying the alphanumeric character string in real time in three dimensions as changes to the alphanumeric character string are received on a display in the selected image of the sequence of temporally related images, according to the received data defining the three-dimensional model and the received properties for each alphanumeric character according to the position of the alphanumeric character on the path in the selected image of the sequence of temporally related images; and

rendering and displaying in real time on a display, on each of the images in the sequence of temporally related images, the alphanumeric character string according to the received data defining the three-dimensional model, the properties defining variation in position and the properties defining variation of three dimensional attributes.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the method performed by the computer further comprises:

receiving an input indicating editing operations performed on the path.

35. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the method performed by the computer further comprises:

receiving an input defining a curve, wherein the alphanumeric character string is placed between the path and the curve and has a size defined by a distance between the path and the curve.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the path and the curve are parallel.