JP4993304B2 - Image creation apparatus, image creation program, and image creation support program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image creation device, an image creation program, and an image creation support program.

  Highly realistic images are being displayed on display screens provided in information terminals, game machines, game machines, and the like. In particular, a skin model is known as a technique for realizing natural motion expressions of characters such as humans and animals. This is composed of an outline (a set of polygons) of a character object to be drawn and a skeleton for controlling the movement of the object. The skeleton is formed from a plurality of bones, and the vertexes of each polygon constituting the outline of the object are affected by one or more bones, and the movement of the object is controlled by moving the bones.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose image processing techniques using a skeleton for controlling the movement of an object. In addition, in the image processing method disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to speed up the object motion control process, data of vertices having the same bone and weight pairs are rearranged in advance so as to be continuous. Thus, the reuse rate of values derived in the bone deformation processing step is improved, and the amount of calculation is reduced.
JP 2005-141545 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-188028

  In the computer graphic creation software, related bones and influence (weight) are automatically set for the vertices of each polygon constituting the outline of the object. However, when setting a bone that affects each vertex, a bone that is close in distance to that vertex is automatically set, so if there are many bones in the surrounding area, the actual effect is not affected. Sometimes bones are set that do not need to be considered. When the number of bones is large, there is a problem that the amount of calculation for controlling the movement of the object increases and the processing becomes slow.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize a high-speed operation control process of a skin model by a simple method.

  An image creating apparatus according to the present invention includes a first storage unit that stores outline information of a three-dimensional object, and a second storage unit that is formed of a plurality of bones and stores skeleton information for controlling the operation of the three-dimensional object. A storage section, an influence information generating section for setting a bone that affects the movement of each vertex forming the outline of the three-dimensional object, and an influence degree thereof for each vertex, and a vertex If there is a bone whose influence level is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the setting of the bone for the vertex is deleted, and the degree of influence assigned to the deleted bone is set for the vertex. And an influence information adjusting unit to be assigned to the remaining bones.

  According to the present invention, when the degree of influence is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the corresponding bone is deleted and the number of bones to be set is reduced. It is possible to increase the speed.

In addition, it is preferable that the influence degree information adjustment unit assigns the influence degree assigned to the deleted bone to the remaining bones according to the influence degree set for each of the remaining bones.
As a result, the influence on the motion of the object due to the reduction of bones can be reduced.
The influence degree information adjustment unit may equally assign the influence degree assigned to the deleted bone to the remaining bones.

  The image creation program according to the present invention is a computer, from a storage unit, the external shape information of the three-dimensional object, a function of acquiring skeleton information formed from a plurality of bones for controlling the operation of the three-dimensional object, The bone that affects the movement of each vertex forming the outline of the three-dimensional object and a function for setting the influence level for each vertex, and the influence level set for one vertex are predetermined. If there is a bone that is less than or equal to the value, delete the setting of the bone for the vertex and assign the influence assigned to the deleted bone to the remaining bones set for the vertex. To be executed.

  An image creation support program according to the present invention is formed from outline information of a three-dimensional object and a plurality of bones, acquires skeleton information for controlling the operation of the three-dimensional object, and forms the outline of the three-dimensional object An image creation support program for assisting an image creation program for creating a three-dimensional object by setting a bone that affects the movement of each vertex and its degree of influence for each vertex. When there is a bone whose influence level set for one vertex is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the setting of the bone for that vertex is deleted, and the degree of influence assigned to the deleted bone is The function to assign to the remaining bones set at the vertices is executed.

  The program of the present invention is stored in a storage medium and distributed. Such a storage medium is a computer-readable medium such as various ROMs, USB memories equipped with flash memories, SD memories, memory sticks, memory cards, FDs, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, etc. A typical storage medium. In addition, the broad recording medium includes a transmission medium such as the Internet capable of transmitting the program. This is because the program transmitted (downloaded) through the transmission medium is stored in the memory as it is and executed by the computer.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to speed up the operation control process of the skin model by a simple method.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image creating apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the image creating apparatus 10 includes an object outline data storage unit (first storage unit) 101, a skeleton information storage unit (second storage unit) 102, an influence information generation unit 103, and influence information adjustment. Unit 104, skin model data storage unit 105, input / output interface unit 106, input device 11, and display device 12.

