JP7152023B2 - animation editing program - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act [Date of publication of website] April 16, 2018 [Website address] https://itunes. apple. com/jp/app/tapbehaiviortoolkit/id1355505502? mt=8

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law [Date of posting on website] July 4, 2018 [Website address] https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=iulLqjXl8Vw&feature=youtu. be

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law [Exhibition date] July 17, 2018 [Exhibition name, Venue] 12th Kids Design Award Judging Committee Chuo Ward Industrial Hall (2-22 Higashi-Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) -4)

Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies [Date of website publication] July 24, 2018 [Website address] http://www. jst. go. jp/tt/fair/ij2018/exhibitor/jss20180103. html

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act [Exhibition date] August 30-31, 2018 [Exhibition name, Venue] Innovation Japan 2018 ~University Trade Fair & Business Matching~ Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo) 3-11-1 Ariake, Koto-ku)

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act [Date of publication of website] September 16, 2018 [Website address] https://no-maps. jp/event/other/jpw2018

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law [Published date] October 28, 2018 [Published place] Junior Programming World 2018 with TEPIA “Let’s make a digital picture book! Experience-based workshop with iPad” Sapporo Industrial Promotion Center (5-jo 1-1-4 Higashi-sapporo, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido)

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act [Date of publication of website] January 7, 2019 [Website address] https://www. ssc. slp. or. jp/end/%E5%B9%B3%E6%88%9030%E5%B9%B4%E5%BA%A6%E7%B5%82%E4%BA%86%E6%B8%88%E3%81 %BF%E3%82%A4%E3%83%99%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88/31137. html

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act [Release date] February 16, 2019 [Release place] Sapporo City Youth Science Museum Workshop "Let's create an experience that jumps out of the screen with TapBehavior!"

The present invention relates to an animation editing program.

Patent Document 1 is an example of a document relating to a program for editing animation that involves changes in display attributes (for example, display positions on a display) of image objects. In Patent Literature 1, an animation effect based on a movement locus input using an input device such as a touch panel in animation mode is added to an object drawn by a user in drawing mode.

JP 2010-176329 A

According to Patent Document 1, it is possible to edit an animation by changing the attribute of an image object. However, only changes in position are editable. There is a demand for an animation editing program that can edit image object attributes other than position with a simple operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an animation editing program capable of editing an animation for changes in a plurality of attributes of an image object with a simple operation.

An animation editing program of the present invention is a program that causes a computer connected to or equipped with a pointing device and connected or equipped with a display to function as a device for editing animation using one or more image objects. wherein the animation targets changes in a plurality of attributes related to at least one of the appearance and position of the image object on the display and sound effects set to the image object, and the input by the pointing device object display means for displaying the image object on the display so that the position as the attribute can be changed based on the attribute; and a menu item image for editing the content of the attribute for each image object. any one of a plurality of menu set images prepared for each type of menu set image is displayed on the screen of the display, and the menu set image to be displayed on the screen of the display is displayed on the screen of the plurality of menu display means for switching between menu set images; and, when the menu item image displayed on the display is selected based on user input with the pointing device, in response to the selected menu item image. The computer is caused to function as attribute setting means for executing a process of setting the attributes related to the image objects, and the animation is represented by object-by-object animation data indicating changes in the attributes for each of the image objects, and the menu The display means maintains the image object to be edited for the content of the attribute so that the display area after switching is the display area before switching or an area in the vicinity thereof when switching the display of the menu set image. The change attribute setting menu item image, which is the menu item image for setting and accumulating the attribute change for the object-specific animation data, sets the content of the attribute for each image object. are included in each of the plurality of menu set images together with an attribute content setting menu item image that is the menu item image for the menu set image .

According to the animation editing program of the present invention, a plurality of menu set images prepared for each attribute type are displayed on the display screen. When a menu item image included in each menu set image is selected, processing for setting attributes according to the menu item image is executed. This allows multiple attributes to be set for the image object. In the present invention, the menu set images displayed on the display screen are switched among a plurality of menu set images based on the user's input with the pointing device. Therefore, it is possible to sequentially set a plurality of attributes by a simple operation of repeatedly switching menu set images and selecting menu item images. As described above, it is possible to edit an animation for changes in a plurality of attributes of an image object with a simple operation.

Further, in the present invention, in the animation, the change in the attribute includes a change in at least one of the size, position, color and transparency of the image object and an image set to the image object. preferable. According to this, it is possible to appropriately set changes in attributes in animation, such as the size of image objects.

In the present invention, it is preferable that in the animation, the attribute change includes movement of the image object by dragging. According to this, it is possible to move the image object by dragging during animation execution.

Also, in the present invention, it is preferable that at least one of the menu item images is an image for setting the speed of movement of the image object with respect to the drag. According to this, it is possible to set the moving speed of the image object when the image object is dragged during animation execution.

Further, in the present invention, the animation is a first state, a second state, ..., an n-th state (n: 2 above natural numbers), the change attribute setting menu item image is an image for setting the first to n-th states, and the first to k-th (1 ≤ k < n ) has already been set and the k+1-th state has not yet been set, when the change attribute setting menu item image is selected based on user input with the pointing device, the target object is: It is preferable to cause the computer to function such that the attribute being set at that time is set as the k+1 th state. According to this, it is possible to easily edit the animation including the state change of the first state→second state→ . . . →nth state.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the change attribute setting menu item image is included in each of the plurality of menu set images. Suppose that the change attribute setting menu item image is included in only one of the plurality of menu set images. In this case, after setting the attribute of the image object in the menu set image that does not include the changing attribute setting menu item image, in order to set the set attribute to one of the first to n-th states, changing attribute setting The display must be temporarily switched to another menu set image containing menu item images. In contrast, according to the above configuration, each menu set image includes a change attribute setting menu item image. Therefore, after setting the attribute in one of the menu set images, the set attribute can be set to any one of the first to n-th states without switching the menu set image.

