SIGGRAPH 2008 Class:
Line Drawings from 3D Models


Szymon Rusinkiewicz, Princeton University
Forrester Cole, Princeton University
Doug DeCarlo, Rutgers University
Adam Finkelstein, Princeton University

Tuesday, 12 August 2008, 8:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Abstract

Nonphotorealistic rendering techniques, including line drawings, can be remarkably efficient at conveying shape and meaning with a minimum of visual distraction. This class will describe techniques for automated rendering of 3D models using a number of sparse line drawing styles, for both artistic and illustrative purposes. We will mathematically define lines such as silhouettes, contours, creases, suggestive contours and highlights, and apparent ridges and valleys. We then describe algorithms for finding lines efficiently, including object- and image-space methods, and discuss methods for stylization and level-of-detail control. Finally, we provide a brief introduction to concepts of visual perception, including the information content of line drawings and the effects of abstraction and detail on attention.

Class Notes (Preliminary – Final versions coming soon)

  1. Introduction to the Class
  2. Notes on Differential Geometry
  3. Annotated Bibliography: Published Research on Line Drawings from 3D Data
  4. Introduction to the study of lines
  5. Artists' line drawings
  6. Mathematical description of lines
  7. Perception of line drawings
  8. Algorithms for extracting lines
  9. Stylization of line drawings
  10. Abstraction and evaluation
  11. Controlling detail and attention

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