Contour gradients using three-dimensional models

1. A computerized method of applying a contour gradient to a two-dimensional path, the method comprising:

constructing a three-dimensional polygonal shell from the two-dimensional path;

projecting the three-dimensional polygonal shell into two dimensions, wherein the projecting includes saving a value for a third dimension for each point of the three-dimensional polygonal shell in a separate data structure and removing the third dimension values from the three-dimensional polygonal shell;

identifying a minimum value for the third dimension from the saved values in the separate data structure;

identifying a maximum value for the third dimension from the saved values in the separate data structure;

determining a range of values for the third dimension based on a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value;

mapping the range of values to a visual attribute in accordance with a mapping function that correlates each value in the range of values with a corresponding value for the visual attribute; and

causing the two-dimensional path to be displayed using the mapped visual attribute.

2. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein constructing the three-dimensional polygonal shell from the two-dimensional path includes creating a bevel at a set angle from the two-dimensional path.

3. The computerized method of claim 2 , wherein the set angle is approximately 45 degrees.

4. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein constructing the three-dimensional polygonal shell from the two-dimensional path includes projecting the two-dimensional path around a half-cylinder.

5. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the mapping function is based at least in part on the maximum value and the minimum value.

6. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the visual attribute is opacity.

7. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the visual attribute is color.

8. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the visual attribute is brightness.

9. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the mapping function is linear in nature.

10. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the mapping function is non-linear in nature.

11. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory having instructions stored thereon, that when executed by the one or more processors cause the system to:

receive a two-dimensional path from a user;

construct a three-dimensional polygonal shell from the two-dimensional path;

project the three-dimensional polygonal shell into two dimensions, wherein the projecting includes saving a value for a third dimension for each point of the three-dimensional polygonal shell in a separate data structure and removing the third dimension values from the three-dimensional polygonal shell;

identify a minimum value for the third dimension from the saved values in the separate data structure;

identify a maximum value for the third dimension from the saved values in the separate data structure;

determine a range of values for the third dimension based on a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value;

map the range of values to a visual attribute in accordance with a mapping function that correlates each value in the range of values with a corresponding value for the visual attribute; and

cause the two-dimensional path to be displayed using the mapped visual attribute.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein to construct the three-dimensional polygonal shell from the two-dimensional path includes creation of a bevel at a set angle from the two-dimensional path.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein to construct the three-dimensional polygonal shell from the two-dimensional path includes projection of the two-dimensional path around a half-cylinder.

14. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

construct a three-dimensional polygonal shell from a two-dimensional path;

project the three-dimensional polygonal shell into two dimensions, wherein the projecting includes saving a value for a third dimension for each point of the three-dimensional polygonal shell in a separate data structure and removing the third dimension values from the three-dimensional polygonal shell;

identify a minimum value for the third dimension from the saved values in the separate data structure;

identify a maximum value for the third dimension from the saved values in the separate data structure;

determine a range of values for the third dimension based on a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value;

map the range of values to a visual attribute in accordance with a mapping function that correlates each value in the range of values with a corresponding value for the visual attribute; and

cause the two-dimensional path to be displayed using the mapped visual attribute.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein to construct the three-dimensional polygonal shell from the two-dimensional path includes creation of a bevel at a set angle from the two-dimensional path.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the set angle is approximately 45 degrees.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein to construct the three-dimensional polygonal shell from the two-dimensional path includes projection of the two-dimensional path around a half-cylinder.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the visual attribute is opacity.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the visual attribute is color.