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Lightscape Viewset (light-06)
The Lightscape Visualization System from Discreet Logic represents
a new generation of computer graphics technology that combines
proprietary radiosity algorithms with a physically based lighting
interface.
Lighting
The most significant feature of Lightscape is its ability to
accurately simulate global illumination effects. The system contains
two integrated visualization components. The primary component
utilizes progressive radiosity techniques and generates view-independent
simulations of the diffuse light propagation within an environment.
Subtle but significant effects are captured, including indirect
illumination, soft shadows, and color bleeding between surfaces.
A post process using ray tracing techniques adds specular highlights,
reflections, and transparency effects to specific views of the
radiosity solution.
Interactivity
Most rendering programs calculate the shading of surfaces at
the time the image is generated. Lightscape's radiosity component
precalculates the diffuse energy distribution in an environment
and stores the lighting distribution as part of the 3D model.
The resulting lighting "mesh" can then be rapidly displayed. Using
OpenGL display routines, Lightscape takes full advantage of the
advanced 3D graphics capabilities of SGI workstations or PC-based
OpenGL-compliant graphic acceleration boards. Lightscape allows
you to interactively move through fully simulated environments.
Progressive Refinement
Lightscape utilizes a progressive refinement
radiosity algorithm that produces useful visual results almost
immediately upon processing. The quality of the visualization
improves as the process continues. In this way, the user has total
control over the quality (vs. time) desired to perform a given
task. At any point in the solution process, users can alter the
characteristic of a light source or surface material and the system
will rapidly compensate and display the new results without the
need for restarting the solution. This flexibility and performance
allow users to rapidly test various lighting and material combinations
to obtain precisely the visual effect desired.
There are four tests specified by the viewset that represent
the most common operations performed by the Lightscape Visualization
System:
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Test
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Weight (%)
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Description
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1
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Walkthrough wireframe rendering of "Cornell Box" model
using line loops with colors supplied per vertex.
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2
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Full-screen walkthrough solid rendering of "Cornell Box"
model using smooth-shaded z-buffered quads with colors supplied
per vertex.
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3
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Walkthrough wireframe rendering of 750K-quad Parliament
Building model using line loops with colors supplied per
vertex.
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4
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Full-screen walkthrough solid rendering of 750K-quad Parliament
Building model using smooth-shaded z-buffered quads with
colors supplied per vertex.
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