  The image creating apparatus 10 is obtained, for example, by causing a general purpose computer to execute a predetermined program. The influence information generation unit 103, the influence information adjustment unit 104, and the input / output interface unit 106 are supported by a processor of a computer that operates according to a program.

The object outline data storage unit 101, the skeleton information storage unit 102, and the skin model data storage unit 105 are storage devices such as a hard disk of the image creation device 10.
The input device 11 is input means such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, for example, and is used by the user to give processing instructions to the image creation device 10 and to specify graphic data and parameters.
The display device 12 is a liquid crystal display device or the like, and outputs graphic data and the like.

(Object outline data storage unit 101)
The object outline data storage unit 101 stores object shape data for generating a stereoscopic image. The object shape data includes numerical information that defines the shape and arrangement of each object displayed in the virtual three-dimensional space. The content of the data depends on the modeling method. For example, when a surface model is used, it becomes an aggregate of vertex coordinates of each polygon constituting the object when the origin is set to reference coordinates preset for each object. Therefore, if each polygon is arranged at a relative position from the reference coordinates, the outer shape of the object is defined. The relative position (shape, orientation, size) of the polygon in the local coordinate system of each object is three-dimensionally defined by the object shape data.

(Skeleton information storage unit 102)
The skeleton information storage unit 102 stores skeleton information for controlling the movement of the object. The skeleton is formed of a plurality of bones, and each bone has a parent-child relationship. The skeleton is not displayed as an image on the display device 12, but is used to control the operation of the object actually displayed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an object and a skeleton.
In the example of FIG. 2, the relationship between the arm object 501 and the skeleton 502 is schematically shown. The arm object 501 includes polygon vertices V101 to V116. The skeleton 502 includes bones B01 to B04. Inside the arm object 501, bones B01 to B04 are embedded. The polygon vertices V101 to V116 are affected by the movement of the bones B01 to B04 and change their positions to express the bending and stretching movements of the arms.

  The bones B01 to B04 have a correlation, and have a hierarchical structure of a bone B02 below the bone B01, a bone B03 below it, and a bone B04 below it. The position information of the bones in the lower layer is expressed as position information relative to the bones in the upper layer, and a matrix including rotation (rotation), translation (translation), and scale (scale) is used.

(Influence level information generation unit 103)
The influence information generation unit 103 sets bones that affect the movement of the vertices of the polygons that form the outline of the object and the influence degrees for the vertices. When setting a bone that affects each vertex, a bone that is close to the vertex is automatically set. Therefore, depending on the object outline and bone settings, only one bone may affect one vertex, or two or more bones may both affect.
The influence degree information may be configured so that the influence degree information generation unit 103 automatically starts generation when the vertex position of the polygon is set by the designer. Generation may be started for a vertex of a polygon whose position is set in response to an instruction to generate information.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing weight values (degrees of influence) that are degrees to which the polygon vertices V101 to V116 shown in FIG. 2 are affected by the motion of the bones B01 to B04. As shown in the figure, V101 to V105 and V107 to V111 located in the upper arm part are affected by bones B01 to B03 located in the upper arm part, and V113 to V116 located in the lower arm part are located in the lower arm part. Influenced by Bone B04. In addition, V106 and V112 located in the joint portion are set at a ratio of 50% for the influence from the bone B03 and the influence from the bone B04, respectively.

