Image Morphing with Feature Preserving Texture

Image metamorphosis as an animation tool has mostly been employed in the context of the entire image. This work explores the use of isolated and focused image based metamorphosis between two-dimensional objects, while capturing the features, colors, and textures of the objects. This pinpointed approach allows one to independently overlay several such dynamic shapes, without any bleeding of one shape into another. Hence, shape blending and metamorphosis of two-dimensional objects can be exploited as animated sequences of clip arts.     

A Practical Analysis of Clustering Strategies for Hierarchical Radiosity

The calculation of radiant energy balance in complex scenes has been made possible by hierarchical radiosity methods based on clustering mechanisms. Although clustering offers an elegant theoretical solution by reducing the asymptotic complexity of the algorithm, its practical use raises many difficulties, and may result in image artifacts or unexpected behavior. This paper proposes a detailed analysis of the expectations placed on clustering and compares the relative merits of existing, as well as newly introduced, clustering algorithms. This comparison starts from the precise definition of various clustering strategies based on a taxonomy of data structures and construction algorithms, and proceeds to an experimental study of the clustering behavior for real-world scenes. Interestingly, we observe that for some scenes light is difficult to simulate even with clustering. Our results lead to a series of observations characterizing the adequacy of clustering methods for meeting such diverse goals as progressive solution improvement, efficient ray casting acceleration, and faithful representation of object density for approximate visibility calculations.     

An Informed Environment Dedicated to the Simulation of Virtual Humans in Urban Context

In this paper, we outline the creation of an Informed Environment, dedicated to urban life simulation.We propose methods and tools for creating and providing the information necessary for animating virtual humans in a city using an Informed Environment. The Informed Environment is based on a hierarchical decomposition of a urban scene into Environment Entities providing geometrical information as well as semantic notions, thus allowing a more realistic simulation of human behaviour. In this manner, virtual humans can integrate with a certain kind of urban knowledge.     

Virtual Dunhuang Art Cave: A Cave within a CAVE

Virtual Reality can present historical places in a three-dimensional and interactive way, giving visitors a photorealistic impression of objects. Not only existing scenarios can be shown, but VR can also be used to rebuild scenarios that were damaged or destroyed a long time ago, giving new life to the cultural heritage. We used Virtual Reality to present the Mogao Grottos in Dunhuang. This cave site is one of the most important cultural and religious places by the ancient Silk Road. The presentation is to give visitors the impression of visiting the cave site and provide information about the caves, paintings and statues in an interesting way. To achieve this, we developed a new, intuitive interaction paradigm, which enables the user to explore the caves. To give observers a photorealistic impression of the caves and to create a feeling of immersion, innovative rendering techniques were integrated.
The resulting presentation combines Virtual Reality and archaeology to give tourists a realistic experience of this cave site and to support scientists in their research work.     

A Translucent Sketchpad for the Virtual Table Exploring Motion-based Gesture Recognition

The Virtual Table presents stereoscopic graphics to a user in a workbench-like setting. For this device, a user interface and new interaction techniques have been developed based on transparent props -a tracked hand-held pen and a pad. These props, particularly the pad, are augmented with 3D graphics from the Virtual Table's display that can serve as a palette for tools and controls as well as a window-like see-through interface, a plane-shaped and through-the-plane tool, supporting a variety of new interaction techniques. This paper reports on an extension of this user-interface design space which uses gestural input to create and control solid geometries for CAD and conceptual design. The application of gestural interfaces is a common method for interacting with virtual environments on a habitual and natural basis. The motion-based gesture recognition presented here uses Fuzzy Logic to support a predictable, flexible, and efficient learning process. This new interaction paradigm greatly increases the Virtual Table's suitability for design tasks. Traditional CAD dialogue can be combined with intuitive rapid sketching of geometry on the pad. Additionally, the resulting events and objects can be associated with scene details below the translucent tablet.     