Further, in the present invention, a touch panel is used during execution of the animation, and the image object can be tapped and dragged through the touch panel,
In the animation, a plurality of layers each containing one or more of the image objects can be set, and the image object on which the animation is executed next when the action of tapping the image object ends. Alternatively, a link to the layer can be set, and the attributes of the image object include an object ID for identifying the image object, size, position, tilt, color, size at the time of tapping, and tapping of the touch panel. Time sound effect, size change on/off when tapping the touch panel, drag speed, drag on/off, layer ID for identifying the image and layer set for the image object, and the link It is preferable that at least one of the link information indicating is included. According to this, it is possible to set various attributes related to the appearance of the image object, behavior at the time of tapping including dragging, and attributes such as layers and links. For this reason, there are many variations of animation using image objects.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing functional units that the animation editing program according to the embodiment of the present invention causes a computer to implement; FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the layer structure in the animation according to the embodiment; It is a display example of the display screen of the computer according to the present embodiment, and the outermost rectangular frame indicates the outer edge of the display area of the display screen. 4 is an image of an editor menu displayed on the display screen of FIG. 3; 4 is an image of an object menu for setting an object setting image displayed on the display screen of FIG. 3; 4 is an image of an object menu for setting the size of an image object, etc., displayed on the display screen of FIG. 3; 4 is an image of an object menu for setting the behavior of an image object when tapped, displayed on the display screen of FIG. 3; 4 is an image of an object menu for setting the color and transparency of image objects displayed on the display screen of FIG. 3; 4 is an image of an object menu for setting sound effects of image objects displayed on the display screen of FIG. 3; 4 is an image of an object menu for performing various settings related to tweening of image objects, displayed on the display screen of FIG. 3; 4 is an image of an object menu for setting links of image objects displayed on the display screen of FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing an example of an animation editing method according to the embodiment; FIG. 13 is a display screen example showing an execution example of an animation edited according to the flow chart of FIG. 12. In each of FIGS. Indicates the outer edge.

The configuration and functions of a computer 1 (hereinafter referred to as a PC 1) installed with an animation editing program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. FIG. This animation editing program edits the animation displayed on the touch panel display 11 (see FIG. 1) mounted on the PC 1. FIG.

This animation targets changes in attributes of one or more image objects (for example, the image objects 21 to 26 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described as examples). The image object 21 or the like has various shapes such as a rectangle and a circle, and consists of an image that occupies part of the display screen. The attributes relate to the appearance (size, color, transparency, etc.) and position of the image object 21 and the like on the display, and the sound effect set to the image object 21 and the like. In this embodiment, it is also possible to set an existing image represented by still image data or moving image data in various formats (hereinafter referred to as an object setting image). The still image data is, for example, data in BMP format, JPEG format, or the like. The moving image data is, for example, data in MOV format, MP4 format, or the like.

During execution of the animation, the user touches the display area of the image object on the screen of the touch panel display 11 with a finger or other object (hereinafter referred to as an object or the like) to select the image object displayed at the touched position. can be done. Hereinafter, such an action of selecting an image object by bringing an object or the like into contact with the screen during animation execution is referred to as "tapping". During animation execution, by moving an object or the like that is in contact with the screen while tapping the image object, it is possible to drag the image object following the movement of the object or the like. In this embodiment, as will be described later, it is possible to set the behavior of the image object at the time of tapping. For example, by setting the size at the time of tapping, the image object can be enlarged or reduced when tapped, or the drag speed can be set. Note that the drag speed refers to the speed of movement of an image object accompanying the movement of an object or the like.

The PC 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage device such as a flash memory, various interfaces such as an input/output interface, and hardware such as a speaker and a display. , and software including a program that causes the hardware to function so as to realize various functions such as a menu display unit 101, which will be described later. The software consists of program data, etc., including data relating to an animation editing program, recorded in a storage device. Then, the hardware executes various information processing such as arithmetic processing and input/output processing according to the software. Various functions of various functional units such as the menu display unit 101 to be described below are realized by hardware functions according to software.

The PC 1 includes a touch panel display 11, a speaker 12, a menu display section 101, an object management section 102 (object display means and attribute setting means in the present invention), a background management section 103, an animation execution section 104, and a storage section 110. . A tablet PC, for example, may be used as the PC 1 .

The storage unit 110 stores attribute data 111 and animation data 112 regarding each of one or more image objects including the image object 21, background data 113 including data such as a background image, and layer data 114 regarding layers. . The storage unit 110 is constructed on the storage area of the RAM.

