Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for integrating a three-dimensional asset with a three-dimensional model

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for integrating a three-dimensional asset with a three-dimensional model. Each asset can include a base surface and either a protrusion or a projection extending from the base. Once the asset is placed at a particular position with respect to the model, one or more vertices defining a periphery of the base surface can be projected onto an external surface of the model. Then, one or more portions of the asset can be deformed to provide a smooth transition between the external surface of the asset and the external surface of the model. In some cases, the asset can include a hole extending through the external surface of the model for defining a cavity. A secondary asset can be placed in the cavity such as, for example, an eyeball asset placed in an eye socket asset.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for integrating an asset with a three-dimensional model, wherein the asset comprises a pivot point and a base, and wherein the model comprises a surface, the method comprising:
 displaying the three-dimensional model;   identifying a contact point on a surface of the model at which to place the asset;   positioning the asset on the model such that the pivot point of the asset coincides with the identified contact point;   projecting the base onto the surface of the model; and   modifying a shape of the asset in the vicinity of the base to provide a smooth transition between the asset and the surface of the model.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a vertex in the base; and   projecting the vertex onto the surface of the model.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a periphery of the base defines a closed path.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 identifying a sequence of vertices on the path; and   projecting each vertex of the sequence of vertices on the external surface of the model.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 removing portions of the surface of the model enclosed within the closed path to expose a portion of the asset.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the asset comprises a cavity visible through the surface of the model. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the asset is initially enclosed within the model when the asset is positioned prior to projecting the base on the surface of the model. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 identifying at least one plane tangent to the surface of the model at a point of the surface of the model on which the base is projected; and   modifying the shape of the asset such that a region of the shape of the asset in the vicinity of the projected base is in the identified at least one plane.   
     
     
         9 . An electronic device comprising:
 an input interface;   a display; and   control circuitry coupled to the input interface and the display, wherein the control circuitry is operative to:
 direct the display to display an avatar; 
 receive from the input interface of a selection of an asset to integrate with an external surface of the avatar, wherein the asset comprises a protrusion extending from a base; 
 project the base onto the external surface of the avatar; and 
 modify the shape of the protrusion in the vicinity of the projected base to provide a seamless transition between the external surface of the avatar and the protrusion. 
   
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:
 initially position the asset such that the base is enclosed within a volume of the avatar.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:
 position the asset such that a pivot point of the asset coincides with a contact point on the external surface of the avatar.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:
 receive, from the input interface, an instruction to move the asset;   project the base onto a new region of the external surface of the avatar; and   modify the shape of the protrusion in the vicinity of the projected base based on a curvature of the new region of the external surface of the avatar.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the modified shape of the protrusion provides a seamless transition with the new region of the external surface. 
     
     
         14 . A method for integrating an asset with a three-dimensional model, comprising:
 displaying a base structure of a three-dimensional model, wherein the base structure comprises a surface;   identifying a hole asset to integrate with the base structure, wherein the hole asset comprises an internal surface corresponding to a cavity, and a base defining an opening for the hole asset;   placing the hole asset in the base structure, wherein a portion of the cavity extends through the surface of the base structure;   projecting the base onto the surface of the base structure; and   removing from display portions of the surface of the base structure that are in the projected base, wherein the internal surface of the hole asset is visible through the removed portions of the surface.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 adjusting a shape of the internal surface in a region adjacent to the projected base.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 adjusting the shape of the internal surface such that the internal surface seamlessly transitions to the surface of the model remaining around a periphery of the projected base.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of a secondary asset; and   displaying the secondary asset in the cavity of the hole asset.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the secondary asset comprises an eyeball asset. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 identifying a sequence of vertices around a periphery of the base; and   projecting each vertex of the identified sequence of vertices onto the surface of the base structure.