Manipulation of motion data in an animation editing system
The problem of editing motion data can be solved by providing a way to specify control points (herein called “handles”) along the path of the motion data and to describe the motion data as a combination of layers of information describing the motion in relationship to these handles. A first layer may describe, for each point in the motion data, the distance of the point between the handles. For example, a path between two handles may be defined. Each point in the motion data is closest to a point along that path. That point along the line has a distance to the two handles. These distances may be defined as a percentage of the length of the path. A second layer may describe the offset of points in the motion data from the line between the two handles.
1. A computer program product, comprising:
a computer readable medium have computer program instructions stored thereon which, when interpreted by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a process for editing motion data for animating a character, comprising:
receiving information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data;
for points in the motion data between a pair of the specified handles:
computing a value representing a distance of the point along a path between the pair of handles; and
computing a value representing an offset of the point from the path between the pair of handles;
receiving user input to allow a user to manipulate the computed values representing the offsets to specify an animation of the character using the manipulated computed values.
2. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data comprises positions at which a minimum velocity is represented by the motion data.
3. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein computing the value representing the distance comprises:
identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
computing a first distance between the reference point and a first of the pair of handles.
4. The computer program product of claim 3 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing a second distance between the reference point and a second of the pair of handles.
5. The computer program product of claim 4 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
6. The computer program product of claim 5 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the second distance as a percentage of the distance between the pair of handles.
7. The computer program product of claim 4 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the second distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
8. The computer program product of claim 3 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
9. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein computing the value representing the offset comprises:
identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
computing an offset between the reference point and the point in the motion data.
10. An animation system for editing motion data for animating a character, comprising:
means for accessing information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data;
means for determining, for points in the motion data between a pair of the specified handles, a value representing a distance of the point along a path between the pair of handles; and
means for determining, for points in the motion data between a pair of the specified handles, a value representing an offset of the point from the path between the pair of handles; and
means for processing user input to allow a user to manipulate the computed values representing the offsets to specify an animation of the character using the manipulated computed values.
11. The animation system of claim 10 , wherein the information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data comprises positions at which a minimum velocity is represented by the motion data.
12. The animation system of claim 10 , wherein the means for determining the value representing the distance comprises:
means for identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
means for determining a first distance between the reference point and a first of the pair of handles.
13. The animation system of claim 12 , wherein the means for determining the value representing the distance further comprises:
means for determining a second distance between the reference point and a second of the pair of handles.
14. The animation system of claim 13 , wherein the means for determining the value representing the distance further comprises:
means for determining the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
15. The animation system of claim 14 , wherein the means for determining the value representing the distance further comprises:
means for determining the second distance as a percentage of the distance between the pair of handles.
16. The animation system of claim 13 , wherein the means for determining the value representing the distance further comprises:
means for determining the second distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
17. The animation system of claim 12 , wherein the means for determining the value representing the distance further comprises:
means for determining the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
18. The animation system of claim 10 , wherein the means for determining the value representing the offset comprises:
means for identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
means for determining the offset between the reference point and the point in the motion data.
19. An animation system for enabling editing and animation of a character using motion data and information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data, comprising:
a motion data processing module that computes, for points in the motion data between a pair of the specified handles, a value representing the distance of the point along a path between the pair of handles, and that computes, for points in the motion data between a pair of the specified handles, a value representing the offset of the point from the path between the pair of handles; and
an animation user interfaces that receives user input to allow a user to manipulate the computed values representing the offsets to specify an animation of the character using the manipulated computed values.
20. The animation system of claim 19 , wherein the information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data comprises positions at which a minimum velocity is represented by the motion data.
21. The animation system of claim 19 , wherein the motion data processing module comprises:
means for identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
means for determining a first distance between the reference point and a first of the pair of handles.
22. The animation system of claim 21 , wherein the motion data processing module comprises:
means for determining a second distance between the reference point and a second of the pair of handles.
23. The animation system of claim 22 , wherein the motion data processing module comprises:
means for determining the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
24. The animation system of claim 23 , wherein the motion data processing module comprises:
means for determining the second distance as a percentage of the distance between the pair of handles.
25. The animation system of claim 22 , wherein the motion data processing module comprises:
means for determining the second distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
26. The animation system of claim 21 , wherein the motion data processing module comprises:
means for determining the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
27. The animation system of claim 19 , wherein the motion data processing module comprises:
means for identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
means for determining the offset between the reference point and the point in the motion data.
28. A process for editing motion data for animating a character, comprising:
receiving information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data;
for points in the motion data between a pair of the specified handles:
computing a value representing a distance of the point along a path between the pair of handles; and
computing a value representing an offset of the point from the path between the pair of handles;
receiving user input to allow a user to manipulate the handles to specify an animation of the character using the computed values and the manipulated handles.
29. The process of claim 28 , wherein the information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data comprises positions at which a minimum velocity is represented by the motion data.
30. The process of claim 28 , wherein computing the value representing the distance comprises:
identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
computing a first distance between the reference point and a first of the pair of handles.
31. The process of claim 30 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing a second distance between the reference point and a second of the pair of handles.
