Look-based selection for rendering a computer-generated animation

1. A computer-implemented method, performed using one or more processors, for computing a rendered image of a computer-generated object in a computer-generated scene, the method comprising:

accessing, using the one or more processors, a dependency graph, the dependency graph comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein one of the interconnected nodes includes a look-selector node;

accessing, using the one or more processors, an asset at an input of the look-selector node, wherein the asset includes a plurality of looks for the computer-generated object, each look of the plurality of looks corresponding to a different visual appearance of the computer-generated object;

selecting, using the one or more processors, at the look-selector node, an active look from the plurality of looks;

passing, using the one or more processors, the active look to a next node of the dependency graph; and

computing, using the one or more processors, the rendered image of the computer-generated object having a visual appearance that corresponds to the active look.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the selected look includes unique surface geometry that is not included in the other looks of the plurality of looks.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the selected look includes unique surface shading detail that is not included in the other looks of the plurality of looks.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein one or more nodes of the plurality of nodes assigns a visual effect to the asset.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the visual effect is a virtual light source.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assigning a visual effect to the asset at an upstream node that precedes the look-selector node in the dependency graph, wherein the visual effect is assigned to each look of the plurality of looks of the asset.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assigning a visual effect to the asset at a downstream node that follows the look-selector node in the dependency graph, wherein the visual effect is assigned only to the active look of the plurality of looks of the asset.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the next node is a render node and the render node is used to compute the rendered image of the computer-generated scene.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the dependency graph includes two or more look-selector nodes, each look-selector node passing a different active look to a respective render node that is downstream from the look-selector node in the dependency graph.

10. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for computing a rendered image of a computer-generated object in a computer-generated scene, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:

accessing a dependency graph, the dependency graph comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein one of the interconnected nodes includes a look-selector node;

accessing an asset at an input of the look-selector node, wherein the asset includes a plurality of looks for the computer-generated object, each look of the plurality of looks corresponding to a different visual appearance of the computer-generated object;

selecting, at the look-selector node, an active look from the plurality of looks;

passing the active look to a next node of the dependency graph; and

computing the rendered image of the computer-generated object having a visual appearance that corresponds to the active look.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the selected look includes unique surface geometry that is not included in the other looks of the plurality of looks.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the selected look includes unique surface shading detail that is not included in the other looks of the plurality of looks.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , further comprising:

assigning a visual effect to the asset at an upstream node that precedes the look-selector node in the dependency graph, wherein the visual effect is assigned to each look of the plurality of looks of the asset.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , further comprising:

assigning a visual effect to the asset at a downstream node that follows the look-selector node in the dependency graph, wherein the visual effect is assigned only to the active look of the plurality of looks of the asset.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the next node is a render node and the render node is used to compute the rendered image of the computer-generated scene.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the dependency graph includes two or more look-selector nodes, each look-selector node passing a different active look to a respective render node that is downstream from the look-selector node in the dependency graph.

17. An apparatus for computing a rendered image of a computer-generated object in a computer-generated scene, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store data; and

a computer processor configured to:

access a dependency graph, the dependency graph comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein one of the interconnected nodes includes a look-selector node;

access an asset at an input of the look-selector node, wherein the asset includes a plurality of looks for the computer-generated object, each look of the plurality of looks corresponding to a different visual appearance of the computer-generated object;

select, at the look-selector node, an active look from the plurality of looks;

pass the active look to a next node of the dependency graph; and

compute the rendered image of the computer-generated object having a visual appearance that corresponds to the active look.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to:

assign a visual effect to the asset at an upstream node that precedes the look-selector node in the dependency graph, wherein the visual effect is assigned to each look of the plurality of looks of the asset.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to:

assign a visual effect to the asset at a downstream node that follows the look-selector node in the dependency graph, wherein the visual effect is assigned only to the active look of the plurality of looks of the asset.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the next node is a render node and the render node is used to compute the rendered image of the computer-generated scene.