User interface for creation of image generation and transformation functions

摘要

An interface is useful in browsing output vectors resulting from applying a transfer function to input data. The interface allows a user to explore effects of different parameter settings which make up the transfer function, particularly in connection with computer-generated and computer-modified images. The interface includes two portions, a central display panel and a surrounding area of a plurality of image displays. Thumbnail sketches of images corresponding to each of the output vectors are located in the central display panel to represent the relationships between the output vectors. The output vectors are processed to determine distances between them, and the distances are then projected to the two-dimensional display of the central display panel. The central display panel can be controlled to pan and zoom the display to review the thumbnail sketches. The user can then select different thumbnail sketches so that full-sized images are displayed in the plurality of image displays. The interface also has additional displays which can overlay the central display panel and the image displays. The additional displays represent information about the images or vectors. The input or output vectors corresponding to a specific image can be displayed. Alternatively, the image can be displayed in larger detail in an additional display.