Real Time Visual Effects for the Technical Artist

Visual effects (VFX) are one of the most complicated components of feature film and television creation. With advancements in technologies such as Ray Tracing and Virtual Reality, the visual quality of the real-time rendering engine in now rivalling feature film. Real-time rendering requires years of programming experience with advanced understanding in math and physics. As the power of the real-time rendering engine improves, so too do the interfaces for visual effects creation. With limited technical understanding, artists are able to create visual effects with the push of a button and tug of a slider. As powerful as the interfaces are, they can only expose a portion of the true potential of the rendering engine. Artists are limited by their understanding of the engine interface. Real Time Visual Effects for the Technical Artist is written for digital artists to explain the core concepts of visual effects, common in all engines, to free them from interface bounds. Key Features: Introduces the reader to the technical aspects of real-time visual effects. Built upon a career of over twenty years in the feature film visual effects and the real-time video game industries and tested on graduate and undergraduate students. Explores all real-time visual effects in four categories: in-camera effects, in-material effects, simulations, and particles. This book is written to compliment undergraduate or graduate level courses focused on the fundamentals of modern real-time visual effects.

AcknowledgementAbout the AuthorIntroductionWhat Are Visual Effects?Visual Effects RulesColor TheoryIn-Camera EffectsMaterial EffectsSimulationsParticlesConclusionIndex