[SCS dragon logo] 15-864 Advanced Computer Graphics
Spring 2006

Computer Science Department
Carnegie Mellon University

INSTRUCTOR:  Doug James (Asst. Prof CS & Robotics)
UNIVERSITY UNITS: 12
DATE: Spring 2006
LOCATION: WeH 4615A
TIME: MW 1:30--2:50 PM


DESCRIPTION:
This course will be a hands-on class on advanced computer graphics. It will cover major aspects of digital image generation: geometric modeling, computer animation, and rendering. The goal of the course is to provide a strong foundation for computer graphics principles, and provide a hands-on introduction to recent advanced topics, e.g., subdivision surfaces, real-time global illumination, and physically based animation. The course should be appropriate for graduate students in all areas and for advanced undergraduates.

PREREQUISITES:
Prior exposure to computer graphics (e.g., 15-462 Introduction to computer graphics) or approval of instructor.  Good programming skills, and knowledge of linear algebra, 3D calculus, and numerical computing will be helpful.

TEXT:
Various course notes and papers will be made available.

SIMILAR COURSES:
    Princeton, Computer Science 526, Tom Funkhouser [link]
    ...

METHOD OF EVALUATION:
Grading will be based on a set of programming and written assignments and a class project.

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:



CLASS DATE
TOPICS
Material   (Partly "CMU Only" access)
We Jan 18
Introduction
  • N/A
We Jan 18
Subdivision surfaces

Jan 23 & 25
No classes (SIGGRAPH deadline)
Loop subdivision sequence
  • Read subdivision course note chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Assignment #1: Subdivision Surfaces
Catmull Clark scheme
  • See assignment web page
  • Due date: Monday February 13 before midnight;
  • Late policy: Don't be late: 15% maximum grade deducted every additional day.
Mo Jan 30
Subdivision Wrap-up
Geri's Game (subdivision surface fun)
We Feb 1
Multiresolution analysis (MRA)

Normal meshes

Mo Feb 6
Mesh Simplification

Wed Feb 8
Progressive Meshes


  • CLASS VIDEO:  David Cohen-Steiner, Pierre Alliez, Mathieu Desbrun, Variational shape approximation, ACM Transactions on Graphics. 23(3), pp. 905-914, 2004.
Mon Feb 13
Streaming Meshes

Wed Feb 15
Mesh Smoothing and Fairing
Mon Feb 20+
Laplacian Mesh Editing


Also discussed...

FYI
Implicit Surfaces

Wed Feb 22
Point-based Models


Assignment #2: Thin Shells


Mon Feb 27
Wed Mar 1
Cloth Modeling and Animation

Mon Mar 6
The Conjugate Gradient Method

Wed Mar 8
Newmark Integration, etc. 
Subspace and multi-resolution integrators





Programmable Graphics Hardware


Character Skinning


Radiometry and Reflectance


Project Proposal
(due April 14 in class)

Introduction to Global Illumination


Monte Carlo Path Tracing



Biased Monte Carlo Methods;
Photon Mapping


Assignment #3:
Photon Mapping


Radiosity


Visual Importance


Visibility


Image-based Rendering