Patent ID: 7663644

Claim:
A computer implemented method for substituting an element in a vector-based computer generated illustration, comprising: (a) obtaining a computer generated illustration comprised of vector geometry; (b) obtaining a block comprised of a group of one or more original referenced first ancillary elements; (c) placing an instance of the block into the illustration by: (i) selecting one of the one or more original referenced first ancillary elements from the group; (ii) creating the instance of the block, wherein: (1) the instance comprises an identification of the selected one of the first ancillary elements; and (2) the instance comprises a reference to the block; and (iii) displaying, in the illustration, the selected first ancillary element at a location where the instance was placed by referring to the block for content of the illustration, wherein any change to one or more of the original referenced first ancillary elements in the block is propagated to all instances of the block.