Art 894.12
Offered Spring Quarters
3 Credit Hours
Description
Purpose
Objectives
Requirements and Evaluation
Content
Prerequisites
Required Text
Recommended Books and Articles
Tentative Course Schedule
An introductory study of the mathematical models used in computer graphics to mimic the physical behavior of light in the generation of three-dimensional, computer generated imagery. In addition, this course addresses the issues of visual storytelling through the application of cinematic techniques in the digital domain. This course is intended for students without a technical background in computer graphics.
The generation of compelling synthetic imagery is primarily dependent upon two issues in computer graphics: the geometric shape of objects in the digital world and the illumination of those objects. This course will concentrate on the latter concern - the interplay of geometry and light - and discuss the physical reality, the computational models, and the application of cinematographic techniques in the digital domain. Students will develop the skills to use digital lighting for the purposes of storytelling and visual communication. Students will learn the mathematics and physics behind the simulation of light, texture and form in computer graphics and apply that knowledge by writing his or her own RenderMan shaders. Students will be encouraged to explore a broad range of styles, from photorealistic to painterly to cartoon-style.
Students must demonstrate satisfactory achievement of course objectives through contribution to class discussions and fulfillment of course assignments. Course evaluation will be based on the following criterion:
Grading Scale:
A = 94 - 100 A- = 91 - 93 B+ = 89 - 90 B = 83 - 88 B- = 80 - 82 C+ = 78 - 79 C = 73 - 77 C- = 71 - 72 D+ = 69 - 70 D = 64 - 68 E = 0 - 64
There will be no make-up quizzes without verifiable medical excuse. Quizzes will cover material from readings and lecture. Late projects are discouraged: 10% per calendar day will be deducted from labs submitted after the assigned due date.
Class time will consist of lectures introducing new concepts, discussions of lecture material and technical concerns, and project critiques. There will be outside work consisting of reading and homework projects that will require approximately 6 hours per week. Most readings will be from various computer graphics texts. Projects will involve the use of RenderMan and other ACCAD software tools, the programming of shading models, and the generation of still images.
ID 751 and C programming experience, or permission of instructor.
Upstill, Steve. The RenderMan Companion: A Programmer's Guide to Realistic Computer Graphics, Addison-Wesley, 1990. ISBN 0-201-50868-0.
In addition, papers and selected readings from the literature will be assigned during the quarter.
Alton, John. Painting with Light, University of California Press, 1995. (Originally published by Macmillan, 1947.) ISBN 0-520-08949-9.
Apodaca, Tony and Darwyn Peachey. "Writing RenderMan Shaders," ACM Siggraph Course Notes #21, 1992.
Glassner, Andrew. An Introduction to Ray Tracing, Academic Press, 1989, pp. 121-130.
Kahrs, John, Sharon Calahan, Dave Carson, and Stephen Poster, A.S.C., "Pixel Cinematography: A Lighting Approach for Computer Graphics," ACM Siggraph Course Notes #30, 1996.
Malkiewicz, Kris. Film Lighting, Prentice Hall Press, 1986. ISBN 0671622714.
Ryan, Rod, Ed. American Cinematographer Manual, 7th Ed., A.S.C. Holding, 1993. ISBN 0-935578-11-0.
Sussman, Aaron. The Amateur Photographer's Handbook, pp. 19-21, pp-28-35.
Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography, directed by Glassman, Arnold, Todd McCarthy and Stuart Samuels, American Film Institute / NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 1992.
Cook, Robert, Loren Carpenter and Ed Catmull. "The Reyes Image Rendering Architecture," Computer Graphics (SIGGRAPH '87 Proceedings), AP Professional, 1987.
Ebert, Dave, Ken Musgrave, Darwyn Peachey, Ken Perlin, and Steve Worley. Texturing and Modeling: A Procedural Approach, AP Professional, 1994. ISBN 0-12-228760-6.
Greenberg, Donald. "Light Reflection Models for Computer Graphics," Science, Vol. 244, April 1989, pp. 166-173.
Hanrahan, Pat and Jim Lawson. "A Language for Shading and Lighting Calculations," Computer Graphics (SIGGRAPH '90 Proceedings), AP Professional, 1990.
Lewis, J. P., "Algorithms for Solid Noise Synthesis," Computer Graphics (SIGGRAPH 89 Proceedings).
Perlin, Ken, "An Image Synthesizer," Computer Graphics (SIGGRAPH 85 Proceedings).
Perlin, Ken and Eric M. Hoffert, "Hypertexture," Computer Graphics (SIGGRAPH 89 Proceedings).
Watt, Alan and Mark Watt. Advanced Animation and Rendering Techniques, Addison-Wesley, 1985.
Stephen F. May (smay@cgrg.ohio-state.edu)
Office: ACCAD 301 (292-1033)
Office hours: by appointment
| Course web page: | http://www.cgrg.ohio-state.edu/~smay/DigitalLighting |
| Technical notes: | http://www.cgrg.ohio-state.edu/~smay/RManNotes |
| AL web pages: | http://www.cgrg.ohio-state.edu/~smay/AL |