Inverse Distortion for Surface Objects in Animation Models
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In computer animation, it is challenging to balance visual realism with artistic direction when deforming models, as surface objects often become overly distorted, disrupting the intended aesthetic, especially when attached to flexible underlying objects like skin or armor.
Innovation Solution
The method involves measuring distortion in surface objects and applying inverse deformation to counteract this, allowing for user-directed control over the level of distortion, resulting in less distorted surface objects when deformed, which can appear entirely rigid, flexible, or a combination thereof.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surface objects are deformed along with the underlying object to maintain visual realism, then the deformation appears realistic, but the surface objects become overly distorted when the underlying object is highly flexible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by calculating inverse distortion measurements before final deformation. The system pre-calculates distortion compensation factors based on the underlying object's deformation properties and applies these to the surface objects in advance, so that when the final deformation occurs, the surface objects maintain their intended shape characteristics rather than becoming overly distorted
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by introducing a rigidity parameter that controls the degree to which surface objects resist deformation. This parameter allows dynamic adjustment of surface object behavior between fully rigid and fully flexible, enabling the system to adapt deformation characteristics based on the specific artistic or realistic requirements of each scene
2Shape
If surface objects are made entirely rigid to maintain shape, then distortion is reduced, but the animation loses flexibility and artistic control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the surface object rigidity adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adapts the deformation behavior of surface objects based on user-specified rigidity parameters, allowing the same surface objects to exhibit different levels of flexibility across different scenes or moments in the animation, thus providing both shape stability when needed and artistic flexibility when desired
3Reliability
If complex physics simulation is used to achieve realistic surface object deformation, then visual realism improves, but computational intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements this principle by using computationally inexpensive inverse distortion calculations instead of expensive physics simulations. Rather than simulating complex physical interactions between surface objects and the underlying object, the system uses pre-calculated distortion measurements and applies simple transformation matrices, achieving acceptable visual realism at a fraction of the computational cost
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for deformation of surface objects are disclosed. A method may include receiving an initial pose of a model comprising an underlying object and a plurality of surface objects, and a deformation of the model to a second pose. A measurement of the surface objects in the second pose can be used to determine inversely distorted surface objects, such that the lengths of the edges in the inversely distorted surface object are adjusted to counteract the distortion. Thus, when the inversely distorted surface objects are deformed to the second pose, they may appear less distorted than when the original surface objects are deformed to the second pose. Furthermore, a user may direct the level of inverse distortion, so that the surface objects, when inversely distorted and deformed to the second pose, may appear entirely rigid, entirely flexible, or some combination thereof.