Inventors:
Nita M. Bentley - Champlin MN
Heidi A. Emanuel - Maple Grove MN
Ayron B. Glynn - Eagan MN
Sheri M. Schellhaass - Plymouth MN
Achilles Dimitri Speliotopoulos - Woodbury MN
Assignee:
General Mills, Inc. - Minneapolis MN
International Classification:
G06T 1500
Abstract:
A set of tools provides the ability to generate computer-based representations of three-dimensional pieces and produce a representation of a combination of such pieces in a container such as a bowl. Tools such as the puff tool and flake tool change two-dimensional curves into three-dimensional pieces. Further tools are provided to bend, twist and shear three-dimensional pieces. A coating tool is used to create and modify a variety of coatings that are applied on top of cereal pieces to create frost, glaze and particulates. A container tool allows placement of pieces into a bowl. Pieces are randomized prior to dropping them into the bowl. Further tools continue to drop each piece and rotate them if necessary to avoid overlap. A computer rendered image is photorealistic but contains subtle differences that can be discerned upon close inspection.