32. The process of claim 31 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
33. The process of claim 32 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the second distance as a percentage of the distance between the pair of handles.
34. The process of claim 31 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the second distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
35. The process of claim 30 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
36. The process of claim 28 , wherein computing the value representing the offset comprises:
identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
computing the offset between the reference point and the point in the motion data.
37. A computer program product, comprising:
a computer readable medium have computer program instructions stored thereon which, when interpreted by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a process for editing motion data for animating a character, comprising:
receiving information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data;
for points in the motion data between a pair of the specified handles:
computing a value representing a distance of the point along a path between the pair of handles; and
computing a value representing an offset of the point from the path between the pair of handles;
receiving user input to allow a user to manipulate the handles to specify an animation of the character using the computed values and the manipulated handles.
38. The computer program product of claim 37 , wherein the information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data comprises positions at which a minimum velocity is represented by the motion data.
39. The computer program product of claim 37 , wherein computing the value representing the distance comprises:
identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
computing a first distance between the reference point and a first of the pair of handles.
40. The computer program product of claim 39 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing a second distance between the reference point and a second of the pair of handles.
41. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
42. The computer program product of claim 41 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the second distance as a percentage of the distance between the pair of handles.
43. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the second distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
44. The computer program product of claim 39 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
45. The computer program product of claim 37 , wherein computing the value representing the offset comprises:
identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
computing the offset between the reference point and the point in the motion data.
46. A process for manipulating motion data for editing motion data for animating a character, comprising:
receiving information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data;
for points in the motion data between a pair of the specified handles:
computing a value representing a distance of the point along a path between the pair of handles; and
computing a value representing an offset of the point from the path between the pair of handles;
storing the computed values in a computer readable medium for editing and animation of the character using the motion data.
47. The process of claim 46 , wherein the information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data comprises positions at which a minimum velocity is represented by the motion data.
48. The process of claim 46 , wherein computing the value representing the distance comprises:
identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
computing a first distance between the reference point and a first of the pair of handles.
49. The process of claim 48 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing a second distance between the reference point and a second of the pair of handles.
50. The process of claim 49 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
51. The process of claim 50 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the second distance as a percentage of the distance between the pair of handles.
52. The process of claim 49 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the second distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
53. The process of claim 48 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
54. The process of claim 46 , wherein computing the value representing the offset comprises:
identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
computing the offset between the reference point and the point in the motion data.
55. A computer program product, comprising:
a computer readable medium have computer program instructions stored thereon which, when interpreted by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a process for editing motion data for animating a character, comprising:
receiving information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data;
for points in the motion data between a pair of the specified handles:
computing a value representing the distance of the point along a path between the pair of handles; and
computing a value representing the offset of the point from the path between the pair of handles;
storing the computed values in computer readable form for editing and animation of the character using the motion data.
56. The computer program product of claim 55 , wherein the information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data comprises positions at which a minimum velocity is represented by the motion data.
57. The computer program product of claim 55 , wherein computing the value representing the distance comprises:
identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
computing a first distance between the reference point and a first of the pair of handles.
58. The computer program product of claim 57 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing a second distance between the reference point and a second of the pair of handles.
59. The computer program product of claim 58 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
60. The computer program product of claim 59 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the second distance as a percentage of the distance between the pair of handles.
61. The computer program product of claim 58 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the second distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
62. The computer program product of claim 57 , wherein computing the value representing the distance further comprises:
computing the first distance as a percentage of a distance between the pair of handles.
63. The computer program product of claim 55 , wherein computing the value representing the offset comprises:
identifying a reference point along the path, wherein the reference point is closest to the point in the motion data; and
computing the offset between the reference point and the point in the motion data.
64. A process for enabling animation of a character using edited motion data, comprising:
receiving information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data, values representing distance of points in the motion data along a path between a pair of the handles and values representing offsets of points in the motion data from the path between the pair of the handles;
receiving user input to allow a user to manipulate the received information to specify an animation of the character; and
rendering the specified animation of the character using the manipulated received information, wherein the information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data comprises positions at which a minimum velocity is represented by the motion data.
65. A computer program product, comprising:
a computer readable medium have computer program instructions stored thereon which, when interpreted by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a process for enabling animation of a character using edited motion data, comprising:
receiving information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data, values representing distance of points in the motion data along a path between a pair of the handles and values representing offsets of points in the motion data from the path between the pair of the handles;
receiving user input to allow a user to manipulate the received information to specify an animation of the character; and
rendering the specified animation of the character using the manipulated received information;
wherein the information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data comprises positions at which a minimum velocity is represented by the motion data.
66. An animated work on a medium containing a plurality of images, produced by the process of:
receiving information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data, values representing distance of points in the motion data along a path between a pair of handles and values representing offsets of points in the motion data from the path between the pair of handles; providing a user interface to allow a user to manipulate the received information to specify an animation of the character;
rendering the specified animation of the character using the manipulated received information; and
manipulating the medium to contain the rendered plurality of images representing the animated work;
wherein the information specifying a plurality of handles in the motion data comprises positions at which a minimum velocity is represented by the motion data.