The attribute data 111 is data indicating attributes of each image object. Image object attributes include object ID, size, position, tilt, color, size when tapped, sound effect when tapped, size change when tapped on/off, drag speed, drag on /off, object setting image and layer ID, and link information. The object ID is a number (eg, 1, 2, . . . ) set individually for each image object to identify each image object. The layer ID indicates the layer number (eg, 0, 1, 2, . . . ) to which the image object belongs. Each layer is a virtual layer containing one or more image objects, as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows, as an example, layer 0 containing image object 21, layer 1 containing image objects 22, 23 and 24, and layer 2 containing image objects 25 and 26. FIG. In the animation of this embodiment, any one of the multiple layers is selectively displayed on the screen of the touch panel display 11 . For example, FIG. 3 shows a state in which layer 0 including image object 21 is displayed on touch panel display 11 . The tilt of the image object refers to the tilt on the screen display of the touch panel display 11 . Specifically, the image object can be rotated around the center of the image object in both the x-direction and y-direction on the screen display. The rotation angle at this time is the tilt of the image object. Link information is information indicating a link of a layer or an image object to an image object. Layer linking indicates that an animation related to an image object included in another layer is started when an operation at the time of tapping a certain image object ends. A link of an image object indicates that a tween animation (described later) of another image object is started when the action of tapping the image object ends. The link information indicates the layer ID of the layer that is the link destination or the object ID of the image object that is the link destination.

The animation data 112 is data for executing tween animation (hereinafter referred to as tween) set for each image object. A tween consists of a sequential change in state with respect to attributes of an image object. For example, an image object sequentially takes different first to n-th states (n: a natural number of 2 or more) regarding attributes by tweening (first state → second state → ... → n-th state ). Each state is represented by attribute values for attributes such as size, position, and color. The animation data 112 includes state data indicating the attribute value of the first state, state data indicating the attribute value of the second state, . . . and state data indicating the attribute value of the n-th state. In addition, the animation data 112 includes data indicating the waiting time from the tap to the start of the tween, data indicating the time required to reach the next state in each state, data indicating ON/OFF of repeat execution, Data indicating ON/OFF whether to return to the first state after the first state, and waiting time from the last state to the first state when the return to the first state is ON contains data that indicates

The background data 113 includes image data representing a background image, data representing the size of the background image, and music data representing background music. The background image is displayed behind the currently displayed layer on the screen of the touch panel display 11 . The layer data 114 includes data indicating the association between the object ID of the image object belonging to the layer and the layer.

The storage unit 110 also reserves a work area that is used as a temporary data storage destination. Such temporary data is used in various processes executed based on the animation editing program according to this embodiment. For example, data indicating the currently selected image object, data indicating the currently selected layer, state data during generation of the animation data 112, and the like are saved in the work area.

The menu display unit 101 displays a preview switching button image 31 on the upper part of the screen of the touch panel display 11, as shown in FIG. The user can switch between the preview mode and the edit mode by touching the display area of the preview switching button image 31 on the screen of the touch panel display 11 with a finger, a touch pen, or the like (hereinafter referred to as a finger or the like). The preview mode is a mode in which an animation preview is performed by the animation execution unit 104, as will be described later.

In the edit mode, the menu display unit 101 displays menu set images for editing animation in the object menu area G1 and the editor menu area G2 on the screen of the touch panel display 11, as shown in FIG. The object menu area G1 is set to occupy the lower left corner of the screen of the touch panel display 11 . The object menu area G1 displays an object menu, which is a menu set image for editing attributes and tweens of the currently selected image object. The editor menu area G2 is set to occupy the right corner of the touch panel display 11 screen. The editor menu area G2 displays an editor menu, which is a menu set image for setting various effects related to animation other than attributes of image objects. Such effects include playback of background music, display of background images, representation by layers (described later), and the like. Each menu set image displayed in the object menu area G1 and the editor menu area G2 includes menu item images for inputting attribute values of image objects. By touching the display area of each menu item image on the screen of the touch panel display 11 with a finger or the like, the user can select the menu item image displayed at the touched position. When a menu item image is selected by the user in this manner, the menu display unit 101 instructs the object management unit 102 and the background etc. management unit 103 to execute processing corresponding to the selected menu item image. Details of various menu set images displayed in the object menu area G1 and the editor menu area G2 will be described later.

The object management unit 102 causes the touch panel display 11 to display an image object according to the attribute value indicated by the attribute data 111 and tweens the image object according to the animation data 112 . When the user touches the display area of the image object on the touch panel display 11 with a finger or the like, the object management unit 102 selects the image object. As a result, it becomes possible to set attributes of image objects using object menus 150 to 210, which will be described later. The object management unit 102 also drags the selected image object. That is, when the user moves a finger or the like that is in contact with the display area of the image object on the touch panel display 11 while keeping the finger or the like in contact with the screen of the touch panel display 11, the object management unit 102 causes the finger or the like to move. Move the image object so as to follow the motion. Then, the object management unit 102 updates the position attribute value among the attribute values indicated by the attribute data 111 of the storage unit 110 based on the movement result. Also, the object management unit 102 updates the attribute data 111 , the animation data 112 and the layer data 114 in the storage unit 110 based on the instruction from the menu display unit 101 .

The background management unit 103 updates the background data 113 in the storage unit 110 based on the instruction from the menu display unit 101 . In addition, the background etc. management unit 103 causes the touch panel display 11 to display a background image or reproduces background music in accordance with the background image etc. indicated by the background etc. data 113 .

The animation execution unit 104 executes the animation edited in the edit mode based on the attribute data 111, the animation data 112, the background data 113, and the layer data 114 in the preview mode.

Details of various menu set images displayed in the object menu area G1 and the editor menu area G2, and details of processing by the object management unit 102 and the background etc. management unit 103 will be described below.

