Patent ID: 7453464

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: defining a modifier to be applied to a text object having text units, wherein defining the modifier comprises: defining two or more selection functions for the modifier, each selection function identifying two or more of the text units and setting selection values that can vary among the two or more text units, the selection values being non-binary and representing a degree of modification to be applied; associating the two or more selection functions with the modifier; defining one or more property components for the modifier, each property component specifying a modification of a property associated with the two or more the text units; associating the one or more property components with the modifier; and in response to an instruction to apply the modifier to the text object, combining the two or more selection functions to calculate aggregate selection values and modifying the text object by applying the modification specified by each of the one or more property components associated with the modifier to the two or more text units on a per text unit basis and in accordance with the aggregate selection values; and using the modifier to create a plurality of modified text objects; and defining an animation sequence based on the text object and the plurality of modified text objects.