Computer Character Skin Feature Placement Density Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animation technologies face challenges in realistically animating characters with surface-attached features like feathers, fur, and scales, particularly in managing the complexity and distribution of these features on a skin surface, which affects the visual realism and computational efficiency of animation sequences.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that involves defining placement points on a computer-generated character's skin surface, calculating density values based on weighted overlaps, and reducing the number of placement points to achieve a desired density, followed by proximity correction and interpolation processes to accurately position and shape features like feathers, using guide locations and deformation guides for precise animation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a large number of placement points are used to accurately represent surface-attached features, then the visual realism and detail of the animation is improved, but the computational complexity and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential placement points needed to define surface-attached features by calculating density values and removing redundant points. This selective extraction maintains visual realism while reducing computational complexity by eliminating unnecessary placement points from the animation process.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of starting with a dense set of placement points and adding detail, the patent inverts the approach by starting with a comprehensive set and systematically removing redundant points through density calculation. This inversion allows the system to achieve efficiency without sacrificing visual fidelity, as the removal process preserves only the essential points needed for realistic feature representation.
2Measurement precision
If placement points are densely distributed across the skin surface, then the accuracy of feature positioning is improved, but the number of calculations and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of placement point distribution from uniform density to variable density based on calculated density values. By dynamically adjusting the number of placement points in different regions according to their calculated density, the system maintains high positioning accuracy where needed while reducing processing time in less critical areas, effectively balancing precision and efficiency.
3Quantity of substance
If all placement points are retained for feature animation, then the completeness of surface coverage is improved, but the computational resources and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes redundant placement points by calculating density values and identifying points that can be eliminated without compromising visual quality. This extraction process reduces the total number of placement points, thereby decreasing computational resources and memory requirements while maintaining complete surface coverage where it matters most.
Data Source
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AI summary
Skin-attached features are placed on a computer generated character by defining a set of placement points on at least a portion of a skin surface of the computer generated character. For each placement point, a radius is defined for the placement point. For each placement point, a density value is determined for the placement point. The density value is a sum of weighted overlaps with neighboring placement points within the radius of the placement point. The weighted overlaps are functions of the radius of the placement point. The number of placement points in the set of placement points is reduced based on the density values.