CS 348B - Computer Graphics: Image Synthesis Techniques

Final Project

Proposal Due:              May 20, 2004
Demo / Competition:  
June 6, 2004 (tentative)
Write-up Due:        
      June 8, 5 pm, 2005 

Your final project is to produce a realistic image of a real object or scene. The scene or object should be challenging enough to require you to design and implement an advanced rendering algorithm. The final project is your chance to investigate an area that interests you in more depth, and to showcase your creativity. To get an idea of our expectations, check out the images produced by past participants. As extra incentive, we are offering a grand prize that includes a free trip to SIGGRAPH in Los Angelos in August for the best image produced. Think about following when choosing a project:

Possible Projects

Here are some examples of challenging projects:

Resources

Your main task should be to implement cool rendering algorithms, rather than spending all of your time modeling a complex scene.  However, you do need to provide pbrt with a scene to render!  Check the RenderMan resources page for info about the RIB file format.  You can convert this file form to a pbrt scene file using the utility rib2pbrt.

Project Proposal

As a first step you should write a one page project proposal. The project proposal should be in the form of a web page. To submit the project proposal, send the url to cs348b-spr0405-staff@lists.stanford.edu. See due dates at top of this page.

The proposal should contain a picture of a real object or scene that you intend to reproduce. We suggest that you first pick something that you would like to simulate, and then investigate what techniques need to be used. A real object that you can carry around with you is best, but a good photograph or painting is almost as good.

This proposal should state the goal of your project, motivate why it is interesting, identify the key technical challenges you will face, and outline briefly your approach. If you are implementing an algorithm described in a particular paper, provide the reference to the paper. If you plan on collaborating with others, briefly describe how each person's piece relates to the others.

We will provide feedback as to whether we think your idea is reasonable, and also try to offer some technical guidance, e.g. papers you might be interested in reading.

Demo/Judgement Day

On Demo day (see dates at the top of the page), each group will be given 15 minutes to demonstrate their system and show some images that they produced. All demos will be in the Sweet Hall Graphics Lab. Remember to bring the object/images that you are modeling and reproducing. Remember, the goals and technology that you developed should be obvious from the image itself. After all, this is graphics. Late days are not allowed.  

Final Write-up

A couple of days after the demo, your final write-up is due.  Late days may not be used

Grading

The final project will count 1/2 (or more, if based on our judgement, we consider the project truly outstanding) towards your final grade in the course. We will consider strongly the novelty of the idea (if it's never been done before, you get lots of credit), your technical skill in implementing the idea, and the quality of the pictures you produce. Mega-lines of code does not make a project good.

When you are finished with your project you should submit the source for your system and any test scenes and images that you have created. You should also submit your original project proposal, and an updated version that reads as a two to three page project summary, more or less of the same format as the project proposal, but with a brief results section and any conclusions or comments you have based on your experience.

You are permitted to work in small groups, but each person will be graded individually. A good group project is a system consisting of a collection of well defined subsystems. Each subsystem should be the responsibility of one person and be clearly identified as their project. A good criteria for whether you should work in a group is whether the system as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts!

Rendering Prize

To provide additional incentive, we are offering several prizes for the best images produced as part of the final project.

An all-expense-paid trip to SIGGRAPH 2004 for one (worth about $1000).

To be determined.

A book on rendering.

The jury will be announced soon.