IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics
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ISSN:
1077-2626
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Date (published):
Nov-2010
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Number of Pages:
9
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Publisher:
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
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Peer reviewed:
Yes
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Keywords:
Software; Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design; Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition; Signal Processing
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Abstract:
Graphics artists commonly employ physically-based simulation for the generation of effects such as smoke, explosions, and similar phenomena. The task of finding the correct parameters for a desired result, however, is difficult and time-consuming as current tools provide little to no guidance. In this paper, we present a new approach for the visual exploration of such parameter spaces. Given a three-dimensional scene description, we utilize sampling and spatio-temporal clustering techniques to generate a concise overview of the achievable variations and their temporal evolution. Our visualization system then allows the user to explore the simulation space in a goal-oriented manner. Animation sequences with a set of desired characteristics can be composed using a novel search-by-example approach and interactive direct volume rendering is employed to provide instant visual feedback. A user study was performed to evaluate the applicability of our system in production use.