Automatic decoration of a three-dimensional model

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer system, a two-dimensional (2D) image from a user to customize a three-dimensional character for control by the user in a multi-player simulated three-dimensional virtual game, wherein the three-dimensional character is based on a three-dimensional block character, the 2D image to be a texture on a three-dimensional model upon rendering the three-dimensional model in the multi-player simulated three-dimensional virtual game, the three-dimensional model to be a decoration of the three-dimensional character in the multi-player simulated three-dimensional game;

determining a texture template corresponding to the three-dimensional model, wherein the texture template provides a guide on how to arrange the 2D image on a surface of the three-dimensional model, and wherein the texture template is to provide texture coordinates that map the 2D image to the three-dimensional model;

assigning the texture coordinates to the 2D image in response to arranging the 2D image on the surface of the three-dimensional model based on the texture template;

storing the 2D image in a database; and

linking the 2D image with the assigned texture coordinates to the three-dimensional model using a content file associated with the three-dimensional model, wherein the content file comprises an object identification data field indicating the three-dimensional model associated with the content file, a background color data field indicating a background color of the three-dimensional model, a location data field indicating the assigned texture coordinates for the 2D image, and a pointer to the 2D image stored in the database.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional model, using the 2D image as the texture, is the decoration for a plurality of three-dimensional characters upon rendering the plurality of three-dimensional characters in the multi-player simulated three-dimensional virtual game.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

scaling the 2D image to fit into the texture template corresponding to the three-dimensional model, wherein the texture template defines the texture for a region of the three-dimensional model.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein scaling the 2D image to fit into the texture template further comprises

modifying a resolution of the 2D image to fit the 2D image into a first area of the texture template.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising

creating a composite image file composed of the scaled 2D image, and alpha-channel image file segments for a second area of the texture template not covered by the scaled 2D image.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein modifying the resolution of the 2D image scales the 2D image to a maximum resolution, wherein the maximum resolution is defined by either a maximum scaled width or a maximum scaled height of the scaled 2D image that does not exceed a maximum width or maximum height of the texture template.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the scaling preserves an original aspect ratio of the 2D image.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

loading the 2D image with the assigned texture coordinates; and

rendering the three-dimensional model with the 2D image as the decoration of the three-dimensional character.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional character is selected from one of a person, an avatar, or a car.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the texture template is selected from one of a texture template of a t-shirt, a pant, a jacket, a shield, a hat, a purse, a briefcase, or a part of a car.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the texture on the three-dimensional model is at least one of a texture of a t-shirt, a pant, a jacket, a shield, a hat, a purse, a briefcase, or a part of a car.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a selection, along with an image file of the 2D image, of at least one of a color, a pattern, or an image transparency; and

designating the background color of the three-dimensional model as a user-specified background color based on the received selection.

13. A system, comprising:

a database; and

an image server system, coupled with the database, to:

receive a two-dimensional (2D) image from a user to customize a three-dimensional character for control by the user in a multi-player simulated three-dimensional virtual game, wherein the three-dimensional character comprises a three-dimensional block character, the 2D image to be a texture on a three-dimensional model upon rendering the three-dimensional model in the multi-player simulated three-dimensional virtual game, the three-dimensional model to be a decoration of the three-dimensional character in the multi-player simulated three-dimensional virtual game;

determine a texture template corresponding with the three-dimensional model, wherein the texture template provides a guide on how to arrange the 2D image on a surface of the three-dimensional model, and wherein the texture template is to provide texture coordinates that map the 2D image to the three-dimensional model;

assign the texture coordinates to the 2D image in response to arranging the 2D image on the surface of the three-dimensional model based on the texture template;

store the 2D image in the database; and

link the 2D image with the assigned texture coordinates to the three-dimensional model using a content file associated with the three-dimensional model, wherein the content file comprises an object identification data field indicating the three-dimensional model associated with the content file, a background color data field indicating a background color of the three-dimensional model, a location data field indicating the assigned texture coordinates for the 2D image, and a pointer to the 2D image stored in the database.

14. The system of claim 13 , the image server system further to:

scale the 2D image to fit into the texture template corresponding to the three-dimensional model, wherein the texture template defines the texture for a region of the three-dimensional model.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein to scale the 2D image to fit into the texture template, the image server system is further to:

modify a resolution of the 2D image to fit the 2D image into a first area of the texture template, wherein the image server system is further to

create a composite image file composed of the scaled 2D image, and alpha-channel image file segments for a second area of the texture template not covered by the scaled 2D image.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the three-dimensional model, using the 2D image as the texture, is the decoration for a plurality of three-dimensional characters upon rendering the plurality of three-dimensional characters in the multi-player simulated three-dimensional virtual game.

17. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:

the image server system to load the 2D image with the assigned texture coordinates, and transmit the 2D image with the texture coordinates that map to a region of the surface of the three-dimensional model; and

a rendering engine to render the three-dimensional character with the decoration, the decoration comprising the three-dimensional model with the 2D image as the texture of the surface of the three-dimensional model.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the three-dimensional character is selected from one of a person, an avatar, or a car.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the texture template is selected from one of a texture template of a t-shirt, a pant, a jacket, a shield, a hat, a purse, a briefcase, or a part of a car.

20. The system of claim 13 , the image server system is further to:

receive a selection, along with an image file of the 2D image, of at least one of a color, a pattern, or an image transparency that designates the background color of the three dimensional model as a user-specified background color.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium that provides instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a two-dimensional (2D) image from a user to customize a three-dimensional character for control by the user in a multi-player simulated three-dimensional virtual game, wherein the three-dimensional character is a three-dimensional block character, the 2D image file to be a texture on a three-dimensional model upon rendering the three-dimensional model in the multi-player simulated three-dimensional virtual game, the three-dimensional model to be a decoration of the three-dimensional character in the multi-player simulated three-dimensional virtual game;

determining a texture template corresponding with the three-dimensional model, wherein the texture template provides a guide on how to arrange the 2D image on a surface of the three-dimensional model, and wherein the texture template is to provide texture coordinates that map the 2D image to the three-dimensional model;

assigning the texture coordinates to the 2D image in response to arranging the 2D image on the surface of the three-dimensional model based on the texture template;

storing the 2D image in a database; and

linking the 2D image with the assigned texture coordinates to the three-dimensional model using a content file associated with the three-dimensional model, wherein the content file comprises an object identification data field indicating the three-dimensional model associated with the content file, a background color data field indicating a background color of the three-dimensional model, a location data field indicating the assigned texture coordinates for the 2D image, and a pointer to the 2D image stored in the database.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21 , the operations further comprising:

scaling the 2D image to fit into the texture template corresponding to the three-dimensional model, wherein the texture template defines the texture for a region of the three-dimensional model.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21 , the operations further comprising:

loading the 2D image with the assigned texture coordinates; and

rendering the three-dimensional model with the 2D image as the decoration of the three-dimensional character.