Methods and apparatuses for controlling transformation of two and three-dimensional images

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses described herein automate and confer additive properties to morphs (modification of a starting graphical image to a destination graphical image). The enhanced automated additive morphs created by this invention extend the currently limited scope of animation techniques, creating: moving morphs, where characters can speak, move, and emote during the morphing process; parametric character creation, where features can be sequentially added to a character to create a wide variety of resulting characters; behavioral transference, where character behavior can be automatically transferred to newly created characters, and behavioral layering whereby sequential behavior patterns can be concurrently transferred or imparted to a character. The present invention allows an animator to create, animate, control and transform two and three dimensional images instantaneously and fluidly. The invention provides a superior solution at significantly less cost which extends the range and properties of existing state of the art animation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of transforming a graphical image, comprising: 
 (a) identifying a first region of a first graphical image; and    (b) modifying said first region of said first graphical image based on a first set of predetermined modification data.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising after step (a): 
 (a1) retrieving said first set of modification data from a database, said database storing a plurality of sets of modification data.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (c) identifying a first region of a second graphical image; and  
 (d) modifying said at least first region of said second graphical image based on said first set of predetermined modification data.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (c) further modifying said first region of said first graphical image based on a second set of modification data.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (c) identifying a second region of said first graphical image; and  
 (d) modifying said second region of said first graphical image as modified in step (b) based on a second set of modification data.  
 
     
     
         6 . A method of transforming a starting graphical image to a destination graphical image, comprising: 
 (a) generating a first image;    (b) generating a second image;    (c) determining a set of difference values between said first image and said second image; and    (d) storing said difference values in a memory device.    
     
     
         7 . A method of transforming a starting graphical image to a destination graphical image, comprising: 
 (a) generating a first image comprising a first number of vertices, each vertex having a spatial location;    (b) generating a second image comprising a number of vertices equal to said first number of vertices;    (c) determining a difference between a first one of said vertices of said first image with a corresponding vertex of said second image; and    (d) storing said difference in a memory device.    
     
     
         8 . A method of modifying a starting graphical image comprising: 
 (a) identifying at least a first region of said starting graphical image;    (b) modifying said first region of said starting graphical image based on first and second sets of modification data.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising before step (b): 
 (a1) adding together said first and second sets of modification data.    
     
     
         10 . A communication system, comprising: 
 a client including a computer system and a display;    a server including at least a computer system, said server capable of transmitting a first image and at least a first set of modification data to said client; and    said server is capable of modifying said first image by transmitting a multiplier value to said client, such that said first image is modified based on said first set of modification data multiplied by said multiplier value.    
     
     
         11 . A method of modifying a starting graphical image comprising: 
 (a) generating a starting image having a plurality of characteristics;    (b) storing in a library a plurality of sets of modification data;    (c) retrieving a first set of modification data from said library; and    (d) modifying said starting image based on said first set of modification data, such that a first characteristic of said starting image is changed.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising after step (c): 
 (c1) multiplying said first set of modification data by a multiplier value;  
 and further wherein in step (d), said starting image is modified based on said first set of modification data multiplied by said multiplier value.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said multiplier value is input by a relative position of a graphical slider.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising repeating steps (c) and (d) for each change to one of said characteristics of said starting image.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising repeating steps (c), (c1), and (d) for each change to one of said characteristics of said starting image.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said multiplier value is input by a relative position of a graphical slider.  
     
     
         17 . A method of modifying a starting graphical image comprising: 
 (a) generating a first starting image having a plurality of characteristics;    (b) storing in a library a plurality of sets of modification data;    (c) retrieving first and second sets of modification data from said library; and    (d) modifying said starting image based on said first and second sets of modification data, such that first and second characteristics of said starting image are changed, respectively.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising after step (c): 
 (c1) multiplying said first set of modification data by a first multiplier value; and  
 (c2) multiplying said second set of modification data by a second multiplier value; and further wherein in step (d), said starting image is modified based on said first and second sets of modification data multiplied by said first and second multiplier values, respectively.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said first and second multiplier values are input by relative positions of first and second graphical sliders, respectively.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising repeating steps (c), (c1), (c2), and (d) for each change to said first and second characteristics of said starting image.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 (e) generating a second starting image having a plurality of characteristics;    (f) retrieving said first and second sets of modification data from said library; and    (g) modifying said second starting image based on said first and second sets of modification data, such that first and second characteristics of said second starting image are changed, respectively.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising after step (f): 
 (f1) multiplying said first set of modification data by a first multiplier value; and    (f2) multiplying said second set of modification data by a second multiplier value.    
     
     
         23 . A method of modifying a graphical image comprising: 
 (a) generating a starting graphical image of a character, said character capable of expressing a plurality of emotions;    (b) retrieving a first set of modification data from a library, each set of modification data stored in said library being related to an expression of an emotion;    (c) multiplying said first set of modification data by a first multiplication value; and    (d) modifying said starting graphical image based on said first set of modification data multiplied by said multiplier value.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 (e) generating a first random number;    (f) comparing said first random number with a first probability value;    (g) selecting a new amount for said first multiplication value based on said comparison in step (f); and    (h) repeating steps (c) and (d).    
     
     
         25 . The method  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 (e) generating a second random number;    (f) comparing said second random number with a second probability value;    (g) selecting a second set of modification data based on said comparison in step (f); and    (h) multiplying said second set of modification data by a second multiplication value; and    (i) modifying said starting graphical image based on a said second set of modification data multiplied by said second multiplication value.    
     
     
         26 . The method  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 (i) generating a second random number;    (j) comparing said second random number with a second probability value;    (k) selecting a second set of modification data based on said comparison in step (j);    (l) multiplying said second set of modification data by a second multiplication value; and    (m) modifying said starting graphical image based on a said second set of modification data multiplied by said second multiplication value.    
     
     
         27 . A method of modifying a graphical image comprising: 
 (a) generating a starting graphical image of a character, said character capable of expressing a plurality of emotions;    (b) generating at least a first graphical object located proximately to said starting graphical image, said graphical object including a data structure defining a first emotion to be expressed by said starting graphical image;    (c) determining a relationship between said starting graphical image and said graphical object;    (d) retrieving a first set of modification data from a library, said modification data being related to an expression of a said first emotion;    (e) generating a multiplication value based on said relationship between said graphical object and said starting graphical image;    (f) multiplying said first set of modification data by said multiplication value; and    (g) modifying said starting graphical image based on said first set of modification data.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said relationship is a distance between said graphical object and said starting graphical image.