Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for simulating scattering in a participating medium. In one embodiment, a rendering application receives an image and depth values for pixels in the image, and generates multiple copies of the image associated with respective numbers of scattering events. The rendering application further applies per-pixel weights to pixels of the copies of the image, with the per-pixel weight applied to each pixel representing a probability of a light ray associated with the pixel experiencing the number of scattering events associated with the copy of the image in which the pixel is located. In addition, the rendering application applies a respective blur to each of the weighted copies of the image based on the number of scattering events associated with the weighted copy, sums the blurred weighted image copies, and normalizes the sum to account for conservation of energy.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for rendering images of hair using a statistical light scattering model for hair that approximates ground truth physical models. The model is significantly faster than other implementations of the Marschner hair model. The statistical light scattering model includes all the features of Marschner such as eccentricity for elliptical cross-sections, and extends them by adding azimuthal roughness control, consideration of natural fiber torsion, and full energy preserving. Adaptive Importance Sampling (AIS) is specialized to fit easily sampled distributions to bidirectional curve scattering density functions (BCSDFs) of the model.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for a hybrid binding of meshes. Multiple meshes having levels of detail appropriate for different regions of a model are topologically connected by binding them together at simulation time. In one embodiment, a simulation application creates both geometric and force bindings between vertices in meshes. The simulation application identifies embedded vertices of a first mesh to be bound to a second mesh as being “best” bound vertices, such as vertices coincident with vertices in the second mesh, and geometrically binds those vertices to appropriate vertices of the second mesh. The simulation application then binds each of the remaining embedded vertices which cannot be geometrically bound to vertices of the second mesh via a force binding, in which a zero-length spring force based technique is used to transfer forces and velocities between the force bound vertex of the first mesh and vertices of the second mesh.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for rendering an image. Embodiments include selecting a plurality of positions within the image and constructing a respective linear prediction model for each selected position. A respective prediction window is determined for each constructed linear prediction model. Additionally, embodiments render the image using the linear prediction models using the constructed linear prediction models, where at least one of the constructed linear prediction models is used to predict values for two or more of a plurality of pixels of the image, and where a value for at least one of the plurality of pixels is determined based on two or more of the constructed linear prediction models.

Abstract: A method and system for rendering a three-dimensional (3D) scene by excluding non-contributing objects are disclosed. A preliminary object analysis using relatively few rays can be performed to determine which off-camera objects are to be excluded or included in the rendering process. The preliminary object analysis may involve performing an initial ray path tracing to identify intersections between a plurality of rays and one or more objects in the 3D scene. The object analysis can include identifying whether a first object in the 3D scene can be identified as an off-camera object. When the first object is identified as an off-camera object, a number of intersections between the plurality of rays and the first object can be counted. If the number of intersections is less than a corresponding threshold, the first object can be identified as being excluded from a future rendering process to render the first frame.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for rendering scene volumes having scene dependent memory requirements. A image plane used to view a three dimensional volume (3D) volume into smaller regions of pixels referred to as buckets. The number of pixels in each bucket may be determined based on an estimated number of samples needed to evaluate a pixel. Samples are computed for each pixels in a given bucket. Should the number of samples exceed the estimated maximum sample count, the bucket is subdivided into sub-buckets, each allocated the same amount of memory as was the original bucket. Dividing a bucket in half effectively doubles both the memory available for rendering the resulting sub-buckets and the maximum number of samples which can be collected for each pixel in the sub-bucket. The process of subdividing a bucket continues until all of the pixels in the original bucket are rendered.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for animating gases. A dynamic model is employed that accounts for stretching of gas vorticles in a stable manner, handles isolated particles and buoyancy, permits deformable boundaries of objects the gas flows past, and accounts for vortex shedding. The model models stretching of vorticity by applying a vector at the center of a stretched vorticle. High frequency eddies resulting from stretching may be filtered by unstretching the vorticle while preserving mean energy and enstrophy. To model boundary pressure, a boundary may be imposed by embedding into the gas the surface boundary and setting boundary conditions based on velocity of the boundary and the Green's function of the Laplacian. For computational efficiency, a vorticle cutoff proportional to a vorticle's size may be imposed. Vorticles determined to be similar based on a predefined criteria and distance threshold may be fused.

Abstract: Techniques are proposed for embedding transition points in media content. A transition point system retrieves a time marker associated with a point of interest in the media content. The transition point system identifies a first position within the media content corresponding to the point of interest. The transition point system embeds data associated with the time marker into the media content at a second position that is no later in time than the first position. The transition point system causes a client media player to transition from a first image quality level to a second quality level based on the time marker.

Abstract: In various embodiments, systems and methods are disclosed for rapidly generating tetrahedral volumes using centerlines in character animation. The volumes are generated to closely approximate bounding volumes that provide rapid collision detection while at the same time conforming to the original mesh surface. Therefore, more accurate and higher quality collisions are achieved using the original surface in real-time and without using a proxy/simulation.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an approach for aggregating elements that are common across shots in the rendering of image frames. In one embodiment, common elements are aggregated via a scene editor which stores the common elements in a scene layer, which is an asset that is a container for elements such as characters, locations, and the like that are common across shots. The scene layer permits new shots to be created that inherit the common elements, rather than from scratch or by manually copying elements from other shots. The scene editor may further receive elements specific to particular shots and store such elements in shot layers that are created on top of the scene layer and store differences from the scene layer. A rendering application then renders image frames on a shot-by-shot basis using the common elements stored in the scene layer and the shot-specific elements stored in the shot layers.

