Computer Graphics Fundamentals

Computer graphics has three main areas of concentration.
1. Modeling
2. Animation
3. Rendering

Subdivision surfaces are the latest in the geometric modeling area. There are some unknowns in this area and is an active research area in the graphics community. There are many open problems for PhD ideas available in this area. We need breakthrough results in this area to have it being used in commercial products for manufacturing. Not having C1 is a major letdown. Also, booleans operations and other solid modeling operations on a subdivision surface are still a major challenge. Currently these are used in products aimed at video games and movies. These models will visually look pleasing and smooth but are not mathematically smooth. Manufacturing these surfaces will be an issue.

Inverse kinematics is an active research area in animation. Maya is the world leader in providing animation modules. Cloth animation and fur animation, particle simulation, crowd effects are recent additions.

Photorealistic rendering and fast and accurate global illumination for lighting effects is very active in the area of rendering. Many university labs are doing active research in improving rendering techniques. Cornell university comes to mind immediately.

More on further research studies in a future post.