Method and apparatus for interactively generating electronic image creation tools

Claim 1

A method of interactively generating a three-dimensional profile for an electronic image creation tool, the method comprising the steps of: displaying an initial form of the three dimensional profile which, in cross-section, defines a boundary in the form of a circle or ellipse; positioning an indicator at a desired position relative to the displayed profile; determining a distance of said indicator position from a datum position and a direction of said indicator position relative to said datum direction; comparing a current distance to said indicator from said datum position with an initial distance of said indicator, and, a) if said current distance is greater than said initial distance, generating a resultant elliptical profile having a major axis extending in a direction of the current indicator position relative to said datum direction and with a dimension increased by a factor defined as said current distance divided by said initial distance while a minor axis dimension is unchanged; and b) if said current distance is less than said initial distance, creating a resultant elliptical profile whose minor axis is parallel with a direction of the current indicator position relative to said datum direction and whose dimension is reduced by a factor defined as said current distance divided by said initial distance while a major axis dimension is unchanged.

Claim 2

A method of interactively generating a three-dimensional profile for an electronic image creation tool, the method comprising the steps of: displaying an initial form of the three dimensional profile which, in cross-section, defines a boundary in the form of a circle or ellipse; positioning an indicator at a desired position relative to the displayed profile; determining a distance of said indicator position from a datum position and a direction of said indicator position relative to said datum direction; comparing a current distance to said indicator from said datum position with an initial distance of said indicator, and, a) if said current distance is greater than said initial distance, generating a resultant elliptical profile having a major axis extending in a direction of the current indicator position relative to said datum direction and with a dimension increased by a factor defined as said current distance divided by said initial distance while a minor axis dimension is unchanged; and b) if said current distance is less than said initial distance, creating a resultant elliptical profile whose minor axis is parallel with a direction of the current indicator position relative to said datum direction and whose dimension is reduced by a factor defined as said current distance divided by said initial distance while a major axis dimension is unchanged.

Claim 6

A method of generating an image electronically, the method comprising the steps of: interactively generating a three-dimensional profile for an electronic image creation tool which has been created by a method comprising the steps of: displaying an initial form of the three dimensional profile which, in cross-section, defines a boundary in the form of a circle or ellipse; positioning an indicator at a desired position relative to the displayed profile; determining a distance of said indicator position form a datum position and a direction of said indicator position relative to said datum direction; comparing a current distance of said indicator from said datum position with an initial distance of said indicator and, a) if said current distance is greater than said initial distance, generating a resultant elliptical profile having a major axis extending in a direction of the current indicator position relative to said datum direction and with a dimension increased by a factor defined as said current distance divided by said initial distance while a minor axis dimension is unchanged; and b) if said current distance is less than said initial distance, creating a resultant elliptical profile whose minor axis is parallel with a direction of the current indicator position relative to said datum direction and whose dimension is reduced by a factor defined as said current distance divided by said initial distance while a major axis dimension is unchanged; storing the generated profile; and using the generated profile as the electronic image creation tool for generating an image electronically.

Claim 7

A method of generating an image electronically, the method comprising the steps of: interactively generating a three-dimensional profile for an electronic image creation tool which has been created by a method comprising the steps of: displaying an initial form of the three dimensional profile which, in cross-section, defines a boundary in the form of a circle or ellipse; positioning an indicator at a desired position relative to the displayed profile; determining a distance of said indicator position form a datum position and a direction of said indicator position relative to said datum direction; comparing a current distance of said indicator from said datum position with an initial distance of said indicator and, a) if said current distance is greater than said initial distance, generating a resultant elliptical profile having a major axis extending in a direction of the current indicator position relative to said datum direction and with a dimension increased by a factor defined as said current distance divided by said initial distance while a minor axis dimension is unchanged; and b) if said current distance is less than said initial distance, creating a resultant elliptical profile whose minor axis is parallel with a direction of the current indicator position relative to said datum direction and whose dimension is reduced by a factor defined as said current distance divided by said initial distance while a major axis dimension is unchanged; storing the generated profile; and using the generated profile as the electronic image creation tool for generating an image electronically.