Assoc. Prof. Jaroslav Křivánek presents Realistic rendering in computer graphics

30. Prague Computer Science Seminar

Realistic rendering in computer graphics: From nuclear reactors to pretty
pictures on the silver screen and handsome 3D prints

Lecture annotation:

Computer generated images have become a natural part of our lives. We encounter
them in animated films, cinematic special effects, advertisements,
architectural
and product visualizations, computer games, etc. At the same time, 3D printing
technology is maturing and enables producing prints using various materials
with
a wide range of appearances. In this talk, I summarize some of my results in
the
area of computational approaches for generating photorealistic images and
controlling appearance of 3D prints.

I show that these two seemingly different topics share the same basis: accurate
simulation of the behavior of light in various environments. Origins of this
computational problem can be traced back to the development of first nuclear
weapons in the Manhattan project, and to names like von Neumann, Fermi, or
Ulam.
Modern light transport simulation algorithms are, among others, responsible for
the incessant advances in the visual quality of blockbusters produced by
studios
such as Pixar, Disney, and Weta Digital.