Since the vertices V101 and V107 are affected only by the bone B01, the vertices V101 and V107 move in the same manner as the bone B01. Specifically, when the bone B01 is translated, the vertices V101 and V107 are also translated by the same amount. When the bone B01 is rotated, the vertices V101 and V107 are also rotated by the same amount, and the bone B01 is enlarged or reduced. The coordinates of the vertices V101 and V107 are also enlarged or reduced by the same amount. In addition, since the vertices V106 and V112 have 50% influence from the bone B03 and the bone B04, respectively, the vertices V106 and V112 move by mixing 50% each of the motion of the bone B03 and the motion of the bone B04. Specifically, when both the bone B03 and the bone B04 are translated, the vertices V106 and V112 move by an amount obtained by adding half of the translation amount of the bone B03 and half of the translation amount of the bone B04.
The weight value can also be set by the designer using the input device 11.

(Influence degree information adjustment unit 104)
When there is a bone whose weight value set for one vertex is a predetermined value or less, the influence information adjustment unit 104 deletes the setting of the bone for the vertex and is assigned to the deleted bone. The assigned weight value is assigned to the remaining bone set for the vertex.
This influence degree information adjustment may be automatically performed after the influence degree information generation unit 103 generates the influence degree of the bone for each vertex, or the designer instructs the influence degree information adjustment from the operation means. You may be made to take advantage of that.

(Skin model data storage unit 105)
The skin model data storage unit 105 stores the generated skin model data.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for creating a skin model such as a character according to the present invention.
First, a designer (user) inputs shape information of an object for which a skin model is to be created via the input device 11 (step S401). Specifically, vertex coordinates of each polygon constituting the object are designated. The input object shape information is stored in the object outline data storage unit 101. Instead of inputting the object shape information, data stored in the object outline data storage unit 101 may be designated.

  Next, the designer (user) inputs skeleton information for controlling the operation of the object created in step S401 via the input device 11 (step S402). Specifically, a plurality of bones are arranged inside or outside the object. The inputted skeleton information is stored in the skeleton information storage unit 102. Instead of inputting the skeleton information, the skeleton information stored in the skeleton information storage unit 102 may be designated.

  Next, when the designer (user) instructs the setting of the weight value via the input device 11, the influence information generation unit 103 affects the movement of the vertex with respect to each polygon vertex of the object created in step S401. An effect bone and its weight value are set (step S403). For example, the weight value information shown in FIG. 3 can be obtained by instructing the weight value setting from the bones B01 to 04 for each vertex of the object shown in FIG.

Next, when the weight value is equal to or smaller than the threshold value with respect to the weight value of each vertex set by the influence degree information generation unit 103, the influence degree information adjustment unit 104 deletes the corresponding bone (step S404).
For example, when the corresponding bone is deleted when the weight value is 0.1 or less, the weight value of the bone B01 for the vertices V104 and V105 is 0.1 in the example shown in FIG. Bone B01 is deleted.

Next, the influence information adjustment unit 105 assigns the weight value assigned to the deleted bone to the remaining bones (step S405). At this time, the influence information adjustment unit 105 assigns the weight value assigned to the deleted bone according to the ratio of the weight values of the remaining bones.
For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the weight value 0.1 of bone 01 set for V104 and V105 is assigned to the remaining bones B02 and B03. Since the weight values of the bone B02 and the bone B03 are 0.3 and 0.6, respectively, and the ratio is 1: 2, the deleted weight value 0.1 is assigned at a ratio of 1: 2. That is, 0.1 × 1/3 = 0.033 is assigned to bone B02, and 0.1 × 2/3 = 0.066 is assigned to bone B03. As a result, the weight value of the bone B02 for the adjusted V104 and 105 is 0.333, and the weight value of the bone B03 is 0.666.

  The influence information adjustment unit 105 may assign the weight values assigned to the deleted bones equally to the remaining bones. For example, in the above example, the weight value 0.1 of the bone 01 set for the V104 and V105 is equally allocated to the bone B02 and the bone B03 by 0.05, and the adjusted V104 and 105 are adjusted. The bone B02 has a weight value of 0.35, and the bone B03 has a weight value of 0.65.

  Finally, the created skin model and weight value are stored in the skin model data storage unit 105 (step S406). The weight value can be further adjusted by the user specifying a specific value using the input device 11.