The editor menu 130 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed in the editor menu area G2. The top of the editor menu 130 includes a title display of "EDITOR MENU" indicating that it is an editor menu. Editor menu 130 includes menu item images 131-142. The menu item images 131 to 142 are, as shown in FIG. 4, button images, slider images, etc. that can be selected by the user. When the menu item image 131 is selected, the background management unit 103 repeatedly reproduces the background music. When the menu item image 132 is selected, the background management unit 103 executes background music selection processing. The background music selection process is, for example, a process of allowing the user to select data to be background music from music data stored in the storage device in the PC 1 or music data obtainable through the Internet. The music data selected by the user in the background music selection process is added to the background data 113 in the storage unit 110 . When the menu item image 133 is selected, the background management unit 103 reproduces or pauses the background music based on the background data 113 . In addition, the background etc. management unit 103 shifts to the reproduction of the next tune or the previous tune based on the music data of a plurality of tunes included in the background etc. data 113 . When the menu item image 134 is selected, the background etc. management unit 103 reads the attribute data 111, the animation data 112, the background etc. data 113 and the layer data 114 saved in the flash memory or the like in the past, and uses the read data. The contents stored in the storage unit 110 are updated. When the menu item image 135 is selected, the background management unit 103 writes the attribute data 111, the animation data 112, the background data 113, and the layer data 114 to a flash memory or the like.

When the menu item image 136 is selected, the object manager 102 suspends the tween preview (described below) for all image objects. When the menu item image 137 is selected, the object management unit 102 newly adds an image object to the currently selected layer (see menu item image 142). Specifically, the object management unit 102 generates new data indicating the default attribute of the image object, adds it to the attribute data 111 in the storage unit 110, and displays the image object having the default attribute on the touch panel display 11. display. The object management unit 102 also updates the layer data 114 so that the object ID of the added image object is associated with the currently selected layer. When the menu item image 138 is selected, the background management unit 103 executes background image selection processing. The background image selection process is, for example, a process of allowing the user to select data to be used as a background image from image data stored in the storage device in the PC 1 or image data obtainable through the Internet. The image data selected by the user in the background image selection process is added to the background data 113 in the storage unit 110 and displayed on the screen of the touch panel display 11 as a background image. When the menu item image 139 is selected, the object management unit 102 newly adds a layer. Specifically, the object management unit 102 updates the layer data 114 so as to add one new layer. When the menu item image 140 is selected, the object management unit 102 executes deletion processing of the currently selected layer. Specifically, the object management unit 102 deletes the data related to the image object belonging to the currently selected layer from the attribute data 111 and the animation data 112, and deletes the data related to the currently selected layer from the layer data 114. do.

When the menu item image 141 is selected, the background management unit 103 appropriately changes the size of the background image. Specifically, when the user operates two slider images included in the menu item image 141, the background management unit 103 changes the size of the background image in the x and y directions according to the operation. The background data 113 is updated so that the background image size displayed on the screen of the touch panel display 11 is updated. When the menu item image 142 is selected, the object manager 102 changes the currently selected layer. Specifically, when the user selects a left-pointing triangular image and a right-pointing triangular image included in the menu item image 142, the object management unit 102 moves the currently selected layer to the previous layer in accordance with the content of the selection. The layer data 114 is updated so as to return to the layer or advance to the next layer, and the screen of the touch panel display 11 is updated so that the image object belonging to the changed layer is displayed. The number displayed between two participating images indicates the layer ID of the currently selected layer.

Object menus 150 to 210 are displayed in the object menu area G1, as shown in FIGS. At the bottom of each menu is a title display of "OBJ EDIT" indicating that it is an object menu. Each menu contains multiple menu item images. Each menu item image is, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 10, a user-selectable button image, slider image, or the like. By selecting or operating these button images, slider images, etc., the attribute values and the like of the currently selected image object can be set, as will be described later. The object menus 150 to 210 are displayed in the object menu area G1 while switching between them by the user selecting a menu item image 159, 169, 179, 189, 199, 209 or 219 included in each menu.

The object menu 150 is a menu set image for setting an object setting image, as shown in FIG. Object menu 150 includes menu item images 151 - 153 and 159 and tween item image 220 . A case where the tween item image 220 is selected will be described later. When the menu item image 151 is selected, the object management unit 102 executes moving image setting processing for setting a moving image to the image object. The moving image setting process is, for example, a process of allowing the user to select data to be reproduced as the appearance of the image object from moving image data stored in the storage device in the PC 1 or moving image data obtainable through the Internet. The moving image data selected by the user in the moving image setting process is added to the attribute data 111 of the storage unit 110 as an object setting image. When the menu item image 152 is selected, the object management unit 102 executes still image setting processing for setting a still image to the image object. The still image setting process is, for example, a process of allowing the user to select data to be displayed as the appearance of the image object from still image data stored in the storage device in the PC 1 or still image data obtainable through the Internet. . Still image data selected by the user in the still image setting process is added to the attribute data 111 of the storage unit 110 as an object setting image. When the menu item image 153 is selected, the object manager 102 deletes the currently selected image object. Specifically, the object management unit 102 deletes data corresponding to the currently selected image object from the attribute data 111 , the animation data 112 and the layer data 114 .

When the menu item image 159 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the object menu displayed in the object menu area G1 to an object menu other than the object menu 150. FIG. For example, when the left arrow included in the menu item image 159 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 210 . Also, for example, when the right arrow included in the menu item image 159 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 160 .