Abstract: Techniques for determining a shading rate of a volumetric element in a rendered scene when the rendered scene is viewed from a first point of view are provided. Embodiments determine a viewable area of the volumetric element, as viewed from the first point of view. A shading rate to use in processing the volumetric element is then determined, based on the determined viewable area. Embodiments processing the volumetric element at the determined shading rate using one or more shaders.

Abstract: Techniques relate to fitting a shape of an object when placed in a desired pose. For example, a plurality of training poses can be received, wherein each training pose is associated with a training shape. The training poses can be clustered in pose space, and a bid point can be determined for each cluster. A cluster-fitted shape can then be determined for a pose at the bid point using the training shapes in the cluster. A weight for each cluster-fitted shape can then be determined. The cluster-fitted shapes can then be combined using the determined weights to determine a shape of the object in the desired pose.

Abstract: Simulating cloth garments can be a large challenge that requires both directability as well as stability. In various embodiments, cloth garments can be animated using a technique called “Clothwarp.” Clothwarp assists garment animation through methods of cloth articulation and simulation targeting. In one aspect, Clothwarp grants another level of directable control on simulation, allowing the artist to modify the influence of the warp, both as a target input into the simulation and as a cleanup tool on simulation results.

Abstract: Tetrahedra can be used as primitives to represent volumetric shells because of their ease of performing geometric tests such as intersection with other geometric primitives. Each triangular face of a triangulated surface mesh can be extruded or otherwise formed into a prism, and that prism can be filled with tets (tetrahedra). An edge of a tet can be deemed to be rising if, going counterlockwise around the face, the corresponding tet-edge that splits the extruded face proceeds from the inset surface to the offset surface. To determine a valid tet orientation, each directed edge of the surface mesh is labeled as Rising or Falling (R, F). In various embodiments, one or more simple rules are used for determining whether an edge is rising or falling. In one aspect, a partial ordering of the connectivity of a surface is used in the tet generation process.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a shadow in a graphics scene. The method includes casting a ray having a finite length associated with a point on a surface of an object in the graphics scene towards a light source; determining whether the ray intersects any other objects in the graphics scene; and generating a shadow value associated with the point on the surface of the object based on a combination of geometric scene information obtained as a result of determining whether the ray intersects any other objects in the graphics scene and an image-based shadow map value.

Abstract: A first color component of a pixel or scene entity is modified using a color correction curve defined at least partly by a second color component of this pixel or entity. Each pixel or entity has its own separate color correction curve, independent of the color correction curves of other pixels or entities. The saturation value of a pixel or scene entity may be modified based on its luminance value. The luminance value determines a saturation gamma function curve, mapping the original saturation value of a pixel or entity to a new saturation value. The unilluminated color of a pixel or of an illuminated entity in a scene being rendered may also be taken into account. This output color may be stored in the appropriate pixel of an image or combined with colors from other portions of the scene being rendered.

Abstract: A method for a computer system includes determining a plurality of positions of portions of a hand of a user simultaneously placed upon a user interface device of the computer system, retrieving a set of display icons in response to the plurality of positions of the portions of the user hand, displaying the display icons from the set of display icons on a display relative to the plurality of positions of the portions of the user hand; while displaying the display icons on the display, determining a user selection of a display icon from the display icons, and performing a function in response to the user selection of the display icon.

Abstract: One or more techniques to reduce or eliminate the false depth of objects that move along the axis of ocular separation when displayed using time division multiplexing. Experiments can be performed to determine a perceived depth of an object moving with known velocity. Then, when rendering stereoscopic image pairs, the location of the object can be modified to change the perceived stereoscopic depth of the object to compensate for the false depth. In one technique, the images can be displayed with alternating left- and right-precedence to reduce the perception of false depth.

Abstract: A summary spline curve can be constructed from multiple animation spline curves. Control points for each of the animation spline curves can be included to form a combined set of control points for the summary spline curve. Each of the animation spline curves can then be divided into spline curve segments between each neighboring pair of control points in the combined set of control points. For each neighboring pair, the spline curve segments can be normalized and averaged to determine a summary spline curve segment. These summary spline curve segments are combined to determine a summary spline curve. The summary spline curve can then be displayed and/or modified. Modifications to the summary spline curve can result in modifications to the animation spline curves.

Abstract: Test patterns and associated techniques for testing the fidelity of color processing are disclosed. One set of embodiments provide a test pattern that exhibits a large number of spatial interactions (e.g., edges) between colors corresponding to triples of constant value RGB primaries that incorporate a specific primary. Another set of embodiments provide an animated sequence of test patterns that exhibit temporal interactions between the colors identified above. Yet another set of embodiments provide a test pattern comprising a plurality of zones, where distinct subsets of the zones are configured to exhibit independent visual changes in response to adjustments of specific color processing controls. Using these test patterns, users may more easily test the fidelity of color processing (such as color dematrixing), and may more easily calibrate color processing controls accordingly.