Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Graphic manipulation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-27
2004-08-03
Kincaid, Kristine (Department: 2174)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Graphic manipulation
C345S419000, C345S427000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06771276
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
In traditional artistic works, an artist would create a desired visual effect by using a canvas and a paintbrush. However, with the advent of computer systems, many graphics applications have been developed that allow a user or an artist to express his creativity using modem graphical input devices, such as pens, tablets, stylus, brushes etc. to create attractive visual effects on the computer, which may be displayed on a computer screen and electronically printed, if desired. These artistic renditions may comprise various objects that may be manipulated either independently or in a group with the help of a graphics software application. Furthermore, the objects created may be interactively manipulated on the screen of the computer system with the help of the various input devices and the graphics software application.
Existing graphics applications may use a vector based system or a non-vector based system to draw the various objects or images. In a vector based system, objects may be described by a series of mathematical outlines or points. An example of a vector object would be a square which is defined by four points. On the other hand, in a non-vector based system, an object, such as a bitmapped object, is defined by all points on or within the object. A non-vector object is defined color point by color point inside of a memory space and thus, in a non-vector based system images are created by composing numerous tiny dots.
Typically in the software industry, vector objects are displayed on the screen during creation time to represent entities that a user, such as a graphic artist, wishes to represent. These vector objects have certain attributes that allow them to be scaled, displayed and printed at different resolutions while maintaining the same quality of the object or image. However, non-vector objects may not be easily scaled, displayed and printed at different resolutions while maintaining the same quality of the object or image.
In order to create realistic images having the desired depth, it is desirable to produce three dimensional (3D) images using computer software. For this purpose, graphics software applications for a 3D drawing environment are currently available. Such existing software applications include CAD programs. These 3D drawing environments are capable of creating 3D objects and depending on how the 3D objects are drawn the objects may appear to be drawn in perspective mode.
However, existing 3D tools for drawing 3D images or objects are very difficult to use. As a 3D environment involves the perception of depth, width and height, the user needs to be highly trained and work with a lot more information in a 3D environment than in a two dimensional (2D) environment. Hence, a user has to be sophisticated in order to create the drawings in a 3D environment. Thus, there are costs associated with training a user to work in a 3D environment. Moreover, because of the complexity and sophistication of 3D tools, existing 3D tools are very expensive and many sophisticated users who might be able to use these 3D tools may not be able to afford them. Furthermore, because of the computations involved in processing the 3D images, the hardware requirements of machines on which these 3D tools are used is more. Thus, the costs associated with using these 3D tools is further increased by the hardware costs.
Two dimensional graphics applications may be used to create a perspective drawing of an object to provide the perception of depth in an image. A perspective drawing is a representational two dimensional drawing of a three dimensional space, which allows an image to look realistic in a two dimensional plane. Currently, some 2D graphics applications provide limited tools which can be used to create a perspective image to provide the perception of depth. However, existing 2D graphics applications rely heavily upon the user to create the three dimensional effect. Also, a user can work with only one object at a time and an entire perspective image with multiple objects cannot be created as existing 2D applications do not allow two objects to be related or associated with each other or a third object. Thus, existing 2D graphics applications do not allow a user to work in a perspective environment.
For example, existing 2D graphics applications, such as FreeHand 5.0, allow a 3D translation to be applied to a 2D object to provide a perspective view of the object.
FIGS. 1A and 1B
show the effects that can be created by existing two dimensional graphics applications. A classical artistic technique utilized to render a 3-D representation upon a 2-D environment involves creating a horizon line and vanishing points. This type of technique is illustrated in drawing environment
10
of
FIG. 1A
which comprises a horizon line
11
and a horizontal plane
12
. The horizon line is typically located at eye level. An object
15
is manually drawn between the horizon line and the horizontal plane, such that the vanishing points of the two sides of the object are located at points
13
and
14
on horizon line
11
.
By changing the distance between the vanishing points
13
and
14
, an object may appear to be translated within three dimension space. Thus, the drawing environment
10
′ of
FIG. 1B
comprises a horizon line
11
′ and a horizontal plane
12
′. An object
15
′ is drawn between the horizon line and the horizontal plane, such that the distance between the vanishing points
13
′ and
14
′ is greater than the distance between the vanishing points
13
and
14
of FIG.
1
A. Of course, changing the vanishing points requires manually rendering the various components of the object a second time in accordance with the new drawing environment. Thus, object
15
′ of
FIG. 1B
appears to be translated relative to the object
15
of FIG.
1
A.
To accomplish this type of effect in a typical 2D graphics application, an artist is required to create the vanishing lines and the horizon line. Also, such artists must visualize how an object would look in perspective and then draw the object based on their visual perception. Certain tools may be utilized to aid this process, such as rotation or scaling tools.
However, the artist must effect changes to each and every object manually. Thus, in the prior art graphics applications users would spend considerable time visualizing the objects and then drawing them. However, because of the subjectivity involved in the prior art process the drawn objects were not necessarily accurate in their representation. Moreover, because the objects drawn by the users are based on estimates, it is difficult for the user to be consistent.
Another problem in the prior art is that the prior art does not allow portability of the created images. Thus, the images created using a particular graphics application may be used by only a few other graphics applications, usually those marketed or manufactured by the same entity. Furthermore, even when a particular graphics application allows another application to import the created images, some of the features of the exporting application may not be available in the importing application. Thus, the imported image is not identical to the original image and further changes may be required to be made in order to produce the desired effect. Thus, there are limitations in existing systems concerning the portability of the created images.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a user friendly two-dimensional drawing environment that enables the user to create perspective images.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a system and method which in the preferred embodiment provides a two dimensional drawing environment which includes one or more perspective grids.
The preferred embodiment method for providing a perspective view of an object in a two dimensional drawing environment, comprises the steps of creating a two dimensional perspective grid drawing environment; drawing an object in the two dimensional drawing environment; selecting a grid in the
Halpin David
Highsmith Delores
Yu Fan
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Kincaid Kristine
Macromedia, Inc.
Nguyen Le V
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