Method for Scripting Inter-scene Transitions

摘要

A method for authoring and displaying a virtual tour of a three-dimensional space which employs transitional effects simulating motion. An authoring tool is provided for interactively defining a series of locations in the space for which two-dimensional images, e.g., panoramas, photographs, etc., are available. A user identifies one or more view directions for a first-person perspective viewer for each location. For pairs of locations in the series, transitional effects are identified to simulate smooth motion between the pair of locations. The authoring tool stores data corresponding to the locations, view directions and transitional effects for playback on a display. When the stored data is accessed, a virtual tour of the space is created that includes transitional effects simulating motion between locations. The virtual tour created can allow a viewer to experience the three-dimensional space in a realistic manner.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method of creating a motion picture experience of a realm based on a series of digitally stored images of the realm, the method comprising:
a. receiving a user's definition of a series of locations in the realm, the series of locations comprising at least a first location and a second location that immediately succeeds the first location in the series of locations, wherein the first location is associated with a first location image and the second location is associated with a second location image; b. receiving, a user's definition of a view direction for each location in the series of locations associated with a first person view linked to the map view of the realm; c. receiving a user's selection of at least one virtual image, each of the at least one virtual images representing a virtual camera view of the realm from a distinct point in a three-dimensional space between the first location and the second location, and each of the at least one virtual images comprising at least one transitional object, the transitional object comprising a portion of the first location image and a portion of the second location image projected in a 3D geometry with texture mapping; and d. storing, in a tangible non-transitory computer readable medium, for subsequent playback on a display, (i) data describing the series of locations and, for each of the locations, the view direction corresponding thereto; and (ii) the at least one virtual image, such that playback of the first location image, the at least one virtual image, and the second location image simulates motion in three-dimensional space from the first location to the second location as the at least one transitional object appears to pass by a viewer of the display.