Nature in computer graphics
a survey
by Shaun Kichenbrand

Contents   Introduction   Trees   Water   Clouds   Atmospheric phenomena   Conclusion   Printable version   Discuss this article

Conclusion

This paper has presented the reader with a selection of issues that need to be taken into account when realistically rendering scenes of nature. Using some sophisticated models it is truly possible to recreate some natural scenes rather accurately. In summation: this paper has educate the reader on what needs to be done and not on the how thereof.

Future Work

A lot of research is currently going into multiprocessor support for computer image generation which is already exploited to some degree in [11]. Concerning raindrops, work is still going into the simulation of drop collision and reflection. In tree rendering, much work is still being devoted to the correct modeling of leaves and the dynamics of light through the semi-opaque surface thereof. On the subject of atmospheric phenomena, research is being done on the independence of refraction indices to aid in the animation of the effects. Finally, water dynamics are still a long way from perfect even though much progress is being made. Perhaps we should just accept that nature was never truly meant to be fully understood? Or perhaps tomorrow will hold another revelation and another faster implementation.

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