Patent ID: 9245381
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: G06T

Claim Text:
1. In a computerized architectural design environment in which a design program is loaded into memory and processed at a central processing unit, a computer-implemented method for creating translucent surfaces within a three-dimensional model, the method comprising: receiving a surface placement instruction that comprises a computer instruction for placing a translucent surface within a three-dimensional model, wherein: rendering the three-dimensional model of a layout of a design space within an architectural design environment; identifying a position of a user perspective within the three-dimensional model; identifying a first portion of the three-dimensional model that is positioned on an opposite side of the translucent surface from the user perspective within the three-dimensional model; rendering a visual distortion effect for the identified first portion of the three-dimensional model, wherein the visual distortion effect comprises a distortion algorithm that receives input variables from the pre-defined translucency characteristics; and displaying on a display device the three-dimensional model comprising the translucent surface, wherein the three-dimensional model is displayed behind the translucent surface in a distorted form based on the rendered distortion effect.