Lightscape
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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