[Algorithms] Re: Lightmap Terrain (dynamic range)

[Fredo D. <fr...@gr...>]

Right, displaying the high dynamic range of real conditions on a CRT
display (at best limited to a 1-100 contrast) is a hard problem.
See the thesis by Tumblin
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/people/jack.tumblin/
for very interesting discussions about the problem.

For dynamic conditions, one way is to try to simulate human visual
adaptation to attempt to provide a visual impression as close as
possible. 
There is a paper at siggraph this year on the subject
http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/pubs/2000/PTY+00.html
and I have done something on the subject too:
http://graphics.lcs.mit.edu/~fredo/PUBLI/EGWR2000/index.htm
(a much more comprehensive version should be available soon at the same
address)

But right, flares are crucial and very efficient at increasing the
subjective dynamic range of images.

Bottomline: the problem is exactly the same for cinema and video, so if
you're happy with the "sun impression" that you get on films, there is
no physical limitation with your CRT display that will prevent you from
getting teh same with 3D games. 

Fredo

--
Fredo Durand,  MIT-LCS Graphics Group
NE43-255, Cambridge, MA 02139 
phone : (617) 253 7223  fax : (617) 253 4640 
http://graphics.lcs.mit.edu/~fredo/