Path and Easing Control for Graphical Content Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital content editing tools lack the ability for users to define complex transitions in graphical content manipulations independently of the underlying content, requiring frame-by-frame adjustments and limiting application across different media types.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for associating digital elements with paths and easing within a virtual space, allowing users to define and manipulate graphical content based on these paths and easings, enabling flexible and complex transitions applicable to still images, videos, and animations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users define complex transitions in graphical content manipulations, then the flexibility and applicability of digital tools is improved, but the complexity of the tool increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the transition definition process into separate components: paths define the trajectory of graphical element movement, while easing functions define the temporal progression. This segmentation allows users to independently control spatial and temporal aspects of transitions, improving flexibility without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The path and easing framework is designed as a universal system that can be applied across multiple digital content types including still images, videos, and animations. The same path-easing combination can control different graphical elements (text, images, shapes) across different media formats, enhancing versatility while maintaining a consistent tool interface.
2Manufacturing precision
If frame-by-frame adjustments are required for graphical content transitions, then the precision of transition control is improved, but the time required for editing increases
Solution Approach 1:
Users define paths and easing functions in advance before applying them to graphical content. The path geometry and easing parameters are predetermined, allowing the system to automatically generate precise frame-by-frame transitions without requiring manual adjustment of each individual frame. This preliminary definition approach maintains precision while dramatically reducing editing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual frame-by-frame mechanical adjustment with automated computational generation. Instead of manually positioning graphical elements at each frame, the system uses mathematical path equations and easing functions to automatically calculate positions, achieving precise control through algorithmic computation rather than manual manipulation.
3Ease of operation
If digital tools are designed to work with specific content types, then the ease of operation for that content type is improved, but the adaptability to other content types decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The path and easing system is designed as a content-type-agnostic framework that works uniformly across still images, videos, and animations. The same operational interface and parameter definitions apply regardless of the underlying media format, maintaining ease of operation while achieving broad adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Paths and easing functions serve as intermediary abstractions between the user interface and the specific content types. Instead of directly manipulating content-specific parameters, users work with content-type-independent path and easing definitions, which the system then adapts to the appropriate media format, preserving ease of operation across diverse content types.
Data Source
AI summary
Digital image editors provide tools to modify or manipulate a digital image. For animation, video, etc. this manipulation and/or modification must be undertaken over a portion of the digital content's duration. This can represent tens, hundreds, thousands of equivalent images (i.e. each frame) to be modified and/or manipulated. The invention provides digital tools allowing effects, e.g. a manipulation and/or modification, from relatively simple transitions through to highly complex transitions, to be defined and then added to digital content. Further, these digital tools can be independent of considerations of the underlying content such that an effect designed with these digital tools may be applied over a still image, video content, animation etc. without requiring the user to define frames within the digital content etc. Further, the path and/or other characteristics of the modification and/or manipulation may be linked to other characteristics of the digital element, the digital content, external factors etc.