Patent ID: 7193633

Claim:
A computer-assisted method, comprising: constructing a three-dimensional model on top of one or more digital images through direct manipulation via a cursor-control device of one or more renderings of predefined geometric primitives selected to approximate items depicted in the one or more digital images and which (i) collectively make up the three-dimensional model, and (ii) are super-imposed on the one or more digital images according to estimated virtual camera parameters determined from the one or more digital images, wherein the estimated virtual camera parameters include position, orientation, and focal length of the virtual camera, and wherein the estimated virtual camera parameters are automatically and continually updated during the manipulation of the predefined geometric primitives so as to accurately project the primitives in accordance with the manipulation; constraining the primitives in relation to the items in the one or more digital images such that projections of the primitives in accordance with the estimated virtual camera parameters over corresponding ones of the items in the one or more digital images yields two-dimensional projected geometries matching those of the corresponding items in the one or more digital images so that parameters of the three-dimensional model automatically match corresponding parameters of objects depicted in the one or more images; and automatically extracting surface properties from the one or more digital images for use as textures for the geometric primitives in the three-dimensional model and; displaying the three-dimensional model.