The Math Behind the Movies

Abstract

Have you ever wondered why the things you see around you look the way they do? A big part of my work as a computer graphics researcher is to answer this question, so that we can simulate real-world objects using computers. This work is important for creating movies and video games that are visually appealing to the audience. However, there are also many other applications of realistic computer graphics, such as training, product design, architecture, and others. In this article, I will tell you how we create realistic images of the world using computers, and how my work improved the way we simulate skin and hair in virtual characters. It will give you a new perspective on the magic and beauty of the visual scenery that we experience in our everyday lives and on the computer-generated images and movies that imitate these natural scenes.