Abstract: Systems and methods can be used to render an animated scene using a temporal voxel buffer. A voxel buffer including a plurality of voxel arrays is received. A voxel array includes at least one time value associated with a voxel and at least one parameter value associated with each time value. For each pixel of an image to rendered, a plurality of rays are cast through the voxel grid. A time value is associated with each ray. A parameter value is sampled at each voxel along a ray at the time associated with the ray. A pixel value is determined based on the sampled parameter values for the plurality of rays.

Abstract: A method for a computer system includes receiving a mapping schema between a plurality of asset-types within an asset-type hierarchy and a plurality of paths within an on-disk storage structure, receiving an asset-type definition list from a user, wherein the asset-type definition list comprises an asset-type from the plurality of asset types, and determining at least one path from the plurality of paths for providing access to assets of the asset-type in response to the mapping schema and the asset-type definition list.

Abstract: A static model is populated with graphics objects by identifying a first graphics object that is associated with the static model, creating a first plurality of graphics objects where each graphics object in the first plurality of graphics objects comprises an instance of the first graphics object, placing each graphics object in the first plurality of graphics objects into a respective first position, and simulating a motion path for each graphics object in the first plurality of graphics objects from their respective first position to a respective second position.

Abstract: Computer-generated images are generated by evaluating point positions of points on animated objects in animation data. The point positions of the points are used by an animation system to determine how to blend animated sequences or frames of animated sequences in order to create realistic moving animated characters and animated objects. The methods of blending are based on determining distances or deviations between corresponding points and using blending functions with varying blending windows and blending functions that can vary from point to point on the animated objects.

Abstract: A method for performing non-affine deformations. The method includes receiving data representing mathematical vectors associated with elements defining an object. The elements are organized in a hierarchy, a different subset of mathematical vectors is associated with one or more elements, and the mathematical vectors within each subset are defined relative to a local coordinate space associated with each element. The method further includes determining that a first non-affine deformer is to be applied to a first set of the elements, and, for each element in the first set, applying the first non-affine deformer to world coordinate space values corresponding to the mathematical vectors within the subset of mathematical vectors associated with the element to generate modified world coordinate space values for the mathematical vectors.

Abstract: The movement of skin on an animated target, such as a character or other object, is simulated via a simulation software application. The software application creates a finite element model (FEM) comprising a plurality of finite elements based on an animated target. The software application attaches a first constraint force to a node associated with a first finite element in the plurality of finite elements. The software application attaches a second constraint force to the node. The software application detects a movement of the first finite element that results in a corresponding movement of the node. The software application determines a new position for the node based on the movement of at least one of the first finite element, the first constraint force, and the second constraint force.

Abstract: A method for rendering radiance for a volumetric medium is provided. A photon simulation produces a representation of photon beams in a scene. The photon beams are rendered with respect to a camera viewpoint, by computing an estimated radiance associated with the photon beams. A global radius scaling factor can be applied to obtain different radii for the photon beams. Over multiple applications of these steps, the global radius scaling factor can be decreased, thereby reducing overall error by facilitating convergence. Finally, the renderer can be efficiently implemented on the GPU as a splatting operation, for use in interactive and real-time applications.

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 file format that includes a constant section and a varying section. The constant section provides a referencing scheme that references the various components that comprise the scene, as well as a listing of attributes of the scene that are modifiable. Within the same file format, the varying section provides an overriding mechanism to modify the attributes that are available to be modified. Accordingly, the disclosed file format can access cached animated geometry directly and/or aggregate other files via the aforementioned referencing and sparse override semantics. This allows the same set of inspection, manipulation, and rendering tools to be used throughout the rendering pipeline, from asset creation to final rendering.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for rendering graphics objects in a scene file. A first pixel is selected from a plurality of pixels that are associated with an image frame. A set of graphics objects that intersect with the first pixel is identified. For each graphics objects in the first set of graphics objects. a set of light sources that illuminates the respective graphics object at the first pixel is identified, and, for each light source in the set of light sources, an entry is stored in a first table that includes references to the first pixel, the respective graphics object, and the respective light source.

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: Computer-generated images are generated by evaluating point positions of points on animated objects in animation data. The point positions of the points are used by an animation system to determine how to blend animated sequences or frames of animated sequences in order to create realistic moving animated characters and animated objects. The methods of blending are based on determining distances or deviations between corresponding points and using blending functions with varying blending windows and blending functions that can vary from point to point on the animated objects.

Abstract: Shading attributes for scene geometry are predetermined and cached in one or more alternate scene representations. Lighting, shading, geometric, and/or other attributes of the scene may be precalculated and stored for at least one of the scene representations at an appropriate level of detail. Rendering performance is improved generally and for a variety of visual effects by selecting between alternate scene representations during rendering. A renderer selects one or more of the alternate scene representations for each of the samples based on the size of its filter area relative to the feature sizes or other attributes of the alternate scene representations. If two or more alternate scene representations are selected, the sampled values from these scene representations may be blended. The selection of scene representations may vary on a per-sample basis and thus different scene representations may be used for different samples within the same image.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an ray-marched-tangent space shader is provided which uses adaptive, curved ray marching of an implicit weave/thread procedural texture to create the appearance of individual cloth yarns complete with sub-fibers which separate rather than stretch over the surface. The volumetric surface shader shades cloth by performing adaptive curved ray marching of an implicit tangent space distance field.

Abstract: Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to rendering scenes comprising one or more volumes viewed along a ray from a virtual camera. In order to render the one or more volumes, embodiments may first determine individual transmissivity functions for the one or more volumes. The individual transmissivity functions may be combined into a combined transmissivity function for the scene. The combined transmissivity function may be used to generate a cumulative density function (CDF) for the scene. The CDF may be sampled in order to determine a plurality of points along the ray. A contribution to a pixel may be determined for each sampled point. The contributions associated with the sampled points may be combined to determine a combined contribution to the pixel.

Abstract: A simulation application models a surface of a fluid in motion. The simulation application selects a mesh point from a plurality of mesh points that is associated with the surface of the fluid. The simulation application retrieves a first texture element from a set of uv texture maps, and attaches a first displacement value to the mesh point based on the first texture element. The simulation application advects the first displacement value over a first duration represented by a first quantity of image frames such that the first displacement value remains attached to the mesh point as the plurality of mesh points moves in response to a motion of the fluid.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for generating quality renderings of volumes by sampling a volume light by generating and analyzing a sparse voxel octree. In one embodiment, a volumetric light source may be divided into voxels and importance information stored in an octree. An importance value may be determined for each voxel based on the amount of emitted light in the region associated with that voxel. Importance values regarding the individual voxels may be stored in the leaves of the octree. Each interior node may be associated with an importance value equal to the sum of the importance values of its children. The root node may be associated with the total importance of the entire octree.

Abstract: Systems and methods for design and use of models can have models with rigging, controls, avars, etc., but can also have controls that are themselves models, thus leading to a hierarchy of models and rigging usable for controlling models in an animation system wherein models correspond to elements or objects for which computer-generated graphics are to be rendered.

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.