Projects

Hypertexture


Hypertexture is an extension of the procedural texture paradigm first introducted in [Perlin85], which allows one to create procedurally generated textures evaluated throughout volumes to synthesize the appearance of highly textural shapes (e.g., flame, fluids, eroded materials, fur) [Perlin89, Perlin98]. We are interested in applying these techniques as an aid to interactive visualization of complex fluid flow [see fireball at right] and light refraction models [see blue glass at right].

Continuous light refraction in particular is a challenging and potentially important area - in general, currently available optical components cause light to refract only at thin interfaces between media with differing indices of refraction. In a medium with continuously varying refractive index (such as in an atmosphere, flame, or other temperature-varying fluid), light travels in curved paths. The ability to model and visualize such light transport is useful for both analysis and synthesis of the effects of such light propagation.

People

Papers

Texturing and Modeling, A Procedural Approach by David Ebert, et al
Perlin, K.
AP Professional, Cambridge, 1994. chapter is entitled: Noise, Hypertexture, Antialiasing and Gesture
Hypertexture
Perlin, K. with Eric Hoffert
1989 Computer Graphics (proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH Conference), Vol. 22, No. 3.
Procedurally generated textures evaluated throughout volumes to synthesize the appearance of highly textural shapes: flame, fluids, eroded materials, fur. An extension of results from {\it Image Synthesizer} paper to shape synthesis.
An Image Synthesizer
Perlin, K.
Computer Graphics, Vol. 19, No. 3. (also in Computer Graphics: Image Synthesis, IEEE, Salem, 1988)
Combines five ideas for visual texture synthesis: (i) 3D space as the texture domain, (ii) an intermediate ``point/normal pixel'' format, (iii) allow arbitrary procedural mappings from point/normal pixels to intensity, (iv) a powerful primitive for introducing controllable noise, (v) an interactive language and environment for texture design. Used to create realistic visual textures of: marble, water waves, fire, clouds, oil films.