Wolfgang Engel's GPU Pro 360 Guide to Image Space gathers all the cutting-edge information from his previous seven GPU Pro volumes into a convenient single source anthology that covers various algorithms that operate primarily in image space. This volume is complete with 15 articles by leading programmers speaks to the power and convenience of working in screen space. GPU Pro 360 Guide to Image Space is comprised of ready-to-use ideas and efficient procedures that can help solve many computer graphics programming challenges that may arise. Key Features: Presents tips & tricks on real-time rendering of special effects and visualization data on common consumer software platforms such as PCs, video consoles, mobile devices Covers specific challenges involved in creating games on various platforms Explores the latest developments in rapidly evolving field of real-time rendering Takes practical approach that helps graphics programmers solve their daily challenges

Multimedia: A Critical Introduction is a comprehensive guide to the new media form which has resulted from the application of computer technology to existing techniques of broadcasting and telecommunications transmission. The rapid growth of multimedia technologies such as the internet, e-mail and digital television holds the promise of a new 'information age' in which individual tastes are catered for, citizens become better informed, and new wealth is created. But are new media technologies really designed to achieve these utopian aims?
Multimedia: A Critical Introduction provides a historical, cultural and political context to the development of multimedia, as both a technology and a concept. Individual chapters address:
* the origins of multimedia in the unlikely interaction between the military and 1960s counter-culture: how the phenomenal US budgets allocated to US military research resulted in the microchip, and why the efforts of counter-culture computer hobbyists evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry.
* the wider democratic and cultural implications of multimedia in the wake of the deregulation of the media industries by 'new right' governments in the 1980s, which has led to the domination of the media by transnational conglomerates.
* issues of privacy and censorship in relation to new media, including discussion of cryptography, electronic surveillance, and attempts to regulate material such as pornography on the internet.
* the use of digital technology to create special effects in feature films

eBook available with sample pages: PB:0415121515

As animation software becomes more advanced and graphics become more refined, the opportunity to create informative detail becomes more achievable in your characters. You can't give every character the same facial contours anymore. Today's graphic engines and hi-definition screens enhance detail, and the features in your character can make or break the believability of your game or movie. Face It provides you with the resources that you need to ensure an accurate character model. By examining the skulls of people of different ages, ethnicities, and geographical areas, authors Patricia Beckmann-Wells and Scott Wells showcase the intricacies of the human head and face, and show you how to apply that to your models. Whether it be a Caucasion women in her 50s or an African man in his late 20s, you'll know how to properly shape a forehead, an eye socket, and even cheekbones to ensure the 100% accuracy of your 3D character.

The intersection of two disciplines and technologies which have become mature academic research topics in the 1990s was destined to be a dynamic area for collaboration and publication. However, until now no significant book-length treatment of the meeting of GIS and Virtual Reality has been available. This volume puts that situation to rights by bringing these together to cement some common understanding and principles in a potentially highly promising area for technological collaboration and cross-fertilisation.
The result is a volume which ranges in subject matter from studies of a Virtual GIS Room to Spatial Agents, and from an Environmental Multimedia System to Computer-Assisted 3D Geographic Education. All the contributors are well-known international scientists, principally from the computational side of GIS. It will be a valuable resource for any GIS researcher or professional looking to understand the leading edge of this fertile field.

The human face is perhaps the most familiar and easily recognized object in the world, yet both its three-dimensional shape and its two-dimensional images are complex and hard to characterize. This book develops the vocabulary of ridges and parabolic curves, of illumination eigenfaces and elastic warpings for describing the perceptually salient features of a face and its images. The book also explores the underlying mathematics and applies these mathematical techniques to the computer vision problem of face recognition, using both optical and range images.

Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines have become the de facto standard in CAD/CAM and computer graphics. This well-known book covers NURBS from their geometric beginnings to their industrial applications. The second edition incorporates new results and a chapter on Pythagorean curves, a development that shows promise in applications such as NC machining or robot motion control. Includes more than fifty new figures.

