Emulating Flat Brush Control via Multi-Touch Gesture Interpolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current design and illustration software lacks the flexibility and realism of a flat brush or pen, limiting the ability to adjust thickness and angle dynamically during drawing, which is essential for both educational and expert calligraphy practices.
Innovation Solution
A software-based system utilizing multi-gesture capabilities of tablet computers to emulate the control of a flat brush by allowing multiple fingers or implements to define points of contact, enabling dynamic changes in stroke thickness and angle, and allowing rotation, mirroring the natural motion of a real brush.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fixed width and angle parameters are defined for virtual brush, then brush control is simplified, but the liberty and natural control of real flat brush is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic brush parameters where the brush width and angle are not fixed but change continuously based on the user's drawing motion. The system calculates brush parameters in real-time from touch input data, allowing the virtual brush to adapt its properties during the drawing gesture, thus providing both ease of operation and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes brush parameters dynamically during the drawing process. Instead of setting fixed width and angle beforehand, the parameters are computed from the relative position and movement of touch points, enabling the brush to exhibit variable characteristics that mimic real brush behavior while maintaining simple user interaction.
2Manufacturing precision
If thickness and angle are adjusted between each stroke in computer software, then precision is improved, but time consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous adjustment of brush parameters throughout the drawing gesture rather than requiring discrete adjustments between strokes. The system continuously calculates brush width and angle from the ongoing touch motion, allowing calligraphers to maintain precise control while drawing without interruption, thus eliminating time loss while preserving precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculation of brush parameters based on the initial touch points and their relative positions before the actual drawing occurs. This allows the brush to be properly configured in advance for each gesture, enabling precise calligraphy execution without time-consuming adjustments during or between strokes.
3Ease of operation
If rotation of brush during drawing is not allowed, then software operation is simplified, but the ability to create natural calligraphy is severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic rotation capability where the brush angle parameter changes continuously during the drawing gesture. The system calculates the rotation angle from the relative position of two touch points, allowing the virtual brush to rotate naturally as the user moves their fingers, thus providing full calligraphy capability while maintaining simple operation through intuitive touch gestures.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of emulating a flat tip brush, said method comprising (a) at a given time, identifying first and second points of contact on a touch sensitive surface; (b) interpolating a line between the first and second points, the line having line data comprising at least a length and an angle relative to the screen; (c) recording the first and second points and the line data; (d) reiterating steps (a)-(c) for at least one subsequent time to determine a plurality of the first points and a plurality of the second points and a plurality of the lines; and (e) displaying on a display screen an image defined by the first points, by the second points and/or by the lines between the first and second points.