Realistic Volume Animation with Alias

Abstract

Volume graphics has emerged from the field of volume visualisation. While the goal of visualisation has been to present real data (or data from simulations of real phenomena) in a visual form for better understanding, graphics has been concerned with producing real-looking images, mostly by synthetic means. Volume graphics presents a meeting point for the two in that it allows the manipulation and interaction of real data and synthetic objects. Volumetric animation offers some advantages over polygonal animation. Translucency and atmospheric effects can be achieved without special rendering considerations. Volumetric models can be broken into pieces without the need for creating new models for each piece. Computer graphics animation is the integration of several streams like modelling, manipulation and rendering and, of course, story-telling and visual art. In order to incorporate volume objects into an animation, it is essential to address all of these aspects. There has been a lot of work on volume rendering in the visualisation community, but not as much attention has been paid to modelling, manipulation and deformation.