Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-13
2004-01-13
Padmanabhan, Mano (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
C345S581000, C345S619000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06677944
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional image generating apparatus which creates a three-dimensional model from a two-dimensional image by image processing with a computer to generate a three-dimensional image with computer graphics.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a tool called “paint” tool has been widely used as a basic drawing device of computer graphics. The paint tool makes it possible to input a graphic image with a feeling such that a user draws a picture on a display screen with a pen. In a drawing operation using the paint tool, two-dimensional coordinates are continuously specified by means of a pointing device such as a combination of a pen and tablet or a mouse, while coordinate changes accompanying the movement of the pointing device are continuously inputted. For example, in a case where the pointing device is provided with a brush attribution serving as a virtual drawing tool, when the pointing device is moved, drawing processing is carried out on a display with the motion of the pointing device as if a brush is moved.
With the use of the paint tool, it is possible to create an arbitrary image in such a manner that a designer freely draws a picture. In order to make more real an image drawn by computer graphics, it is desired that the image be made into an image which appears as a three-dimensional image. However, in order to draw the image having a three-dimensional appearance, considerably excellent skills, time and labor are required.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, there has been developed a computer graphics technique of subjecting a two-dimensional image to image processing so as to make it into a three-dimensional image, and displaying the three-dimensional image thus created. For example, there is a case where characters displayed. as a title of video (pictorial image) software or the like are displayed as a three-dimensional solid image. In order to display the three-dimensional character, a predetermined depth is added to a contour of a two-dimensional character so that the two-dimensional character is three-dimensionally expressed, and thereafter, a three-dimensional image is displayed by rendering. The depth may be nonuniform, for example, a contour portion of the character may be formed thinner than other portions of the character.
In a general technique of creating a three-dimensional model having a complicated shape, a surface of an object is divided into many polygons, for example, many triangles, and a final three-dimensional shape is determined according to a wire frame model which expresses a shape with the use of an edge composing of sides of respective triangles, and thus, a three-dimensional image is generated by rendering. In the case of adding a change to the complicated shape of the three-dimensional image, the wire frame model needs to be directly modified.
A technique for a title of video software or the like, which is one of conventional techniques of creating a three-dimensional model from a two-dimensional image, is directed to merely creating a three-dimensional model having a regular shape. Moreover, in order to directly modify a wire frame model to create a three-dimensional model, a considerable amount of special knowledge, time and labor are required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a three-dimensional image generating apparatus capable of generating a three-dimensional image by incorporating elements of a two-dimensional image into elements of a three-dimensional model, and defining the three-dimensional model without carrying out complicated modeling.
Another object of the invention is to provide a three-dimensional image generating apparatus capable of generating three-dimensional images of various shapes on the basis of two-dimensional images drawn with the use of a paint tool.
The invention relates to a three-dimensional image generating apparatus which generates a three-dimensional image by rendering a three-dimensional model generated on the basis of a two-dimensional image. The apparatus comprises two-dimensional image storing means for storing a two-dimensional image, three-dimensional model setting means for setting a basic shape of the three-dimensional model onto which the two-dimensional image is to be reflected, and three-dimensional model generating means for generating the three-dimensional model by deforming the basic shape on the basis of the two-dimensional image stored in the two-dimensional image storing means according to a predetermined correspondence between an element of the two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional deformation of the basic shape of the three-dimensional model.
According to the invention, a three-dimensional image is generated by deforming the basic shape of the three-dimensional model on the basis of the element of the two-dimensional image stored in the two-dimensional image storing means, and subjecting the three-dimensional model which reflects the two-dimensional image to a rendering process.
In the invention, the two-dimensional image storing means stores image data which expresses the two-dimensional image inputted thereto. The three-dimensional model setting means sets modeling data which defines a three-dimensional shape which is a base for three-dimensionalizing the two-dimensional image.
The three-dimensional model generating means includes element extracting means for extracting information regarding a predetermined element from the inputted image data which expresses the two-dimensional image, and element transforming means for transforming the element information extracted by the element extracting means into three-dimensional information having a predetermined relation. The three-dimensional model generating means also includes model creating means for creating the three-dimensional model by incorporating the three-dimensional information transformed by the element transforming means into the modeling data set by the three-dimensional model setting means, and rendering means for rendering the three-dimensional model created by the model creating means into the three-dimensional image.
According to the invention, the two-dimensional image storing means stores the image data which expresses the two-dimensional image inputted thereto. The three-dimensional model setting means sets modeling data for defining a three-dimensional shape which is a base for making the two-dimensional image into three-dimensional. In the three-dimensional model generating means, the element extracting means extracts information on the predetermined element from the image data which expresses the inputted two-dimensional image.
The element transforming means transforms the element information extracted by the element extracting means into three-dimensional information having a predetermined correspondence therewith. The model creating means incorporates the three-dimensional information transformed by the element transforming means into the three-dimensional shape set by the three-dimensional model setting means to create a three-dimensional model. The rendering means subjects the three-dimensional model created by the model creating means to rendering so as to generate the model as a three-dimensional image. The three-dimensional image is generated on the basis of a three-dimensional model which reflects the element information extracted from the two-dimensional image. Therefore, by changing the element information of the two-dimensional image, it is possible to readily deform the generated three-dimensional image.
The three-dimensional model is created on the basis of the modeling data for determining the three-dimensional shape set by the three-dimensional model setting means. Therefore, there is no need of configuring the whole of the three-dimensional model on the basis of the element information extracted from the two-dimensional image, so that it is possible to reduce the required volume of image processing and to perform the image processing at a high
Padmanabhan Mano
Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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