Abstract: A computer-implemented inverse rendering method comprising: computing an adjoint image by differentiating an objective function that evaluates the quality of a rendered image, image elements of the adjoint image encoding the sensitivity of spatially corresponding image elements of the rendered image with respect to the objective function; sampling the adjoint image at a respective sample position to determine a respective adjoint radiance value associated with the respective sample position; emitting the respective adjoint radiance value into a scene model characterised by scene parameters; determining an interaction location of a respective incident adjoint radiance value with a surface and/or volume of the scene model; determining a respective incident radiance value or an approximation thereof at the interaction location; and updating a scene parameter gradient.

Abstract: Particular embodiments perform a light path analysis of an image comprising a scene, wherein the scene comprises at least one refractive or reflective object. The image may be decomposed based on the light path analysis into a plurality of components, each of the components representing a contribution to lighting in the scene by a different type of light interaction. For each of the components, one or more motion vectors are extracted for each of the components in order to capture motion in the scene. Finally, a final contribution of each of the components to the image is computed based on the motion vectors.

Abstract: Particular embodiments decompose an image comprising a scene into a diffuse component and a specular component. Each of the components represent a contribution to lighting in the scene. A set of motion vectors may be extracted in order to capture motion in the scene. Finally, a final contribution of each of the components to the image may be computed based on the motion vectors.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for rendering three-dimensional virtual environments using reversible jumps are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, mappings from random numbers to light paths are modeled as an explicit iterative random walk. Inverses of path construction techniques are employed to turn light transport paths back into the random numbers that produced them. In particular, such inverses may be used to extend the Multiplexed Metropolis Light Transport (MMLT) technique to perform path-invariant perturbations that produce a new path sample using a different path construction technique but preserve the path's geometry.

Abstract: Techniques are described for designing and manufacturing a surface that produces a desired image when illuminated by a light source. As described, the desired image may be decomposed into a collection of Gaussian kernels (referred to as Gaussians). A shape of a micropatch lens corresponding to each Gaussian may be determined, and the resulting micropatch lenses may be assembled to form a highly continuous surface that will cast an approximation of the desired image formed form the sum of a plurality of Gaussian caustics. The disclosed techniques may be used to create a design for a light-redirecting surface amenable to milling (or other manufacturing process).

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for rendering three-dimensional virtual environments using reversible jumps are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, mappings from random numbers to light paths are modeled as an explicit iterative random walk. Inverses of path construction techniques are employed to turn light transport paths back into the random numbers that produced them. In particular, such inverses may be used to extend the Multiplexed Metropolis Light Transport (MMLT) technique to perform path-invariant perturbations that produce a new path sample using a different path construction technique but preserve the path's geometry.

Abstract: Particular embodiments perform a light path analysis of an image comprising a scene, wherein the scene comprises at least one refractive or reflective object. The image may be decomposed based on the light path analysis into a plurality of components, each of the components representing a contribution to lighting in the scene by a different type of light interaction. For each of the components, one or more motion vectors are extracted for each of the components in order to capture motion in the scene. Finally, a final contribution of each of the components to the image is computed based on the motion vectors.

Abstract: Particular embodiments decompose an image comprising a scene into a diffuse component and a specular component. Each of the components represent a contribution to lighting in the scene. A set of motion vectors may be extracted in order to capture motion in the scene. Finally, a final contribution of each of the components to the image may be computed based on the motion vectors.

Abstract: Techniques are described for designing and manufacturing a surface that produces a desired image when illuminated by a light source. As described, the desired image may be decomposed into a collection of Gaussian kernels (referred to as Gaussians). A shape of a micropatch lens corresponding to each Gaussian may be determined, and the resulting micropatch lenses may be assembled to form a highly continuous surface that will cast an approximation of the desired image formed form the sum of a plurality of Gaussian caustics. The disclosed techniques may be used to create a design for a light-redirecting surface amenable to milling (or other manufacturing process).

Abstract: Techniques are described for designing and manufacturing a surface that produces a desired image when illuminated by a light source. As described, the desired image may be decomposed into a collection of Gaussian kernels (referred to as Gaussians). A shape of a micropatch lens corresponding to each Gaussian may be determined, and the resulting micropatch lenses may be assembled to form a highly continuous surface that will cast an approximation of the desired image formed form the sum of a plurality of Gaussian caustics. The disclosed techniques may be used to create a design for a light-redirecting surface amenable to milling (or other manufacturing process).

Abstract: State-of-the-art density estimation methods for rendering participating media rely on a dense photon representation of the radiance distribution within a scene. A parametric density estimation technique is used to represent radiance using a hierarchical Gaussian mixture. Coefficients of this mixture are efficiently obtained for use in a progressive and accelerated form of the Expectation-Maximization algorithm. Noise-free renderings of high-frequency illumination are created using only a few thousand Gaussian terms, where millions of photons are traditionally required. Temporal coherence is trivially supported within this framework, and the compact footprint is also useful in the context of real-time visualization. A hierarchical ray tracing-based implementation is demonstrated, as well as a fast splatting approach that can interactively render animated volume caustics.

Abstract: Techniques are described for designing and manufacturing a surface that produces a desired image when illuminated by a light source. As described, the desired image may be decomposed into a collection of Gaussian kernels (referred to as Gaussians). A shape of a micropatch lens corresponding to each Gaussian may be determined, and the resulting micropatch lenses may be assembled to form a highly continuous surface that will cast an approximation of the desired image formed form the sum of a plurality of Gaussian caustics. The disclosed techniques may be used to create a design for a light-redirecting surface amenable to milling (or other manufacturing process).