Patent ID: 7616201

Claim:
A computer implemented method for casting a shadow for a two-dimensional vector geometry, comprising: (a) obtaining a two-dimensional computer-generated rendering comprised of vector geometry, wherein the vector geometry comprises original two-dimensional drawing elements; (b) in response to user input selecting a face of the vector geometry, selecting the face of the vector geometry in the computer-generated rendering; (c) in response to user input interactively identifying a virtual height, assigning the virtual height to the face without modifying the original two-dimensional drawing elements; (d) in response to user input determining a location of a virtual light source, defining the location of the virtual light source in the computer-generated rendering without modifying the original two-dimensional drawing elements, wherein the defining the location of the virtual light source comprises: (i) determining a first location of a cursor upon a first click of a cursor control device button; and (ii) defining the location of the virtual light source based on a second location of the cursor upon a second click of the cursor control device button; and wherein: an angle between the first location and second location defines a direction the shadow will be cast with respect to a canvas of the computer-generated rendering; and a distance between the first location and second location defines an angle of light cast by the virtual light source; (e) creating a shadow for the vector geometry based on the virtual height of the face and the location of the virtual light source without modifying the original two-dimensional drawing elements; and (f) displaying the shadow in the two-dimensional computer-generated rendering without modifying the original two-dimensional drawing elements.