Patent ID: 7515155

Claim:
A method for creating a posed character model, the method comprising: receiving a set of sample armature poses, wherein the set of sample armature poses defines a range of potential character model poses; determining a set of armature reference poses from the set of sample armature poses, wherein each armature reference pose includes armature reference positions and wherein the set of armature reference poses is smaller than the set of sample armature poses; for each armature reference pose, determining a simulated character model shape mode in response to the set of armature positions of the corresponding armature reference pose; storing the simulated character model shape modes in association with their respective armature reference poses; determining a mapping of armature target positions representing an armature target pose on to the set of armature reference positions corresponding with the set of armature reference poses, such that the application of the mapping to the set of armature reference positions at least approximates the armature target positions; applying the mapping to the simulated character model shape modes corresponding with the armature reference poses to determine target character model shape modes; and combining the target character model shape modes using a processor to determine a posed character model corresponding with the armature target pose; wherein determining the mapping comprises: determining a first mapping of the armature target positions on to the set of armature reference positions transformed to a first reference frame associated with a first portion of the character model; and determining a second mapping of the armature target positions on to the set of armature reference positions transformed to a second reference frame associated with a second portion of the character model; wherein applying the mapping to the simulated character model shape modes comprises: applying the first mapping to the simulated character model shape modes in the first reference frame to determine first target character model shape modes in the first reference frame; and applying the second mapping to the simulated character model shape modes in the second reference frame to determine second target character model shape modes in the second reference frame; and wherein combining the target character model shape modes comprises combining the first target character model shape modes and the second target character model shape modes according to contributions of the first and second reference frames to the character model.