Partitioning and Handling Massive Models for Interactive Collision Detection

We describe an approach for interactive collision detection and proximity computations on massive models composed of millions of geometric primitives. We address issues related to interactive data access and processing in a large geometric database, which may not fit into main memory of typical desktop workstations or computers. We present a new algorithm using overlap graphs for localizing the "regions of interest" within a massive model, thereby reducing runtime memory requirements. The overlap graph is computed off-line, pre-processed using graph partitioning algorithms, and modified on the fly as needed. At run time, we traverse localized sub-graphs to check the corresponding geometry for proximity and pre-fetch geometry and auxiliary data structures. To perform interactive proximity queries, we use bounding-volume hierarchies and take advantage of spatial and temporal coherence. Based on the proposed algorithms, we have developed a system called IMMPACT and used it for interaction with a CAD model of a power plant consisting of over 15 million triangles. We are able to perform a number of proximity queries in real-time on such a model. In terms of model complexity and application to large models, we have improved the performance of interactive collision detection and proximity computation algorithms by an order of magnitude.     

Computer-Generated Graphite Pencil Rendering of 3D Polygonal Models

Researchers in non-photorealistic rendering have investigated the display of three-dimensional worlds using various display models. In particular, recent work has focused on the modeling of traditional artistic media and styles such as pen-and-ink illustration and watercolor painting. By providing 3D rendering systems that use these alternative display models users can generate traditional illustration renderings of their three-dimensional worlds. In this paper we present our graphite pencil 3D renderer. We have broken the problem of simulating pencil drawing down into four fundamental parts: (1) simulating the drawing materials (graphite pencil and drawing paper, blenders and kneaded eraser), (2) modeling the drawing primitives (individual pencil strokes and mark-making to create tones and textures), (3) simulating the basic rendering techniques used by artists and illustrators familiar with pencil rendering, and (4) modeling the control of the drawing composition. Each part builds upon the others and is essential to developing the framework for higher-level rendering methods and tools. In this paper we present parts 2, 3, and 4 of our research. We present non-photorealistic graphite pencil rendering methods for outlining and shading. We also present the control of drawing steps from preparatory sketches to finished rendering results. We demonstrate the capabilities of our approach with a variety of images generated from 3D models.     

Texturing 3D Models of Real World Objects from Multiple Unregistered Photographic Views

As the efficiency of computer graphic rendering methods is increasing, generating realistic models is now becoming a limiting factor. In this paper we present a new technique to enhance already existing geometry models of real world objects with textures reconstructed from a sparse set of unregistered still photographs. The aim of the proposed technique is the generation of nearly photo-realistic models of arbitrarily shaped objects with minimal effort. In our approach, we require neither a prior calibration of the camera nor a high precision of the user's interaction. Two main problems have to be addressed of which the first is the recovery of the unknown positions and parameters of the camera. An initial estimate of the orientation is calculated from interactively selected point correspondences. Subsequently, the unknown parameters are accurately calculated by minimising a blend of objective functions in a 3D-2D projective registration approach. The key point of the proposed method of registration is a novel filtering approach which utilises the spatial information provided by the geometry model. Second, the individual images have to be combined yielding a set of consistent texture maps. We present a robust method to recover the texture from the photographs thereby preserving high spatial frequencies and eliminating artifacts, particularly specular highlights. Parts of the object not seen in any of the photographs are interpolated in the textured model. Results are shown for three complex example objects with different materials and numerous self-occlusions.     

Interactive Mechanical Design Variation for Haptics and CAD

A fast design variation technique for mechanical systems is presented. It is used to interactively optimize mechanical characteristics while "self-assembling" or satisfying large systems of mechanical constraints. The high speed method is central to providing inverse dynamics force feedback in haptics and control applications. Performance advantages with the use of augmented coordinates for inverse dynamics of closed loop topologies are also noted. The interaction framework allows manipulation of complex assemblies while maintaining kinematically admissible configurations though linkage and joint limit constraints. Furthermore, design variables such as link length can be treated as free variables and optimized to meet design criteria such as assembly dexterity. Assemblies with flexible bodies fit naturally within this framework. Thus, the contribution of this paper is the advancement of techniques in augmented coordinates for the kinematic and force feedback interaction with virtual mechanical assembly design optimization at force control rates.     

