nFX Technology

nFX technology revolutionizes the development of graphics and animation with tools that "learn" to generate new, sophisticated images from a small set of reference drawings or images. Unlike conventional graphics, nFX technology does not require any underlying "model" for the images - the software learns from examples. And it is very different from "morphing." While morphing is typically two dimensional - i.e. change from image A to image B - nFX technology allows infinite variation in creating new images along any dimension or feature the author desires. It is n-dimensional. This enables multimedia and web authors to create applications, entertainment and web pages that let their users interactively create new images and content. Users can create new, original views of images, alter a character's eye size, head shape, position, zoom, reduce, and infinitely vary an image in ways set up by the author - and in ways they never dreamed of! A picture is no longer just a single image but a living "Content Generator" capable of generating hundreds, thousands or millions of new, unique images.

nFX Models

nFX models are not simple bitmap image files or a 3D model description, but an image "space." An nFX image space contains from hundreds to millions of images which can be generated from the model. And, since nFX graphics are vector-based and produced in real-time in response to system or user requirements, they are small. A bitmap file with the same number of images as an nFX model would be many times (probably an order of magnitude) larger.

Creating an nFX Model

To create an nFX model an author/artist inputs a small sample of reference drawings or images. These reference images can be hand drawn and scanned into the system or imported directly from a drawing program such as Adobe Illustrator® or Corel Draw®. After the author sorts the images into descriptive categories such as Happy-Angry, Facing Forward - Side View, Mouth Open/Closed, etc. the nFX software automatically creates an internal coordinate system matched to the images.

The nFX system has now become a living "Content Generator." Any three numbers will generate a new image. In the example below, inputting 0,0,0 returns one of the original reference images. Inputting 50,0,0 rotates the view; 50,50,50 opens his mouth and starts to make him angry, and 75,50,25 rotates him a little more, closes his mouth a little and makes him a little less angry. These are all new, original images created by the nFX software and not the artist - all consistent with the artist's style.

This example was intentionally kept simple with only three dimensions (Happy-Sad, Front-Side, Mouth Open-Closed) to illustrate how nFX technology works. However, nFX models can be created with an unlimited number of controllable dimensions or features. More importantly, there is no need for the author to think or worry about how the system keeps track of everything.

Controlling an nFX Model

Once an nFX model is created and the features of the image that can be varied have been specified - from details such as eyebrow angle and nose size to higher level controls such as "happy" or "sad" - the model is compiled and compressed into a small file. This model can now be interactively controlled by a user through a customized interface (using a mouse, joy stick, or any input device), by data coming in from system events (stock market quotes, internet connection speed, outside temperature, etc) or animated through compact scripts.

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