One of the topics in this class is investigating different global illumination algorithms.

Contents

In the class we will discuss advanced computer graphics techniques for realistic image synthesis. This includes techniques for simulating global illumination, participating media, and material models including BRDF and BSSRDF models. In this class we will discuss many natural phenomena such as the blue sky, the appearance of human skin, clouds, and milk. The goal is to understand how different computer graphics algorithms can be used to simulate these phenomena.

Instructor

Henrik Wann Jensen

Optional books

Andrew Glassner, "Principles of Digital Image Synthesis", Morgan-Kaufman, 1995. Free PDF Version of this book.

Henrik Wann Jensen, "Realistic Image Synthesis Using Photon Mapping", AK Peters, 2001

Pharr and Humphreys, "Physically Based Rendering", Morgan-Kaufman 2004

Dutre, Bala, and Baekert, "Advanced Global Illumination", AK Peters, 2006

Lectures

Tuesday/Thursday, 11:00am - 12:20pm in WLH 2207

Teaching Assistant

Jiyang Yu

Piazza

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Prerequisites

One or two computer graphics classes. The student should have a thorough understanding of ray tracing as well as a basic understanding of the concept of shading.

The class projects will be in C++ - this will not be taught in the class.

Grading

The class will be graded based on various assignments (65%), a midterm (20%), and a class lecture (15%).

Assignments

• Assignment 1
• Assignment 2
• photonmap.cc for assignment 2
• Assignment 3

Schedule

• Welcome, Course Setup, Light Physics, Radiometry and Photometry
• Reading:
• Glassner, Chapter 13 (optional)

• Light and Matter
• Reading:
• Glassner, Chapter 14

• Light Surface Interaction

• Global Illumination and Monte Carlo Ray Tracing
• Reading:
• Kajiya, "The Rendering Equation", SIGGRAPH 1986
  
• Optional Reading:
• Lafortune et al., Bidirectional Path Tracing", Compugraphics 1993
• Veach et al., Metropolis Light Transport, SIGGRAPH 1997
• Veach et al., Robust Monte Carlo Methods for Light Transport Simulation, Chapter 9 and Chapter 10
• Lafortune, Mathematical Models for Light Transport Simulation

• Multiple Importance Sampling + Assignment 1
• Reading:
• Veach and Guibas, Optimally combining sampling techniques for Monte Carlo rendering, Siggraph 1995

• Photon Mapping
• Reading:
• Jensen, Global Illumination Using Photon Maps, EGWR 1996
• Optional Reading:
• Jensen, "Realistic Image Synthesis using Photon Mapping", Chapters 4-9

• Progressive Photon Mapping
• Reading:
• Hachisuka et al., "Progressive Photon Mapping", Siggraph Asia 2008

• Combining Bidirectional Path Tracing and Photon Mapping
• Reading:
• Hachisuka et al., "A Path Space Extension for Robust Light Transport Simulation", Siggraph Asia 2012
• Georgiev et al., "Light Transport Simulation with Vertex Connection and Merging", Siggraph Asia 2012
• Qin et al., "Unbiased Photon Gathering for Light Transport Simulation, SIGGRAPH Asia 2015

• BRDF Models [slides ]
• Reading:
• Glassner, Chapter 15
• Optional:
• Phong, "Illumination for Computer Generated Pictures", CACM 1975
• Blinn, "Models of Light Reflection for Computer Synthesized Pictures", SIGGRAPH 1977
• Cook and Torrance, "A Reflectance Model for Computer Graphics", ACM TOG, 1982
• Ward, "Measuring and Modeling Anisotropic Reflection", SIGGRAPH 1992

• Microfacet Theory
• Reading:
• Torrance and Sparrow, "Theory for off-specular reflection", JOSA 1967
• Blinn, "Models of Light Reflection for Computer Synthesized Pictures", SIGGRAPH 1977
• Optional:
• Oren and Nayar, "Generalization of Lambert's reflection model", SIGGRAPH 1994
• Ashikmin et al., "A microfacet based BRDF generator", SIGGRAPH 2000

• Dielectrics

• No class

• Participating Media (Radiative transport, phase functions, analytic models, single scattering)
• Reading:
• Glassner, Chapter 12
• Optional Reading:
• Blinn, "Light reflection functions for simulation of clouds and dusty surfaces", SIGGRAPH 1982
• Chandrasekhar, "Radiative Transfer", pages 1-21

• Participating Media (Multiple scattering, ray marching, random walks, photon mapping)
• Reading:
• Jensen, "Realistic Image Synthesis using Photon Mapping", Chapters 10
• Jarosz et al., "Irradiance Gradients in the Presence of Participating Media and Occlusions"
• Jarosz et al., "The Beam Radiance Estimate for Volumetric Photon Mapping"

• Subsurface Scattering (BRDF models)
• Reading:
• Paul Kubelka and Franz Munk, "Ein Beitrag zur Optik der Farbanstriche", Zeitschrift fu"r Technishen Physik 12(112)
  (English translation by Steve Westin).
• Jim Blinn, "Light reflection functions for simulation of clouds and dusty surfaces", SIGGRAPH 1982
• Chet Haase and Gary Meyer, Modeling Pigmented Materials for Realistic Image Synthesis", ACM TOG, pages 305-335, October 1992
• Pat Hanrahan and Wolfgang Krueger, "Reflection from Layered Surfaces due to Subsurface Scattering", SIGGRAPH 1993

• Subsurface Scattering (BSSRDF models)
• Reading:
• Jensen, Marschner, Levoy, and Hanrahan, A Practical Model for Subsurface Light Transport", SIGGRAPH 2001
• Jensen and Buhler, A Rapid Hierarchical Rendering Technique for Translucent Materials", SIGGRAPH 2002

• "Photon beam diffusion: a hybrid Monte Carlo method for subsurface scattering" (EGSR 2013)
• "On-line Learning of Parametric Mixture Models for Light Transport Simulation" (SIGGRAPH 2014)

• Stylized Caustics: Progressive Rendering of Animated Caustics

• Spectral Skin BSSRDF model
• Reading:
• Donner and Jensen, Light Diffusion in Multi-Layered Translucent Materials, SIGGRAPH 2005
• Donner and Jensen, "A Spectral BSSRDF for Shading Human Skin", EGSR 2006

• Stochastic rendering of glints
• The SGGX Microflake Distribution

• High-Order Similarity Relations in Radiative Transfer
• A Markov Chain Monte Carlo Technique for rendering scenes with difficult specular transport
Gradient Domain Path Tracing

• Codimensional Non-Newtonian Fluids
• "Physically-Accurate Fur Reflectance: Modeling, Measurement and Rendering"
• "A Programmable System for Artistic Volumetric Lighting"
• Unbiased photon gathering<\li>