A master thesis from Aalborg University
A study on the perceived quality of smoke effects in virtual environments, using fluid systems and imposters.
[Et studie af kvaliteten af røg-effekter i virtuelle miljøer, med hjælp af fluid systemer og imposters.]
Author(s)
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2011
Submitted on
2011-10-03
Pages
75 pages
Abstract
This report is based on a set of concerns regarding the limitations in performance of home computers compared to the endless possibilities of modern visual effects, whose stunning looks often result in heavy stress on the user’s hardware. This inspired an analysis where alternative methods for portraying effects, and various methods for additionally reducing the amount of effect variables were researched. A technique was put together to attempt to create and portray a smoke effect with the use of billboarding, and a limited amount of possible viewing angles, so that the potential stress on the hardware was minimized, without the user noticing any difference in the perceived quality of the effect. Further research was initiated by looking into previous attempts to control the perceived quality of effects, and also on various methods for the actual creation of effects. Two different smoke effects were created, and each was rendered and tested in three versions, one viewed from all angles, one viewed from every second angle and one viewed from every fifth angle. The purpose was to attempt to conclude that effects could be perceived of similar quality when viewed from fewer angles, compared to being viewed from all angles. A number of test subjects watched and ranked the various examples and rated the quality in a quantitative questionnaire composed of a mixture between subjective and objective questions. It was concluded that the ability to reduce visual quality and still maintain the same perceived quality can be done, however it did not work with all the possible solutions. Additionally, limitations to the method were found, as once the test subjects watched an effect which crossed their threshold, the illusion was again broken and the quality perceived as worse.
Keywords
Imposters ; Smoke ; Fire ; Maya ; Dynamics ; Image-based rendering ; Visual effects ; billboards
Documents
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