Efficient and Handy Texture Mapping on 3D Surfaces

There has been a rapid technical progress in three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics. But gathering surface and texture data is yet a laborious task. This paper addresses the problem of mapping photographic images on the surface of a 3D object whose geometric data are already known. We propose an efficient and handy method for acquiring textures and mapping them precisely on the surface, employing a digital camera alone. We describe an algorithm for selecting a minimal number of camera positions that can cover the entire surface of a given object and also an algorithm to determine camera's position and direction for each photograph taken so as to paste it to the corresponding surfaces precisely. We obtained a matching accuracy within a pixel on a surface through three experimental examples, by which the practicability of our method is demonstrated.     

The Hybrid World of Virtual Environments

Much of the work concerned with virtual environments has addressed the development of new rendering technologies or interaction techniques. As the technology matures and becomes adopted in a wider range of applications, there is, however, a need to better understand how this technology can be accommodated in software engineering practice. A particular challenge presented by virtual environments is the complexity of the interaction that is supported, and sometimes necessary, for a particular task. Methods such as finite-state automata which are used to represent and design dialogue components for more conventional interfaces, e.g. using direct manipulation within a desktop model, do not seem to capture adequately the style of interaction that is afforded by richer input devices and graphical models. In this paper, we suggest that virtual environments are, fundamentally, what are known as hybrid systems. Building on this insight, we demonstrate how techniques developed for modelling hybrid systems can be used to represent and understand virtual interaction in a way that can be used in the specification and design phases of software development, and which have the potential to support prototyping and analysis of virtual interfaces.     

Seamless Integration of Databases in VR for Constructing Virtual Environments

An approach for authoring virtual environments within the virtual environments themselves is presented, integrating a database containing arbitrary components that are used to construct the 3D scene. The issues important to a seamless integration of the database, such as multimedia data storage and database linkage are discussed, with the focus on the human-computer interaction component. A concept for a 3D database interface is described for query, presentation and usage of query results in the virtual environment. Finally, an implementation of the concept using VRML and Java is presented.     

Weighted Multipass Methods for Global Illumination

In multipass rendering, care has to be taken to include all light transport only once in the final solution. Therefore the different methods in current multipass configurations handle a perfectly disjunct part of the light transport. In this paper a Monte Carlo variance reduction technique is presented that probabilistically weights overlapping transport between different methods. A good heuristic for the weights is derived so that strengths of the respective methods are retained. The technique is applied to a combination of radiosity and bidirectional path tracing and significant improvement is obtained over the non-weighted combination. This method promises to be a very useful extension to other multipass algorithms as well.     

Stochastic Iteration for Non-diffuse Global Illumination

This paper presents a single-pass, view-dependent method to solve the rendering equation, using a stochastic iterational scheme where the transport operator is selected randomly in each iteration. The requirements of convergence are given for the general case. To demonstrate the basic idea, a very simple,continuous random transport operator is examined, which gives back the light tracing algorithm incorporating Russian roulette. Then, a new mixed continuous and finite-element based iteration method is proposed, which uses ray-bundles to transfer the radiance in a single random direction. The resulting algorithm is fast, it provides initial results in seconds and accurate solutions in minutes and does not suffer from the error accumulation problem and the high memory demand of other finite-element and hierarchical approaches.     

