One-Dimensional Layer Motion Element for Digital Animation Editing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital animation systems face inefficiencies and inflexibilities due to their reliance on two-dimensional grids, leading to complex user interfaces that are difficult to navigate and resource-intensive, particularly on mobile devices, and struggle to generate realistic animations like falling rain without excessive user interactions.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a dynamic one-dimensional layer motion element within a user interface that includes an animation timeline, allowing for efficient generation and modification of digital animations by selecting animation layers and frames, and animating digital design objects along user-defined paths with various animation features such as multi-path animation and variable speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a two-dimensional grid of animation channels is used, then comprehensive animation editing capability is provided, but user interface complexity and device resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the animation editing interface into separate functional components: a two-dimensional grid for selecting animation channels/frames and a separate one-dimensional timeline for temporal navigation. This segmentation allows comprehensive editing capability while reducing the complexity of any single interface element, as each component handles a specific aspect of animation modification independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a purely two-dimensional grid interface to a hybrid interface that incorporates a one-dimensional timeline element. This dimensional change enables users to navigate animation frames temporally along a horizontal axis while maintaining vertical channel selection, providing comprehensive editing capability with a more intuitive and less complex interface layout.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a two-dimensional grid of animation channels is used, then comprehensive animation editing capability is provided, but computational resources and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the animation rendering process into independent channels and frames, allowing the system to process and display only the selected animation layer and frame rather than rendering the entire two-dimensional grid simultaneously. This segmentation reduces computational resource consumption by focusing processing power on specific animation elements rather than the complete interface.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rendering and processing all animation channels and frames in the two-dimensional grid, the patent implements partial action by only processing and displaying the selected animation layer and frame. This approach provides comprehensive editing capability when needed while significantly reducing computational resource consumption during normal operation by avoiding excessive processing of unused animation elements.
3Productivity
If conventional animation systems are used, then basic animation generation is possible, but generating realistic animations like falling rain requires excessive user interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining animation paths and providing automated frame generation based on user-selected paths. Instead of requiring users to manually create each frame for realistic animations like falling rain, the system pre-processes path data and automatically generates the animation frames, significantly reducing the number of user interactions needed while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service animation generation by allowing users to define simple paths or conditions, and the system automatically generates the complex animation frames and effects. The animation system serves itself by using the user's simple path input to automatically create the detailed animation sequence, reducing the burden on users to manually create each frame while maintaining efficient animation production.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to systems, non-transitory computer-readable media, and methods for generating and modifying digital animations based on user interactions with a unique user interface portraying a one-dimensional layer motion element and/or elements for generating and utilizing animation path for digital design objects and animation layers. The disclosed system can provide a dynamic one-dimensional layer motion element that adapts to a selected animation layer and portrays selectable animation frames from the animation layer. The disclosed systems can provide options for generating and modifying various frames of the digital animation based on user interactions with the one-dimensional layer motion element, an animation timeline, and/or a corresponding animation canvas. Additionally, in some embodiments, the disclosed systems also generate path animations with complex animation effects based on user selection of animation paths, digital design objects of animation layers, and corresponding selectable path animation feature tools.