The object menu 160, as shown in FIG. 6, is a menu set image for setting the size of image objects. Object menu 160 includes menu item images 161 - 163 and 169 and tween item image 220 . A case where the tween item image 220 is selected will be described later. When the menu item image 161 is selected, the object management unit 102 sets the size of the image object in the x direction according to the user's operation of the slider image included in the menu item image 161 . Specifically, the object management unit 102 updates the attribute data 111 so that the size of the image object in the x direction corresponds to the operation content of the slider image, and displays the image object on the touch panel display 11. Update. When the menu item image 162 is selected, the object management unit 102 sets the size of the image object in the y direction. The specific processing contents of the object management unit 102 at this time are the same as when the menu item image 161 is selected. When the menu item image 163 is selected, the object management unit 102 sets the inclination angle of the image object according to the user's operation of the slider image included in the menu item image 163 . Specifically, the object management unit 102 updates the attribute data 111 so that the inclination angle of the image object corresponds to the operation content of the slider image, and updates the display of the image object on the touch panel display 11. .

When the menu item image 169 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the object menu displayed in the object menu area G1 to an object menu other than the object menu 160. FIG. For example, when the left arrow included in the menu item image 169 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 150 . Also, for example, when the right arrow included in the menu item image 169 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 170 .

The object menu 170, as shown in FIG. 7, is a menu set image for setting the behavior of the image object when tapped. Object menu 170 includes menu item images 171 - 174 and 179 and tween item image 220 . A case where the tween item image 220 is selected will be described later. When the menu item image 171 is selected, the object management unit 102 sets the size of the image object at the time of tapping according to the user's operation of the slider image included in the menu item image 171 . Specifically, the object management unit 102 updates the attribute data 111 so that the size of the image object when tapped corresponds to the operation content of the slider image. As a result, when tapped, the image object is enlarged or reduced to the set size in both the x and y directions. When the menu item image 172 is selected, the object management unit 102 sets the drag speed according to the user's operation of the slider image included in the menu item image 172 . Specifically, the object management unit 102 updates the attribute data 111 so that the moving speed of the image object during dragging corresponds to the operation content of the slider image. As a result, the speed at which the image object follows the movement of the object or the like in dragging during execution of the animation is set.

When the menu item image 173 is selected, the object management unit 102 updates the attribute data 111 so as to switch ON/OFF of size change when tapped. Image object resizing on tap is performed only when resizing is on. In the menu item image 173, either "POPUP: O" or "POPUP: X" is displayed according to the on/off state. When the menu item image 174 is selected, the object management unit 102 updates the attribute data 111 so as to switch ON/OFF of dragging during animation execution. Image objects can be dragged during animation execution only when dragging is on. In the menu item image 174, either "DRAG: O" or "DRAG: X" is displayed according to the ON/OFF state.

When the menu item image 179 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the object menu displayed in the object menu area G1 to an object menu other than the object menu 170. FIG. For example, when the left arrow included in menu item image 179 is selected, menu display unit 101 switches the display to tween menu 160 . Also, for example, when the right arrow included in the menu item image 179 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the tween menu 180 .

The object menu 180, as shown in FIG. 8, is a menu set image for setting the color and transparency of image objects. Object menu 180 includes menu item images 181 and 189 and tween item image 220 . A case where the tween item image 220 is selected will be described later. The menu item image 181 is an image that can specify the color and transparency of the image object by specifying four elements of R (red), G (green), B (blue), and A (transparency). The object management unit 102 updates the attribute data 111 based on the color designation using the menu item image 181 and updates the display of the image object on the touch panel display 11 .

When the menu item image 189 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the object menu displayed in the object menu area G1 to an object menu other than the object menu 180. FIG. For example, when the left arrow included in the menu item image 189 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 170 . Further, for example, when the right arrow included in the menu item image 189 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 190 .

The object menu 190, as shown in FIG. 9, is a menu set image for setting sound effects of image objects. Object menu 190 includes menu item images 191 - 193 and 199 and tween item image 220 . A case where the tween item image 220 is selected will be described later. When the menu item image 191 is selected, the object management unit 102 executes sound effect setting processing for setting a sound effect generated upon tapping to the image object. The sound effect setting process is, for example, a process of allowing the user to select the sound data to be reproduced as the sound effect when tapping from among the sound data stored in the storage device in the PC 1 and the sound data obtainable through the Internet. . The audio data selected by the user in the sound effect setting process is added to the attribute data 111 of the storage unit 110 . When the menu item image 192 is selected, the object management unit 102 switches the audio data actually reproduced as the sound effect when tapped, among the audio data included in the attribute data 111 of the storage unit 110 . The number in the menu item image 192 is the number of currently set audio data. For example, when three pieces of audio data are included in the attribute data 111, each time the menu item image 192 is selected, the audio data switches from 0→1→2→0→ . When the menu item image 193 is selected, the object management unit 102 reproduces or pauses the audio data set in the menu item image 192, reproduces the next audio data, or reproduces the previous audio data. or move to

When the menu item image 199 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the object menu displayed in the object menu area G1 to an object menu other than the object menu 190. FIG. For example, when the left arrow included in the menu item image 199 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 180 . Further, for example, when the right arrow included in the menu item image 199 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 200 .

The object menu 200, as shown in FIG. 10, is a menu set image for making various settings related to tweening of image objects. Object menu 200 includes menu item images 201 - 209 and tweened item images 220 . When the menu item image 201 (change attribute setting menu item image in the present invention) is selected, the object management unit 102 converts the state data indicating the attribute value of the currently set image object into data regarding the next state in the tween. , and is added to the work area of the storage unit 110 . At the same time, the required time between states tentatively set in the menu item image 205, which will be described later, is also added to the work area. As a result, each time the menu item image 201 is selected, the state data representing the attribute value indicated by the attribute data 111 set at that time is accumulated in the work area along with the required time between states. When the menu item image 202 is selected, the object management unit 102 saves the entire state data accumulated in the work area as the animation data 112 in the storage unit 110, and temporarily secures the animation data 112 for accumulation of the state data. frees the work area. In this way, the animation data 112 for executing the tweening, that is, the state data indicating the attribute value of the first state, the state data indicating the attribute value of the second state, . Animation data 112 having state data indicating is generated.