Observational Models of Graphite Pencil Materials

This paper presents models for graphite pencil, drawing paper, blenders, and kneaded eraser that produce realistic looking pencil marks, textures, and tones. Our models are based on an observation of how lead pencils interact with drawing paper, and on the absorptive and dispersive properties of blenders and erasers interacting with lead material deposited over drawing paper. The models consider parameters such as the particle composition of the lead, the texture of the paper, the position and shape of the pencil materials, and the pressure applied to them. We demonstrate the capabilities of our approach with a variety of images and compare them to digitized pencil drawings. We also present image-based rendering results implementing traditional graphite pencil tone rendering methods.     

一种基于多尺度小波分解的图象镶嵌技术

为了获得一种具有艺术视觉效果的镶嵌图象,提出了一种基于多尺度小波分解的图象镶嵌技术,该技术首先对原始图象的各子块区域和图象库中的每一幅图象进行多尺度小波分解;然后逐层计算各图象小波分解系数的标准方差和它们之间的相似距离,并据此从图象库中选取与原始图象中的各子块区域最佳匹配的贴图,再将其镶嵌到原始图象中的对应区域;最后对贴图进行逐像素的颜色校正,使贴图的颜色与原始图象尽可能一致.同时,根据人眼观察某个区域时往往通过取整或将细节取平均来得到一个总体强度效果这一视觉特性,使最终的镶嵌图象具有在近处看到的是各个贴图的内容,而在远处观看则是原始图象的总体轮廓的视觉效果.利用计算机来自动地生成这种镶嵌图象的实验结果表明,该方法是有效的.     

一种新的图像纹理表示方法

该文基于纹理元直方图导出了纹理的新表示方法,并根据正交镜像滤波器的小波变换能量的转换和量化来定义纹理元。此种,给出了数种小波纹理特征集的实验评价,此方法具有将Brodatz纹理分类的极好性能。同时还研究了数种考虑近似旋转不变性或比例不变性的变换。最后,引入了生成纹理直方图和形成二进制纹理集的特征空间的过程,而且纹理直方图和二进制纹理集的特征空间与颜色直方图是对称的。获得纹理的这些表示旨在为度量纹理的相似性和从图像中抽取纹理区域。     

一种新的离散格子气模型及其在自然场景仿真中的应用

自然气象场景的模拟与大气流体运动模拟密切相关。三维的离散格子气模型需要采用复杂的FCHC网格方能满足流体运动模拟的对称性要求。本文提出了一种基于翻转概率的离散格子气模型,在正交三维网格上实现了流体运动的模拟,在满足对称性要求的前提下,实现了离散格子气模型的快速模拟。本文利用该模型实现了云景仿真的模拟。实验证证明,这种模型对于流体模拟是有效的。     

一类新的正交矩-Franklin矩及其图像表达

该文定义了一类以Franklin函数为核的正交矩,称之为Franklin矩.Franklin函数是一类完备正交一次样条函数系.传统的Legendre矩、Zernike矩等多项式矩,由于涉及高次多项式的计算,往往会导致计算不稳定,特征空间维数扩展受到制约.Franklin函数是正交的,相应的矩函数可以使得图像分解后的信息具有独立性,没有信息的冗余.而且,Franklin函数仅由一次分段多项式组成,在计算过程中,避免了高次多项式的计算,兼具复杂度低、数值稳定的优点.通过对图像的重构实验表明,Franklin矩比传统正交多项式矩具有更好的特征表达能力.     

基于图正则化的受限非负矩阵分解算法及在图像表示中的应用

非负矩阵分解(NMF)是一种非常有效的图像表示方法,已被广泛应用到模式识别领域.针对NMF算法是无监督学习算法,无法同时考虑样本类别信息和固有几何结构信息的缺点,提出一种基于图正则化的受限非负矩阵分解(GRCNMF)的算法.该算法利用硬约束保持样本的类别信息,增强算法的鉴别能力,同时还利用近邻图来保持样本间固有的几何结构.通过在COIL20和ORL图像库中的聚类实验结果表明GRCNMF优于其它几种算法,说明GRCNMF的有效性.