Animated icons to preview transformations related to 3D models

摘要

An apparatus and a method for using 3D animated icons to preview transformations related to 3D models are disclosed. The apparatus includes a graphical user interface (GUI) which includes a visual depiction of the 3D model as well as a cursor and 3D animated icons which are representative of various transformations that may be performed on the model. The animation of the 3D icons provides the user with a preview, before selecting the icons, of what will happen to the 3D model depicted in the GUI if the transformations are in fact applied by user-selection of the icons. The method includes displaying, on a GUI, a 3D model as well as a cursor and at least one 3D animated icon which displays a representation of a respective transformation. The method further includes changing the state of an animated icon from static (i.e., a still frame) to animated when the user positions the cursor in the neighborhood of the icon, thereby illustrating the effect of the transformation. The method further comprises changing the icon to a different static state whenever the user selects the icon, at which point the icon will be displayed as a still frame that indicates that the icon has been selected.

主权项

1. A computer apparatus for previewing transformations in a 3D modeling system, with a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising:
a visual depiction of a 3D model, including zero, one, or more objects and a grid according to which the objects are positioned; at least one animated 3D icon associated with a transformation to the 3D model, wherein the transformation adds an object to the zero, one, or more objects of the 3D model, deletes an object when there are one or more objects in the 3D model, or changes an object when there are one or more objects in the 3D model, wherein the at least one animated 3D icon is user-selectable to apply the associated transformation to the 3D model in a manner that modifies or transforms an object within or added to the visual depiction of the 3D model, the at least one animated 3D icon includes an animated visual depiction of the associated transformation; and a cursor which is used to navigate the 3D model and to select the at least one animated 3D icon in the GUI.