Personal multimedia communication is "the" major growth area in engineering today with many people across the world in industry and academia working on the design of future generations of mobile radio systems and source coding methods. Before multimedia applications can be truly successful in mobile environments, many technologically demanding problems must be resolved. In order to provide the user with a suitable end-to-end service for multimedia applications, complex systems, interfaces and coding schemes need to be developed. In mobile multimedia, the air interface bandwidth requirements are likely to be dominated by the needs of one key service: video. Even with today's most aggressive compression algorithms, the needs of video exceed the bandwidth available with existing mobile connections. Although available bandwidth will increase, with the introduction of UMTS and local services based on wireless LANs (such as HiperLan), it is clear that advances in radio technology and air interface design must go hand in hand with innovations in source and channel coding.
The purpose of this book is to present an integrated view of advanced radio systems, network architectures and source coding that demonstrates the state-of-the-art as well as future directions in this rapidly developing field. The book acts as a repository of ideas, design examples, and advanced techniques for research staff, practicing engineers, and technical managers alike. Since the contributions are drawn from international experts in both academia and industry, the book should be attractive to both practicing professional engineers and researchers worldwide.
Key Features
* Written by internationa experts in academia and industry, Insights Into Mobile Multimedia Communications:
* presents an integrated view of advanced radio systems, network architectures and source coding
* describes the state-of-the-art as well as indicating future directions in this rapidly developing field
* acts as a repository of ideas, design examples and advanced techniques for research staff, practising engineers and technical managers
* is unique in integrating both communication systems and multimedia source coding aspects with emphasis on the problems of mobility

"All problems in computer graphics can be solved with a matrix inversion." Jim Blinn
Jim Blinn is Back
Dirty Pixels is Jim's second compendium of articles selected from his award-winning column, "Jim Blinn's Corner," in "IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications." Here he addresses topics in image processing and pixel arithmetic and shares the tricks he's uncovered through years of experimentation.
Writing in the inimitable, engaging style for which he's famous, Jim's easy-to-understadn explanations and solutions make abstract concepts accessible to a broad audience. Dirty Pixels is an invaluable resource for anyone in the computer graphics field.
Teapots and More
Jim's contributions to computer graphics include the Voyager Fly-by animations of space missions to Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus; "The Mechanical Universe," a 52-part telecourse of animated physics; and the computer animation of Carl Sagan's PBS series "Cosmos." Jim developed many graphics techniques now in widespread use, among them bump mapping, environment mapping, and blobby modeling."

The three volume set provides a systematic overview of theories and technique on social network analysis.Volume 2 of the set mainly focuses on the formation and interaction of group behaviors. Users' behavior analysis, sentiment analysis, influence analysis and collective aggregation are discussed in detail as well. It is an essential reference for scientist and professionals in computer science.

New technology is being used more and more in education and providers have to be aware of what is on offer and how it can be used. This practical handbook demonstrates how interactive multimedia can be developed for educational application. Practical examples are included in the text from projects that the the Curtin Computing Centre has worked on in collaboration with its staff.

Aesthetic 3D Lighting: History, Theory, and Application delves into the history, the theory, and the practical and aesthetic application of lighting in the fine arts and 3D animation. In this book, animation industry veteran and lighting expert Lee Lanier examines the importance of lighting and its ability to communicate information to the viewer. Lee examines the history of lighting as applied to the fine arts, film, photography, and 3D animation. He discusses the use of light color, light location and direction, and light shadow types to recreate specific locations and to generate moods. He includes guides for successful lighting in 3D animation. Software-agnostic examples lead you through useful 3D lighting set-ups. Chapter-long case studies step you through more complex 3D lighting projects in Autodesk Maya. An accompanying eResource (www.routledge.com/9781138737570) features 3D model files, scene files, and texture bitmaps, allowing you to practice the discussed techniques in Autodesk Maya and many other 3D programs. The lighting techniques covered in this book include: History of lighting as used in the fine arts The scientific mechanisms of light Light types and light application in 3D programs Light qualities including shadows variations Basic and advanced 3D lighting approaches 1-, 2-, 3-point, naturalistic, and stylistic lighting techniques Replication of real-world lighting scenarios and locations Overview of advanced 3D lighting and rendering systems

Series Information:
Blueprint

An Introduction to Digital Media is a clear and comprehensive account of the development and future possibilities of digital media by one of their most authoritative analysts. Tony Feldman addresses fundamental questions about digital media and their potential use in our everyday lives. What are digital media? What is special about them? How do digital media systems work, technologically and commercially? And where is the digital media revolution taking us? Tony Feldman considers the new digital media in two distinct but increasingly converging areas: the world of packaged 'offline' media such as CD-ROM and the world of transmitted media, including digital broadcasting and interactive online services. He begins with an overview of the digital media landscape, and goes on to describe the impact of CD-based media and the development of a consumer market for multimedia products. Feldman then traces the equally dramatic growth of online services and the Internet in particular, assessing myths and realities about the information superhighway and its commercial possibilities. An Introduction to Digital Media concludes with an assessment of the strategic implications of going digital for media industries such as publishing, broadcasting, cinema and music, and considers the key role that individuals will play in determining the course of the digital revolution.

