A WARPED PERSPECTIVE ON COMPUTER IMAGERY: PSYCHOREALISM AND MORE

Patrick Coleman
University of Toronto

Monday, Feb. 9th
7:00pm; 480 Dreese Labs
All interested parties are invited.
Refreshments will be served immediately preceding the talk.

Abstract:
Computer Graphics (CG) has predominantly made use of what is known as linear perspective, an efficient means of representing virtual 3D worlds as flat images similar to the way our visual systems interpret the world. Traditional artists, on the other hand, have long made use of multiple and varying perspectives to better express ideas in their work. In this talk, I'll discuss some of the limitations that linear perspective places on artists and graphic designers. I'll present techniques (developed with Karan Singh for an upcoming paper) that better allow artists to manipulate CG perspective for creative expression and effective visualization. I'll also discuss the manipulation of perspective in the context of psychorealism, and how it has been applied by Chris Landreth in his animated film Ryan, soon to be completed, along with some of the other challenges of bringing a psychorealistic world to life. No prior CG knowledge is required of the audience, but I'll be happy to entertain more in-depth discussion.

Biographical Information:
Patrick Coleman is a graduate student from the DGP lab in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. He received a BS in computer science and engineering from The Ohio State University in 2002, where he was a member of the Europa research group and president of UPE. His research while in graduate school has focused on character animation, geometric modeling, and applying the artistic use of perspective to computer animation. He is also a technical director for the animated film Ryan, nearing completion, where he has developed tools to help bring the film's unique world to life.

Host: Bruce Weide