how to bluff your way in graphics

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how to bluff your wayin graphics

• doug zongker
• 9 february 2001

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contents

• airplane-window overview of current graphics
  research
• hot topics (IMHO)
• whats going on at UW
• you are not a graphics student, but might meet
  a graphics person or two while interviewing

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the threefold way

• modeling
• how do we describe a scene?
• rendering
• how do we turn a description into an image?
• animation
• how do we add the time dimension to our models?

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modeling

• polygons
• quadrics, etc.
• parametric patches (B-splines)
• subdivision surfaces
• scanned imagery

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subdivision surfaces

• lukewarm topic which scheme?
• Loop vs. Catmull-Clark vs. Doo-Sabin vs
• hot topic practical issues
• texturing
• parameterization
• editing
• selective smoothing
• multiresolution editing
• efficiency

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real data

• acquiring models from laser scanners
• hot topics
• compression
• level-of-detail
• editing

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rendering

• 1985 Ray tracing will take over the world!
• 1991 Global illumination will take over the
  world!
• 1997 IBR will take over the world!
• image-based rendering

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image-based rendering

• not just a rendering method
• lies at the intersection of modeling, rendering,
  and vision
• treat pixels of input images as the modeling
  primitve
• warp, reproject, combine multiple views, etc.

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image-based rendering

• Plenoptic Modeling
• Light Field Rendering, The Lumigraph
• surface light fields
• hybrid models
• Façade, Tour Into the Picture

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animation

• hire a skilled animator to do keyframes
• physical simulation
• efficiency considerations
• new simulations that werent previously feasible
• motion capture

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dealing with real data

• real might mean measured from reality or
  generated by a physically accurate simulation
• how do you turn what you have into what you want?
• two approaches constraints and editing

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dealing with real data

• constraints methods generally apply to simulation
• force simulation to achieve a desired result,
  while maintaining realism
• editing methods generally apply to capture
  (though less so)
• apply human-generated motion to new body
  structures

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theme 1 real data

• laser range scans, images, mocap
• maybe realistic output requires realistic input
• acquiring
• storing
• editing
• multiresolution techniques
• playing back

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theme 2 applications

• people are no longer impressed by shiny balls on
  infinite checkered planes
• how do we get these techniques out of labs and
  onto desktops?
• and what are they good for?
• related to

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the failure of 3D graphics

• what is graphics used for?
• films, TV, etc.
• games
• ummmm
• highly visible niches, but niches
• still looking for the killer graphics app
• why does my mom need 10M tri/sec?

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UW foci

• Brian Curless 3D photography
• leans towards range scans, etc.
• Steve Seitz 3D photography
• leans towards pure vision
• Zoran Popovic mocap editing
• motion libraries
• David Salesin misc
• non-photorealistic rendering, artsy things,
  ornamental design