Method and apparatus for user customized shading of a graphical user interface

Abstract

To allow users to compensate for different and dynamically changing lighting conditions, the present invention introduces a graphical user interface shading system. The graphical user interface shading system provides a very simple intuitive interface to the user. In one embodiment, the user is presented with an adjustable user interface widget such as a slider that allows the user to select any shading setting along a shading continuum. The graphical user interface shading system reacts to the users control by adjusting a number of different graphical user interface elements in response to the new shading setting. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface shading system adjusts singled colored areas with a linear interpolation, text with a font color selection, icons with an icon bitmap selection, textured areas with a texture blend, and decals with a decal blend.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of rendering a graphical user interface, said method comprising:
 accepting a shading setting value;   determining a first user interface element appearance based upon a first operation with said shading setting value; and   determining a second user interface element appearance based upon a second operation with said shading setting value, said second operation different from said first operation.