Generating Data for Use in Image Based Lighting Rendering

Abstract

A method of generating data for use in image based lighting rendering, including displaying a 2-dimensional canvas ( 202 ), each point on the 2-dimensional canvas representing a surface co-ordinate of a 3-dimensional object having at least one surface. User input describing creation/modification of at least one shape ( 205, 205 ′) having an associated lightness value for use in image based lighting rendering is received via the 2-dimensional canvas. The 2-dimensional canvas is updated in accordance with the user input to display a representation of the at least one shape as created/modified by the user input, the representation on the canvas being distorted to indicate mapping of the at least one shape with respect to at least one said surface of the 3-dimensional object. Data describing the at least one shape for use in graphics rendering is generated.

1 . A method of generating data for use in image based lighting rendering, the method including:
 displaying a 2-dimensional canvas, each point on the 2-dimensional canvas representing a surface co-ordinate of a 3-dimensional object having at least one surface;   receiving user input via the 2-dimensional canvas describing creation/modification of at least one shape having an associated lightness value for use in image based lighting rendering;   updating the 2-dimensional canvas in accordance with the user input to display a representation of the at least one shape as created/modified by the user input, the representation on the canvas being distorted to indicate mapping of the at least one shape with respect to at least one said surface of the 3-dimensional object, and   generating data describing the at least one shape for use in graphics rendering.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data describing the at least one shape for use in graphics includes a map projection representing the at least one shape on the 2-dimensional canvas mapped onto at least one said surface of the 3-dimensional object, or an image map. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further including performing an image based lighting rendering process based on the data describing the at least one shape and using the associated lightness value of each said shape. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein an image produced by the rendering process is output in one of a selection of file formats. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the image map comprises a high dynamic range image. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the updating of the canvas is performed substantially instantaneously upon the receipt of the user input. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the canvas represents a total area of all or some of the surface(s) of the 3-dimensional object. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user input describes modification of properties of the at least one shape, the properties being selected from a set including: position of a said shape with respect to at least one said surface of the 3-dimensional object; orientation of a said shape with respect to at least one said surface of the 3-dimensional object; area/extent of a said shape with respect to the surface(s) of the 3-dimensional object. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein a said shape represents a light source for use in a graphical rendering process and the properties of the light source can include colour of light projected the light source, or level of lightness projected by the light source. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the representation of the light source is generated by a synthetic light generation algorithm/model. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the representation of the light source includes an image of a real-world light source, e.g. a digital photograph of a lamp. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a said shape has a user-defined number and arrangement of sides for its outline. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user input describes modification of properties, e.g. exposure level, of a background upon which the at least one shape is displayed. 
     
     
         14 . A system configured to generate data for use in image based lighting rendering, the system including:
 a display configured to display a 2-dimensional canvas, each point on the 2-dimensional canvas representing a surface co-ordinate of a 3-dimensional object having at least one surface;   a user input device configured to receive user input via the 2-dimensional canvas describing creation/modification of at least one shape having an associated lightness value for use in or image based lighting rendering;   a processing component configured to:
 update the 2-dimensional canvas in accordance with the user input to display a representation of the at least one shape as created/modified by the user input, the representation on the canvas being distorted to indicate mapping of the at least one shape with respect to at least one said surface of the 3-dimensional object, and 
 generate data describing the at least one shape for use in graphics rendering. 
   
     
     
         15 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium, having thereon computer program code means, when the program code is loaded, to make the computer execute a method of generating data for use in image based lighting rendering according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A user interface method including:
 providing a mapping between co-ordinates on at least one surface of a 3-dimensional object and corresponding co-ordinates on a 2-dimensional representation of the at least one surface;   receiving data representing a shape and at least one associated property, the shape having a position defined in terms of the co-ordinates of the 2-dimensional representation;   using the mapping to produce a distorted representation of the shape, and   displaying the distorted representation of the shape on the 2-dimensional representation.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of using the mapping includes transforming the position co-ordinates of the 2-dimensional representation to corresponding said co-ordinates on at least one said surface of the 3-dimensional object. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of receiving data includes a user placing or re-positioning the shape on the 2-dimensional representation and the step of displaying the distorted representation of the shape is performed in an apparently simultaneous manner to the user, thereby effectively providing real-time placing/re-positioning and displaying of the distorted shape. 
     
     
         19 . A user-interface including:
 a display including a 2-dimensional canvas, each point on the 2-dimensional canvas representing a surface co-ordinate of a 3-dimensional object;   at least one input component for receiving user input describing creation/modification of at least one shape having an associated lightness value,   wherein the 2-dimensional canvas is updated in accordance with the user input to display a representation of the at least one shape as created/modified by the user input, the representation on the canvas being distorted to indicate mapping of the at least one shape with respect to at least one said surface of the 3-dimensional object.   
     
     
         20 . A method of generating data for use in image based lighting rendering, the method including:
 displaying a 2-dimensional canvas on a display apparatus, each point on the 2-dimensional canvas representing a surface co-ordinate of a 3-dimensional object having at least one surface;   receiving user input from input apparatus via the 2-dimensional canvas describing creation/modification of at least one shape having an associated lightness value for use in image based lighting rendering;   updating the 2-dimensional canvas on a processor device in accordance with the user input to display a representation of the at least one shape on the display apparatus as created/modified by the user input, the representation on the canvas being distorted to indicate mapping of the at least one shape with respect to at least one said surface of the 3-dimensional object, and   generating data using a processor device describing the at least one shape for use in graphics rendering.