The skin model data created as described above is displayed as an image by an image processing apparatus 20 as shown in FIG.
The model data storage unit 201 calculates the skin model data created by the image creating apparatus 10 according to the present invention, weight value information, hierarchical structure information between bones, and the operation of the skin model data (movement of the polygon vertex position). Matrix information and the like are stored.

  The skin model image processing unit 202 uses the skin model data, weight value information, and matrix information stored in the model data storage unit 201 to calculate the displacement of each vertex of the polygon constituting the object.

  Further, the rendering processing unit 203 renders the polygons whose vertex displacements are calculated using the texture data stored in the texture data storage unit 204, and supplies the generated image data to the frame buffer 205. . The display control unit 206 supplies the image data in the frame buffer 205 to the display device 207 for display.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the weight value is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, the corresponding bone is deleted and the number of bones to be set is reduced. It is possible to speed up the model motion control process.

  Skin model data created by the image creating apparatus according to the present invention can be used as image data to be displayed on various information terminals, display devices such as home game machines and game machines. The gaming machine includes, for example, a pachinko machine (including a first kind pachinko machine and a second kind pachinko machine), a rotary game machine (hereinafter referred to as “slot machine”), and the like.

1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image creation apparatus according to Embodiment 1; Diagram showing the relationship between objects and skeletons The figure which showed the weight value (influence degree) which is a degree which the polygon vertex V101-V116 shown in FIG. 2 is influenced by the motion of bone B01-B04 Flowchart of processing for creating a skin model such as a character according to the present invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the image processing apparatus for displaying the image of the skin model produced by this invention

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image creation apparatus, 11 Input apparatus, 12 Display apparatus, 101 Object external shape data storage part, 102 Skeletal information storage part, 103 Influence degree information generation part, 104 Influence degree information adjustment part, 105 Skin model data storage part, 106 Input-output Interface unit, 20 image processing device, 201 model data storage unit, 202 skin model image processing unit, 203 drawing processing unit, 204 texture data storage unit, 205 frame buffer 205, 206 display control unit, 207 display device

Claims (5)

A first storage unit for storing external shape information of the three-dimensional object;
A second storage unit that is formed of a plurality of bones and stores skeleton information for controlling the operation of the three-dimensional object;
An influence information generating unit that sets bones that affect the movement of each vertex forming the outline of the three-dimensional object and the degree of influence thereof for each vertex;
If there is a bone whose influence level set for one vertex is less than or equal to the specified value, delete the setting of that bone for that vertex and change the degree of influence assigned to the deleted bone to that vertex. An image creating apparatus including an influence degree information adjustment unit to be assigned to the remaining bones set in the.   2. The influence degree information adjustment unit assigns the influence degree assigned to the deleted bone to the remaining bones according to the influence degree set for each of the remaining bones. The image creating apparatus described in 1.   The image creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the influence degree information adjustment unit assigns the degree of influence assigned to the deleted bone equally to the remaining bones. On the computer,
From the storage unit, the outer shape information of the three-dimensional object, a function of acquiring skeleton information formed from a plurality of bones for controlling the operation of the three-dimensional object,
A function of setting the bones that affect the movement of each vertex forming the outline of the three-dimensional object and the degree of influence thereof for each vertex;
If there is a bone whose influence level set for one vertex is less than or equal to the specified value, delete the setting of that bone for that vertex and change the degree of influence assigned to the deleted bone to that vertex. An image creation program that executes the function to assign to the remaining bones that are set to. Obtains the outline information of the 3D object and the skeleton information that is formed from a plurality of bones and controls the movement of the 3D object, and affects the movement of each vertex forming the outline of the 3D object. An image creation support program for assisting an image creation program for creating a three-dimensional object by setting a bone and its influence on each vertex,
On the computer,
If there is a bone whose influence level set for one vertex is less than or equal to the specified value, delete the setting of that bone for that vertex and change the degree of influence assigned to the deleted bone to that vertex. An image creation support program that executes the function to assign to the remaining bones that are set to.

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