When the animation data 112 is generated, the object manager 102 previews the tween in edit mode. That is, the attributes of the image object are changed in the order of the first state→second state→ . . . →nth state. The details of the tween preview are the same as those executed by the animation execution unit 104 in the preview mode, as will be described later. The tween preview can be paused by selecting menu item image 136 in editor menu 130, as described above.

When the menu item image 203 is selected, the object management section 102 deletes all state data saved in the work area of the storage section 110 . This allows tween data to be accumulated from the first state. When the menu item image 204 is selected, the object management unit 102 updates the animation data 112 so as to switch on/off whether to repeatedly execute tweening. Either "LOOP: ON" or "LOOP: OFF" is displayed in the menu item image 204 according to ON/OFF.

When the menu item image 205 is selected, the object management unit 102 provisionally sets the required time between states in the tween according to the user's operation of the slider image included in the menu item image 205 . This required time is stored in the work area together with the state data when the menu item image 205 is selected, as described above. When the menu item image 206 is selected, the object management unit 102 sets a waiting time from tapping to the start of tween according to the user's operation of the slider image included in the menu item image 206 . Specifically, the object management unit 102 updates the animation data 112 so that the waiting time from the tap to the start of the tween corresponds to the details of the operation of the slider image. When the menu item image 207 is selected, the object management unit 102 selects whether or not to return to the first state after reaching the last state. The standby time is set according to the user's operation of the slider image included in the menu item image 207 . Specifically, the object management unit 102 updates the animation data 112 so that the standby time corresponds to the operation content of the slider image. When the menu item image 208 is selected, the object management unit 102 updates the animation data 112 so as to switch on/off whether to return to the first state after the tween reaches the final state. In the menu item image 208, either "RETURN: ON" or "RETURN: OFF" is displayed according to ON/OFF.

When the menu item image 209 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the object menu displayed in the object menu area G1 to an object menu other than the object menu 200. FIG. For example, when the left arrow included in the menu item image 209 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 190 . Further, for example, when the right arrow included in the menu item image 209 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 210 .

Tweened item image 220 includes menu item images 221 and 222 that have the same functionality as menu item images 201 and 202 . A tween item image 220 (change attribute setting menu item image in the present invention) occupies the bottom left half of the object menu 200 . Tweened item images 220 are also included in object menus 150-190 and 210 as described above. As a result, after the attribute of the image object is set with any of the object menus 150 to 210 displayed in the object menu area G1, the object menu displayed in the object menu area G1 is not switched, and the menu is displayed. Selection of item images 221 and 222 is possible.

The object menu 210, as shown in FIG. 11, is a menu set image for setting links of image objects. Object menu 210 includes menu item images 211 - 214 and 219 and tween item image 220 . Menu item images 211 and 212 are for inputting layer IDs of layers that are candidates for linking to image objects. The user can select the layer ID of the layer to be input using the menu item image 211 . For example, each time the left arrow included in the menu item image 211 is selected, the object management unit 102 switches the number of the layer ID displayed in the menu item image 211 to the previous number. Also, for example, each time the right arrow included in the menu item image 211 is selected, the object management unit 102 switches the number of the layer ID displayed in the menu item image 211 to the next number. When the menu item image 212 is selected, the object management unit 102 updates the attribute data 111 in the storage unit 110 so that the link information indicates the layer ID displayed in the menu item image 211 .

Menu item images 213 and 214 are for inputting layer IDs of other image objects that are candidates for linking to the image object. The user can select the layer ID of the layer to be input using the menu item image 213 . For example, each time the left arrow included in the menu item image 213 is selected, the object management unit 102 switches the number of the object ID displayed in the menu item image 213 to the previous number. Also, for example, each time the right arrow included in the menu item image 213 is selected, the object management unit 102 switches the number of the object ID displayed in the menu item image 213 to the next number. When menu item image 214 is selected, object management unit 102 updates attribute data 111 in storage unit 110 so that the link information indicates the object ID displayed in menu item image 213 .

When the menu item image 219 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the object menu displayed in the object menu area G1 to an object menu other than the object menu 210. FIG. For example, when the left arrow included in the menu item image 219 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 200 . Also, for example, when the right arrow included in the menu item image 219 is selected, the menu display unit 101 switches the display to the object menu 150 .

An example of an animation editing method according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. First, by selecting the menu item image 137 of the editor menu 130, the image object 21 is added as shown in FIG. 3 (step S1). As a result, data representing the image object 21 is newly added to the attribute data 111 by the object management unit 102 . Also, the layer data 114 is updated by the object management unit 102 so as to associate the first layer 0 with the image object 21 . Next, the position of the image object 21 is adjusted by dragging the image object 21, and the attribute of the image object 21 is set by selecting a menu item image included in each object menu while switching the object menus 150 to 190 (step S2). As a result, the size, position, color, transparency, object setting image, sound effect when tapping, size when tapping, etc. of the image object 21 can be set. The set contents are reflected in the attribute data 111 by the object management unit 102 .

