Producing three-dimensional graphics

Abstract

A system includes a computing device for producing a representation of a graphical element on a two dimensional set of image points. A metric value is calculated for each image point in the two dimensional set of image points. The computer device is configured to assign a visual property to image point in the two dimensional set of image points based upon the corresponding metric value. The computing device is also configured to present the assigned visual properties of the two dimensional set of image points as being offset from another two dimensional set of image points to provide a three dimensional appearance of the graphical element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 producing a representation of a graphical element on a two dimensional set of image points, wherein a metric value is calculated for each image point in the two dimensional set of image points;   assigning a visual property to each image point in the two dimensional set of image points based upon the corresponding metric value; and   presenting the assigned visual properties of the two dimensional set of image points as being offset from another two dimensional set of image points to provide a three dimensional appearance of the graphical element.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , in which producing the representation of the graphical element on the two dimensional set of image points is provided by a central processing unit. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , in which assigning the visual property to each image point is provided by a graphical processing unit. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , in which the visual property is an opaque visual property. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , in which the visual property includes a transparent visual property. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , in which each image point in the two dimensional set of image points represents a pixel. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , in which the metric value is based upon a distance between the position of the image point and a boundary of the representation of the graphical element. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , in which the graphical element is a textual element. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , in which assigning the visual property to each image point is provided by a shader process executed by a graphical processing unit. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a computing device for producing a representation of a graphical element on a two dimensional set of image points, wherein a metric value is calculated for each image point in the two dimensional set of image points, the computer device is configured to assign a visual property to each image point in the two dimensional set of image points based upon the corresponding metric value, the computing device is also configured to present the assigned visual properties of the two dimensional set of image points as being offset from another two dimensional set of image points to provide a three dimensional appearance of the graphical element.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , in which the computing device includes a central processing unit for producing the representation of the graphical element on the two dimensional set of image points. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , in the computing device includes a graphical processing unit for assigning the visual property to each image point. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , in which the visual property is an opaque visual property. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , in which the visual property includes a transparent visual property. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , in which each image point in the two dimensional set of image points represents a pixel. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , in which the metric value is based upon a distance between the position of the image point and a boundary of the representation of the graphical element. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , in which the graphical element is a textual element. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , in which the computing device includes a graphical processing unit for executing a shader process to assign the visual property to each image point. 
     
     
         19 . One or more computer readable media storing instructions that are executable by one or more processing devices, and upon such execution cause the one or more processing devices to perform operations comprising:
 producing a representation of a graphical element on a two dimensional set of image points, wherein a metric value is calculated for each image point in the two dimensional set of image points;   assigning a visual property to each image point in the two dimensional set of image points based upon the corresponding metric value; and   presenting the assigned visual properties of the two dimensional set of image points as being offset from another two dimensional set of image points to provide a three dimensional appearance of the graphical element.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable media of  claim 19 , in which producing the representation of the graphical element on the two dimensional set of image points is provided by a central processing unit.