For some applications, such as design, you want images that look like
the objects will look if created. This is a harder goal than making them look
plausible. There are many algorithms that can be used for such predictive
images (e.g., photon mapping, Metropolis light transport), but few if any robust
implemetations exist. Our effort is to make predictive image synthesis really work.
Our basic strategy is adjoint particle tracing . This allows easy integration
of complex light sources and participating media as described in our
paper. Our
implementation is the galileo system where Solomon Boulos and
Keith Morley have been the main developers.
Pete Shirley /
11/12/06