Next, a tween is set by selecting one of the menu item images 201 or 221 (the image labeled "TWEEN SET") included in the object menus 150-210 (step S3). As a result, the attribute set in step S2 is reflected in the animation data 112 by the object management unit 102 as the first state in the tween. Next, steps S2 and S3 are repeated (steps S2→S3→steps S2→S3→ S4, No→S2→...). As a result, the state data indicating the first state, the state data indicating the second state, . When the menu item image 212 is selected (step S4, Yes), a series of state data accumulated in the work area at that time is added to the animation data 112 as data indicating the tweening of the image object 21. FIG.

Next, by selecting the menu item image 139 of the editor menu 130, a new layer is added (step S5). As a result, data relating to layer 1 following layer 0 is newly added to the layer data 114 by the object management unit 102 . Next, by operating the menu item image 142 of the editor menu 130, the layer 0 is selected and the displayed image object 21 is selected (step S6). Next, by operating the menu item images 211 and 212 of the object menu 210, the layer 1 is linked to the image object 21 (step S7). The contents of the link are reflected in the attribute data 111 by the object management unit 102 . Next, layer 1 is selected by operating the menu item image 142 of the editor menu 130 (step S8). Next, by selecting menu item image 137 of editor menu 130, an image object is added to layer 1 (step S9). As a result, data indicating the new image object is added to the attribute data 111 by the object management unit 102 . Also, the layer data 114 is updated by the object management unit 102 so as to associate the layer 1 with its image object. After that, as in steps S1 to S8, image object attributes and tween settings in layer 1 are advanced.

An execution example of an animation edited according to the flow of FIG. 12 will be described below with reference to FIG. Animation is executed by the animation execution unit 104 in preview mode. In the preview mode, both the object menu and the editor menu are erased from the screen of the touch panel display 11, as shown in FIG. 13(a). The animation execution unit 104 executes animation as follows based on the attribute data 111 , the animation data 112 , the background data 113 and the layer data 114 . First, the image object 21 included in layer 0 is displayed on the screen according to the attribute data 111 . A background image is displayed on the screen during animation execution based on the background data 113, and background music is reproduced. Next, when the user taps the image object 21, a tapping sound effect is generated and the image object 21 temporarily changes to the tapped size. It should be noted that image objects for which drag is set to ON can be moved by dragging during animation execution. When the user drags the image object, the image object moves according to the speed set for the image object.

Next, based on the data regarding the image object 21 in the animation data 112, tweening of the image object 21 is executed after a period corresponding to the waiting time from the tap to the start of tweening has elapsed. For example, as shown in FIG. 13B, from the image object 21a in the first state in the image object 21, through the image object 21b in the second state and the image object 21c in the third state, the Up to the image object 21d in state 4, the change in appearance attribute of the image object 21 is reproduced on the screen of the touch panel display 11. FIG. Here, the change between each state is represented as a continuous change over the required time between each state. For example, the shape of the image object 21a is a rectangle, and the position is near the lower left corner of the screen. The image object 21b has a triangular shape and is positioned at the center of the screen. The change from the image object 21a to the image object 21b is such that the position of the image object 21 continuously changes from the former position to the latter position on the screen over the required time from the first state to the second state. While changing, that is, as the image object 21 moves, the shape of the image object 21 is expressed by gradually changing from a square to a triangle. When the tweening repeat execution is turned on, the tweening for changing the image object 21 from the last state to the first state is continued, and then the tweening from the first state is executed. When the repeat execution of tween is turned off and whether or not to return to the first state after the tween reaches the last state is turned on, the process from the last state to the first state is turned on. After a period corresponding to the waiting time until returning has elapsed, the image object 21 returns to the image object 21a in the first state.

If the tween repeat execution is turned off, the animation moves to layer 1, which is the link destination of the image object 21, when the tween is completed. As a result, the image objects 22 to 24 of layer 1 are displayed on the screen, and an animation of these image objects is executed. Note that when the image object 21 is linked to another image object, the animation of the linked image object is executed.

According to the present embodiment described above, the object menus 150 to 210 are displayed in predetermined areas on the screen of the display. Of these, the object menus 150 to 190 and 210 are divided according to the type of attribute to be edited, particularly size, color, music, and the like. A plurality of attributes in the image object can be set by these. In this embodiment, the object menus 150 to 210 displayed in a predetermined area on the screen are switched among the object menus 150 to 210 based on the input through the touch panel of the touch panel display 11 . Therefore, it is possible to sequentially set a plurality of attributes by a simple operation of repeatedly switching object menus and selecting menu item images therein. As described above, it is possible to edit an animation for changes in a plurality of attributes of an image object with a simple operation. For example, attribute changes in animation such as size, tilt, color, size when tapped, size change on/off when tapped, drag speed, drag on/off, object setting image and link information. can be set appropriately. Note that image objects for which dragging is turned on can be moved by user dragging during animation execution. Also, the speed of movement of the image object at that time can be set. Therefore, during animation execution, it is possible to produce a situation in which the image object is heavy and difficult to move, or conversely, a situation in which the image object is light and easy to move.

Further, in this embodiment, after setting the attribute of the image object, the menu item image 201 included in the object menu 200 or the menu item image 221 included in any of the object menus 150 to 190 and 210 is selected. . . , n-th state related to the attribute of the image object are accumulated in the work area of the storage unit 110. FIG. When the menu item image 202 included in the object menu 200 or the menu item image 222 included in any one of the object menus 150 to 190 and 210 is selected, the animation data 112 is generated based on the accumulated state data. generated. With these, tweening can be easily set.

