Advanced computer graphics

Summary

This course covers advanced 3D graphics techniques for realistic image synthesis. Students will learn how light interacts with objects in our world, and how to recreate these phenomena in a computer simulation to create synthetic images that are indistinguishable from photographs.

Content

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

Nothing

Recommended courses

Introduction to Computer Graphics

Important concepts to start the course

We will rely on calculus, linear algebra and use basic concepts of algorithms and data structures. Students are expected to be familiar with the C++ programming language that is used in the programming assignments. 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Recognize and understand the physical quantities of light transport and be able to perform basic computations using pencil+paper
• Explain a range of surface and subsurface material models
• Explain the rendering and radiative transfer equation and show how to construct Monte Carlo methods to solve them
• Design and implement an advanced rendering system based on Monte Carlo integration
• Assess / Evaluate the performance and conceptual limits of the implemented simulation code

Teaching methods

Lectures, interactive demos, theory and programming exercises, programming project, project tutoring

Expected student activities

The student are expected to study the provided reading material and actively participate in class. They should prepare and resolve the exercises, prepare and carry out the programming project.

Assessment methods

Intermediate assignments (40%), final project (60%)

Resources

Bibliography

A list of books will be provided at the beginning of the class

Notes/Handbook

Slides and online resources will be provided in class

Websites

• https://rgl.epfl.ch/courses/ACG22

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/CS-440