Synthonics Inc. Gets Patent for 3-D Process

Synthonics Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Synthonics Technologies in Westlake Village, has secured a patent for a PC-based computer graphics technology that streamlines the 3-D image creation process for a variety of applications, including electronic commerce, computer games and medical diagnostics.

The new patent covers techniques for “morphing” generic 3-D models to create an unlimited number of variations rapidly. The process dramatically reduces the time and costs associated with producing 3-D computer graphics replicas of real-life objects, according to Charles Palm, chief technology officer for Synthonics Technologies.

“Think of it as having a warehouse of generic object forms that can quickly be stretched and shaped to accurately represent something in real life,” Palm said. “Grab a human head form and mold it to look like yourself, or Tom Cruise. Grab a generic jacket form and shape it into a size 42 tuxedo or the jacket of a size 6 Anne Klein suit.”

The company’s morphing tools have already been embedded in specialized software products being developed for Acuscape Inc. in Glendora as part of a joint venture between Synthonics and professional medical corporations.

Synthonics developed the PC-based technology to eliminate the labor-intensive task of creating 3-D images from scratch. Day-to-day uses can vary from developing modifiable replicas of medical patients’ heads and faces to show the results of planned treatments to producing unlimited variations of a retailer’s merchandise in order to create online catalogs quickly and inexpensively.