In this embodiment, each of the object menus 150 to 210 includes tween item images 220 (menu item images 221 and 222) for setting tweens. Suppose tween item image 220 is included in only one of object menus 150-210. In this case, after setting the attribute of the image object in the object menu that does not include the tween item image 220, in order to set the attribute to one of the first to n-th states, the tween item image 220 must be included. You have to switch the display once to another object menu that is displayed. In contrast, according to the present embodiment, each of the object menus 150-210 includes a tweened item image 220. FIG. Therefore, after setting an attribute in any object menu, the set attribute can be set to any one of the first to n-th states without switching the object menu.

Attributes of the image object according to the present embodiment include object ID, size, position, tilt, color, size when tapped, sound effect when tapped, on/off of size change when tapped, drag speed, drag on/off, object setting image and layer ID, and link information. According to this, it is possible to set various attributes related to the appearance of the image object, behavior at the time of tapping including dragging, and attributes such as layers and links. For this reason, there are many variations of animation using image objects.

<Modification>
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope described in the Means for Solving the Problems. It is possible.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the switching of the display of the object menus 150 to 210 is executed by selecting the menu item images 159, 169, 179, 189, 199, 209 or 219 included in these object menus. be done. However, the display of the object menu may be switched by other methods. For example, it may be switched by selecting a menu item image included in the editor menu.

In the above-described embodiment, when setting the tween, after setting the attributes in the object menus 150 to 190, the state data indicating the first to nth states are stored by selecting the menu item image 201 or 221. Animation data 112 is generated based on the accumulated state data by accumulating in the work area of unit 110 and finally selecting menu item image 202 or 222 . However, tweening may be set by other methods. For example, when a certain menu item image is selected, the mode is switched to set a tween, and each time an attribute is set in the object menus 150 to 190 in that mode, the attribute is set to the first state, the second state, or the second state. may be stored in the work area of the storage unit 110 as the states Alternatively, the present embodiment may be configured such that when each menu item image of object menus 150 to 190 is selected, each attribute before and after change is set at once. For example, the present embodiment may be configured such that when the menu item image 152 of the object menu 150 is selected, the still image before change and the still image after change are set at once.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the object menus 150 to 210 are displayed in the object menu area G1, which is a fixed area on the screen of the touch panel display 11. FIG. However, the areas in which these object menus are displayed may change from display to display. For example, these object menus may be displayed near the currently selected image object.

G1 Object menu area G2 Editor menu area 1 PC
11 touch panel display 21-26 image object 101 menu display unit 102 object management unit 110 storage unit 130 editor menu 131-142 menu item images 150-210 object menus 151-153, 159 menu item images 161-163, 169 menu item image 171 174, 179 Menu item images 181, 189 Menu item images 191-193, 199 Menu item images 201-209 Menu item images 211-214, 219

Claims (6)

A program that causes a computer connected to or equipped with a pointing device and connected or equipped with a display to function as a device for editing animation with one or more image objects,
The animation targets changes in a plurality of attributes related to at least one of the appearance and position of the image object on the display and a sound effect set to the image object,
Object display means for displaying the image object on the display such that the position as the attribute can be changed based on the input by the pointing device;
displaying on the screen of the display one of a plurality of menu set images prepared for each type of the attribute, including menu item images for editing the content of the attribute for each of the image objects; menu display means for switching the menu set image to be displayed on the screen of the display among the plurality of menu set images based on user input from a device;
When the menu item image displayed on the display is selected based on a user input using the pointing device, executing a process of setting the attribute of the image object according to the selected menu item image. functioning the computer as attribute setting means ;
wherein the animation is represented by object-specific animation data indicating changes in the attribute for each image object;
The menu display means switches the display of the menu set image so that the display area after switching becomes the display area before switching or an area in the vicinity of the display area before switching, and the image object whose contents of the attributes are to be edited. continue to maintain
The change attribute setting menu item image, which is the menu item image for setting and accumulating the attribute change for the object-specific animation data, is used to set the content of the attribute for each of the image objects. An animation editing program that is included in each of the plurality of menu set images together with an attribute content setting menu item image that is a menu item image . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in said animation, said attribute changes include changes in at least one of size, position, color and transparency of said image object and an image set to said image object. Described animation editing program. 3. The animation editing program according to claim 1, wherein in said animation, said attribute change includes movement by dragging said image object. 4. The animation editing program according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said menu item images is an image for setting the speed of movement of said image object with respect to said dragging. The animation is a series of a first state, a second state, ..., an n-th state (n: a natural number equal to or greater than 2) relating to the attribute of the target object, which is at least one of the one or a plurality of image objects. Aimed at change
the change attribute setting menu item image is an image for setting the first to n-th states;
When the first to k-th (1≦k<n) states have already been set and the k+1-th state has not yet been set, the change attribute setting menu item is based on user input through the pointing device. 5. The computer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when an image is selected, the attribute currently set for the target object is set as the k+1-th state. or the animation editing program according to item 1. a touch panel is used when the animation is performed, and the image object can be tapped and dragged through the touch panel;
In the animation, a plurality of layers each containing one or more of the image objects can be set, and the image object on which the animation is executed next when the action of tapping the image object ends. or a link to said layer is configurable,
The attributes of the image object include an object ID for identifying the image object, size, position, tilt, color, size when tapped, sound effect when tapping the touch panel, size when tapping the touch panel. at least one of on/off of change, speed of drag, on/off of drag, layer ID for identifying the image and layer set in the image object, and link information indicating the link. 6. The animation editing program according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , characterized by:

Images