Communications of the ACM
Precomputing Speeds Up Cloth Imaging
This computer-generated image of a purple tablecloth is made up of thousands of tiny blocks modeling individual yarn crossings, so the "camera" can zoom in for fine detail.
Credit: Cornell Chronicle
Conventional computer graphic models can require far too much calculating for practical use, especially during the final rendering step, but Cornell University researchers say they have extended the idea of repetition to make the calculation much simpler and faster.
Normally, rendering an image of a patterned silk tablecloth took 404 hours of calculation, according to Cornell professor Kavita Bala. However, with the new method it takes about one-seventh of that time, and with thicker fabric, the calculation was about 10 times faster.
The method precomputes the patterns of a set of example blocks representing the various possibilities, which are then converted into a database the computer can consult as it processes each block of the whole image. For each type of block, the precomputation shows how light will travel inside the block and pass through the sides to neighboring blocks.
The researchers note the method also can be used on other materials besides cloth, such as finished wood and a coral-like structure. The research was presented at the recent SIGGRAPH 2013 conference.
From Cornell Chronicle
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