Animation Manipulator Rollover Selection via Preliminary Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current process of animating 3D objects in computer animation is slow and tedious due to the need for multiple selections and clicks to manipulate geometry, leading to animator fatigue and repetitive stress injuries, as animators must first select geometry to reveal corresponding manipulators.
Innovation Solution
The system displays standard, rollover, and dot manipulators in response to pointer device events, allowing animators to tentatively select and interact with manipulators by moving the pointer over geometry, reducing the number of clicks required to manipulate animatable objects by highlighting available manipulators without initial selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the animator selects geometry to reveal manipulators, then the manipulators become visible and accessible, but the number of clicks required increases and the process becomes slower
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays a representation of the manipulator before the animator actually selects it. When the pointer device hovers over geometry, the manipulator representation appears in advance, allowing the animator to see available manipulators without clicking. This preliminary display resolves the contradiction by making manipulators accessible (improving ease of operation) while eliminating the need for preliminary clicks (reducing time loss).
Solution Approach 2:
The manipulator representation acts as an intermediary between the geometry and the actual manipulator. Instead of directly clicking on geometry to reveal manipulators, the animator first sees a representation that mediates this interaction. This intermediary representation can be displayed on hover, providing visual feedback without requiring the full selection action, thus reducing clicks while maintaining accessibility.
2Loss of information
If the animator clicks on geometry to see manipulators, then the manipulators are revealed, but animator fatigue and repetitive stress injury increase
Solution Approach 1:
The manipulator representation is displayed in advance when the pointer hovers over the geometry, providing visibility of manipulator information without requiring repeated clicking actions. This reduces the physical strain on animators while maintaining full visibility of available manipulators and their functions.
3Device complexity
If the animator must select geometry before seeing manipulators, then the workflow follows traditional selection patterns, but the animation process becomes more tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The manipulator representation appears before formal selection occurs, allowing animators to see available manipulators and plan their actions. This maintains simple interface interaction patterns while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating unnecessary selection steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate visual feedback by displaying the manipulator representation when the pointer hovers over geometry. This feedback mechanism allows animators to see available manipulators in real-time without completing full selection cycles, simplifying the interaction workflow while accelerating animation production.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present application includes an approach by which an animation system manipulates an animatable object. The animation system detects that a pointer device has positioned a pointer location at a first location, the first location coinciding with a first portion of geometry of the animatable object. The animation system indicates that a first manipulator associated with the first portion of geometry is tentatively selected. Prior to receiving a selection event from the pointer device, the animation system displays a representation of the first manipulator.