Patent ID: 7388580

Claim:
A method for generating at least one virtual eye for a character in a virtual environment, comprising: determining a size of a space bounded by a virtual eyelid for the at least one virtual eye of the character; determining a sclera texture that is sized to cover the space bounded by the virtual eyelid; determining a transparent texture that is sized to cover the sclera texture covering the space bounded by the virtual eyelid, wherein the transparent texture includes a virtual iris that is relatively smaller and positioned on the transparent texture in an orientation that corresponds to a direction that the character is looking in the virtual environment; simulating a translucent solid for the translucent sclera texture, and wherein the translucent solid is illuminated based at least in part on at least one virtual light that is reflected by a concave surface inside the space bounded by the virtual eyelid of the character, and wherein the reflection of the light from the concave surface enables shadowing at an edge of an upper portion of the virtual eyelid and shadowing at another edge of a lower portion of the virtual eyelid; determining an additive glint texture and determining a position for placing the additive glint texture on the virtual iris based at least in part on the direction that the character is looking and at least one virtual light that is reflected at the space bounded by the virtual eyelid of the character; and displaying the at least one generated virtual eye of a character in a virtual environment.