Broad Area Colloquium For AI-Geometry-Graphics-Robotics-Vision

Computer Graphics with Real Light

Dr. Paul Debevec
University of Southern California
Institute for Creative Technologies
http://www.debevec.org/
Monday, February 10, 2003, 4:15PM
TCSeq 201
http://robotics.stanford.edu/ba-colloquium/

Abstract

Many applications of computer graphics, especially visual effects, involve convincingly combining computer-generated and real-world imagery: placing computer-generated characters in real-world scenes, or compositing real-world actors onto virtual sets. An important but subtle aspect of this problem is to realistically match the lighting between the computer-generated and real-world elements, making objects appear to be illuminated by environments they never actually were in. This talk will present techniques we have developed for digitally capturing real-world illumination, using captured light to illuminate synthetic objects and environments, and reproducing captured illumination on real-world objects, faces, and performances. The talk will include a variety of clips from computer animations and feature films to demonstrate the techniques.

About the Speaker

Paul Debevec received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in 1996 where he worked with C.J. Taylor and Jitendra Malik to produce Facade, an early image-based modeling and rendering system for creating photoreal architectural models from still photographs. His work with high dynamic range imagery (HDRI) and image-based lighting has been incorporated into commercial rendering systems such as LightWave and RenderMan and has helped influence recent advancements in dynamic range in graphics hardware. Debevec's short films including "The Campanile Movie", "Rendering with Natural Light", and "Fiat Lux" have inspired visual effects in films including "The Matrix", "X-Men", and "The Time Machine". In 2001 he received ACM SIGGRAPH's Significant New Researcher award and in 2002 was named one of the world's top 100 young innovators by MIT's Technology Review Magazine for his work to develop the Light Stage. Today Debevec leads the computer graphics laboratory at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies and is a Research Assistant Professor in USC's computer science department.
Contact: bac-coordinators@cs.stanford.edu

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