A Direct Manipulation Interface for 3D Computer Animation

Abstract

We present a new set of interface techniques for visualizing and editing animation directly in a single three-dimensional scene. Motion is edited using direct-manipulation tools which satisfy high-level goals such as"reach this point at this time" or"go faster at this moment". These tools can be applied over an arbitrary temporal range and maintain arbitrary degrees of spatial and temporal continuity.We separate spatial and temporal control of position by using two curves for each animated object: the motion path which describes the 3D spatial path along which an object travels, and the motion graph, a function describing the distance traveled along this curve over time. Our direct-manipulation tools are implemented using displacement functions, a straightforward and scalable technique for satisfying motion constraints by composition of the displacement function with the motion graph or motion path. This paper will focus on applying displacement functions to positional change. However, the techniques presented are applicable to the animation of orientation, color, or any other attribute that varies over time.