Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-10
2004-05-11
Zimmerman, Mark (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
C345S689000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06734855
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image editing system and method for creating and editing three-dimensional images on a computer system, and more particularly, to an image editing system and method for creating and editing three-dimensional images on a computer system from two-dimensional input images. More specifically, the invention pertains to an image editing system and method for creating and editing three-dimensional images on a computer system from hand-drawn images input through a device, such as a mouse, and more particularly to an image editing system and method for creating and editing three-dimensional images from hand-drawn images drawn on a virtual canvas. The invention also relates to an image processing system and method for processing three-dimensional images on a computer system. More particularly, the invention pertains to an image processing system and method for creating and editing three-dimensional images on a computer system from hand-drawn images input through a coordinate designation device, such as a mouse, or from two-dimensional images read from a local disk. More specifically, the invention relates to an image processing system and method for creating and editing three-dimensional images from hand-drawn images drawn on a virtual canvas or two-dimensional images read from a local disk, and more particularly to an image processing system and method for providing motion to three-dimensional images created and edited on a three-dimensional canvas.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with recent progress in semiconductor technologies and information technologies, inexpensive and high-powered computer systems, which are referred to as “personal computers (PCs)” or “work stations (WSs)”, are coming into wide use. In these computer systems, various applications can be run in an execution environment provided by an operating system (OS).
There are many types of applications used on a computer system, such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, communications, and graphics. For example, on a computer system provided with a high-power computation or rendering function, realistic-looking graphics, such as two-dimensional or three-dimensional graphics, can easily be created, rendered, and modified.
Basically, images displayed on a display screen of a computer are two-dimensional images. However, by using a computation function of the computer, the two-dimensional images can be first converted into a three-dimensional world coordinate system and further into a viewing-point coordinate system. As a result, three-dimensional images can be automatically created. Additionally, by rotating or translating a rendered object in the three dimensional space, the object can be displayed and observed from a different point of view.
Most pictures in the real world, such as watercolor paintings or oil paintings, are created by predetermined strokes drawn with a brush on a canvas. In contrast, on a computer system, strokes are drawn on a display screen with a mouse cursor according to a “brush” function.
Simple, rough images similar to hand-drawn images can be input into a computer with a mouse. In this case, such an image is an image developed in a two-dimensional plane, and is processed as, for example, digital data, which is a set of dots or lines, by the computer system. However, such manually input digital data cannot be modified into a high level image on a computer system. In other words, a technique for processing two-dimensional hand-drawn images as three-dimensional images is not known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image editing system and method for creating and editing three-dimensional images on a computer system from two-dimensional input images.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image editing system and method for creating and editing three-dimensional images on a computer system from hand-drawn images input through a device, such as a mouse.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image editing system and method for creating and editing three-dimensional images from hand-drawn images drawn on a virtual canvas.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an image processing system and method for creating and editing three-dimensional images on a computer system from hand-drawn images input through a device, such as a mouse, or two-dimensional images read from a local disk.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide an image processing system and method for creating and editing three-dimensional images from hand-drawn images drawn on a virtual canvas or two-dimensional images read from a local disk.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an image processing system and method for providing motion to three-dimensional images created and edited on a three-dimensional canvas.
In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image editing system for creating and editing a three-dimensional image. The image editing system includes a canvas setting unit for setting a canvas in a three-dimensional space. An image input unit inputs an image into the set canvas and pastes the image onto the canvas. An image modifying unit modifies the input image according to an operation performed on the canvas by a user.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image editing method for creating and editing a three-dimensional image. The image editing method includes: a canvas setting step of setting a canvas in a three-dimensional space; an image input step of inputting an image into the set canvas and pasting the image onto the canvas; and an image modifying step of modifying the input image in accordance with an operation performed on the canvas by a user.
In the aforementioned image editing system or method, the canvas setting unit or step may set as the canvas a wall whose base line is formed by a stroke line which is drawn by dragging a mouse by the user in the three-dimensional space including only a horizon.
The image input unit or step may input as the image a stroke line drawn by dragging a mouse on the set canvas by the user, and may paste the stroke line onto the canvas.
The image input unit or step may read an image file stored in a predetermined storage device, and may paste the image onto the set canvas.
The image modifying unit or step may rotate or translate the image pasted on the canvas in accordance with a rotation operation or a translation operation performed on the canvas.
The canvas setting unit or step may set a plurality of canvases in a single three-dimensional space, and the image input unit or step may input an image into each of the set canvases.
The image input unit or step may input the image not only into the canvas, but also into a ground.
When a new canvas is drawn, the canvas setting unit/step may not display a canvas which has already been drawn except a base line of the canvas.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium for physically storing computer-readable software which allows a computer system to execute image editing processing for creating and editing a three-dimensional image. The computer-readable software includes: a canvas setting step of setting a canvas in a three-dimensional space; an image input step of inputting an image into the set canvas and pasting the image onto the canvas; and an image modifying step of modifying the input image in accordance with an operation performed on the canvas by a user.
With this arrangement, three-dimensional images can be created and edited on a computer system from two-dimensional input images. Three-dimensional images can also be created and edited on a computer system from hand-drawn images input through a device, such as a mouse. Additionally, three-dimensional images can be created and edited on a computer system from
Karasawa Hidenori
Rekimoto Junichi
Tobita Hiroaki
Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Sealey Lance W.
Sony Corporation
Zimmerman Mark
LandOfFree
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