Virtual Pet Texture Layering for Flexible Appearance Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual pet applications limit the degree of freedom and variety of appearance customization due to a 1:1 quantitative relationship between appearance features and mappings, requiring extensive art resources and time for creating multiple mappings for each feature variation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves forming target mappings by overlaying mappings with target matte mappings at different levels, allowing adjustments to target matte mappings to generate diverse appearance features, reducing the need for multiple mappings and enhancing customization freedom.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mappings are created for each appearance feature variation, then appearance customization variety is improved, but art resource requirements and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the appearance customization system into multiple independent matte mapping layers, each controlling specific appearance features (e.g., fur color, patterns, markings). Instead of creating separate complete mappings for each appearance variation, the system divides the mapping into base layers and overlay matte layers that can be independently adjusted and combined to produce diverse appearance results.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the mapping system by organizing mappings into multiple levels (base mapping, matte mappings at different levels). This hierarchical structure allows combinations of fewer base resources to generate more appearance variations, effectively adding a dimensional organization that reduces the total number of required art resources.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mappings are created for each appearance feature variation, then appearance customization variety is improved, but time consumption for creating mappings increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the mapping creation process into reusable base mappings and adjustable matte overlay layers, the system reduces the time required to create new appearance variations. Artists only need to create a limited set of base mappings and matte layers, then combine them through parameter adjustments rather than creating complete new mappings for each variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-creating a library of base mappings and matte mapping layers during the asset preparation phase. These pre-prepared components can be rapidly combined and adjusted to generate diverse appearance variations during gameplay or customization, eliminating the need to create new mappings in real-time.
3Device complexity
If a 1:1 quantitative relationship is maintained between appearance features and mappings, then mapping management is simplified, but customization freedom is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the mapping structure into hierarchical levels (base mapping, multiple matte mapping layers) that can be independently managed. Each matte mapping layer controls specific appearance attributes, allowing artists to manage and adjust individual features without affecting the entire mapping set, thus maintaining organizational simplicity while enabling fine-grained customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic flexibility by allowing matte mappings at different levels to be adjusted independently through parameters such as opacity, blending modes, and layer visibility. This dynamic control enables customization freedom while maintaining a structured management system where the hierarchical relationships between mapping layers provide organizational clarity.
Data Source
AI summary
An appearance editing method and apparatus for a virtual pet are provided. The process may include obtain a first texture mapping of the virtual pet, the first texture mapping comprising a first appearance feature of the virtual pet; generate a target texture mapping corresponding to the a target appearance feature in response to an editing operation on the target appearance feature, wherein the target appearance feature is different than the first appearance feature; obtain a target texture mapping of the virtual pet by overlaying the first texture mapping of the virtual pet with at least one layer of the target texture mapping, wherein target masked texture mapping at different levels correspond to different target appearance feature; and apply the target texture mapping to a three-dimensional model of the virtual pet.