Visual manipulation of a digital object

1. In a digital visual manipulation environment for visually manipulating a digital object, a method implemented by at least one computing device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the at least one computing device, user input of an activation gesture relative to the digital object displayed on a display surface, the activation gesture comprising a two point touch and spread gesture;

detecting, by the at least one computing device, removal of the activation gesture;

generating, by the at least one computing device, an axis of manipulation for the digital object and based on a position of the activation gesture relative to the digital object;

activating, by the at least one computing device, one of multiple manipulation modes that each indicate a different type of motion of the digital object relative to the axis of manipulation based on a length of the activation gesture, the activated manipulation mode remaining active when the activation gesture is removed;

receiving, by the at least one computing device, a manipulation gesture, the manipulation gesture comprising a single touch swiping gesture;

recognizing, by the at least one computing device, the manipulation gesture indicative of a manipulation of the digital object relative to the axis of manipulation and based on the activated manipulation mode;

generating, by the at least one computing device, a visual manipulation of the digital object relative to the axis of manipulation and based on the manipulation gesture; and

receiving, by the at least one computing device, a user input of a two point touch and contract gesture to the axis of manipulation visible on the display surface, effective to terminate the activated manipulation mode and remove the axis of manipulation.

2. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the digital object displayed on the display surface is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object.

3. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the two point touch and spread gesture is a two finger spreading gesture positioned on a plane of the digital object and the axis of manipulation is generated between two fingers of the two finger spreading gesture.

4. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises exposing, by the at least one computing device, a visual indication of the activated manipulation mode.

5. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the activated manipulation mode is a rotation mode.

6. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the activated manipulation mode is a folding mode.

7. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein said generating a visual manipulation comprises rotating the digital object about the axis of manipulation.

8. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein said generating a visual manipulation comprises folding the digital object over the axis of manipulation.

9. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises, after said generating the axis of manipulation, receiving a further two point touch gesture to move the axis of manipulation and in response, generating the axis of manipulation at a different position relative to the digital object.

10. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein said recognizing the manipulation gesture comprises recognizing a single point swiping gesture perpendicular to the axis of manipulation, effective to manipulate the digital object relative to the axis of manipulation in the direction of the swiping gesture.

11. In a digital visual manipulation environment for visually manipulating a digital object, a system to manipulate the digital object relative to an axis of manipulation, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage media storing one or more modules that are executable by the one or more processors to:

receive user input of an activation gesture to the digital object displayed on a display surface, the activation gesture comprising a two point touch and spread gesture;

detect removal of the activation gesture;

generate an axis of manipulation for the digital object based on a position of the activation gesture relative to the digital object;

determine a length of the activation gesture and activate one of multiple manipulation modes that each indicate a different type of motion of the digital object relative to the axis of manipulation based on the length of the activation gesture, the activated manipulation mode remaining active when the activation gesture is removed;

receive a user input of a manipulation gesture, the manipulation gesture comprising a single touch swiping gesture;

recognize the manipulation gesture indicative of a manipulation of the digital object relative to the axis of manipulation and based on the activated manipulation mode;

generate a visual manipulation of the digital object relative to the axis of manipulation and based on the manipulation gesture applied according to the activated manipulation mode; and

receive a user input of a two point touch and contract gesture to the axis of manipulation visible on the display surface, effective to terminate the activated manipulation mode and remove the axis of manipulation.

12. The system as described in claim 11 , wherein the activated manipulation mode is a rotation mode, and the visual manipulation is a rotation about the axis of manipulation.

13. The system as described in claim 11 , wherein the activated manipulation mode is a folding mode, and the visual manipulation is a folding of the digital object over the axis of manipulation.

14. In a digital visual manipulation environment for visually manipulating a digital object, a method implemented by at least one computing device to visually manipulate the digital object, the method comprising:

receiving, by the at least one computing device, user input of an activation gesture to the digital object displayed on a display surface, the activation gesture comprising a two point touch and spread gesture, and generating an axis of manipulation for the digital object based on a position of the activation gesture relative to the digital object;

detecting, by the at least one computing device, removal of the activation gesture;

determining, by the at least one computing device, a size of the activation gesture effective to activate one of multiple manipulation modes that each indicate a different type of motion of the digital object relative to the axis of manipulation based on the size of the activation gesture, the activated manipulation mode remaining active when the activation gesture is removed;

exposing, by the at least one computing device, a visual indication of the activated manipulation mode;

receiving, by the at least one computing device, a manipulation gesture, the manipulation gesture comprising a single touch swiping gesture;

recognizing, by the at least one computing device, the manipulation gesture indicative of a manipulation of the digital object relative to the axis of manipulation and based on the activated manipulation mode; and

generating, by the at least one computing device, a visual manipulation of the digital object relative to the axis of manipulation and based on the manipulation gesture applied according to the activated manipulation mode; and

receiving, by the at least one computing device, a user input of a two point touch and contract gesture to the axis of manipulation visible on the display surface, effective to terminate the activated manipulation mode and remove the axis of manipulation.

15. The method as described in claim 14 , wherein said recognizing the manipulation gesture comprises recognizing a single point swiping gesture perpendicular to the axis of manipulation, effective to manipulate the digital object relative to the axis of manipulation in the direction of the swiping gesture.

16. The method as described in claim 14 , wherein the activated manipulation mode is a rotation mode, and the visual manipulation is a rotation about the axis of manipulation.

17. The system as described in claim 14 , wherein the activated manipulation mode is a folding mode, and the visual manipulation is a folding of the digital object over the axis of manipulation.

18. The system as described in claim 11 , wherein the activation gesture is a two finger spreading gesture positioned on a plane of the digital object and the axis of manipulation is generated between two fingers of the two finger spreading gesture.

19. The system as described in claim 11 , further configured to receive a further multipoint gesture to move the axis of manipulation and in response, generate the axis of manipulation at a different position relative to the digital object.

20. The method as described in claim 14 , wherein the activation gesture is a two finger spreading gesture positioned on a plane of the digital object and the axis of manipulation is generated between two fingers of the two finger spreading gesture.