A practical guide for multivariate statistical techniques-- now updated and revised
In recent years, innovations in computer technology and statistical methodologies have dramatically altered the landscape of multivariate data analysis. This new edition of Methods for Statistical Data Analysis of Multivariate Observations explores current multivariate concepts and techniques while retaining the same practical focus of its predecessor. It integrates methods and data-based interpretations relevant to multivariate analysis in a way that addresses real-world problems arising in many areas of interest.
Greatly revised and updated, this Second Edition provides helpful examples, graphical orientation, numerous illustrations, and an appendix detailing statistical software, including the S (or Splus) and SAS systems. It also offers
* An expanded chapter on cluster analysis that covers advances in pattern recognition
* New sections on inputs to clustering algorithms and aids for interpreting the results of cluster analysis
* An exploration of some new techniques of summarization and exposure
* New graphical methods for assessing the separations among the eigenvalues of a correlation matrix and for comparing sets of eigenvectors
* Knowledge gained from advances in robust estimation and distributional models that are slightly broader than the multivariate normal

This Second Edition is invaluable for graduate students, applied statisticians, engineers, and scientists wishing to use multivariate techniques in a variety of disciplines.

Need to solve problems quickly to develop creative projects to time and to budget? Want to hone your Flash skills so you can concentrate on your animation? Then How to Cheat in Flash is for you! Chris Georgenes shows how to work from the problem to the solution - from the viewpoint of an animator who has been commissioned to create a job and is working to a deadline and to a budget. With his in-depth knowledge of the little-known secrets used by the pros to produce creative, professional animations, Chris is the go-to guru for designers and animators who want to create great animation, applications or motion design with Flash. Fully updated for CS5, How to Cheat in Flash CS5, is a goldmine of artistic inspiration, timesaving practical tips, tricks and step-by-step workthroughs that you'll wonder how you survived without it. Each techniques is designed as a double-page spread so you can prop the book up behind your keyboard or next to your monitor as a visual reference while working alongside it. Many of these workthroughs are real-world client projects, with the source files supplied for you to open and explore. With these real-life professional projects you'll discover how to: bring objects to life with cool motion effects, make it rain, snow or set your world ablaze, develop flash mobile applications and many more tips and tricks not found anywhere else!

Whether this is your first experience with Combustion software or you're upgrading to take advantage of the many new features and tools, this guide will serve as your ultimate resource to this all-in-one professional compositing application. Much more than a point-and-click manual, this guide explains the principles behind the software, serving as an overview of the package and associated techniques. Written by certified Autodesk training specialists for motion graphic designers, animators, and visual effects artists, Combustion 4 Fundamentals Courseware provides expert advice for all skill levels.

Used from Broadway to Britain's West End, QLab software is the tool of choice for many of the world's most prominent sound, projection, and integrated media designers. QLab 4: Projects in Video, Audio, and Lighting Control is a project-based book on QLab software covering sound, video, lighting, and show control. With information on audio, video, and lighting system basics and the more advanced functions of QLab such as show control, network capabilities, projection mapping, video effects, and cue cart integration, each chapter's specific projects will allow you to learn the software's capabilities at your own pace. In addition to the text, a companion website hosts project files, instructional videos, and more.

Matchmoving has become a standard visual effects procedure for almost every situation where live action materials and CG get combined. It allows virtual and real scenes that have been composited together to seamlessly appear as though they are from the same perspective. This authoritative step-by-step guide from one of the best matchmovers in the business allows you to master this technique that has been called the foundation upon which all VFX work stands. Author Erica Hornung (sr. matchmover for Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Matrix: Revolutions, and more) imparts her techniques, tips, and wisdom from the trenches that will have you matchmoving like a true professional in no time. Lessons in the most popular matchmoving software (Maya, Boujou, and others) are included, as well as tips and techniques for surveying on set, dolly moves, and operating nodal cameras. Individual chapters dedicated to object and character matchmoves show you how to matchmove for shadow casting, adding weapons and other objects, focusing on center of gravity, as well as complete CG character support. The downloadable resources include Quicktime examples of techniques shown in the book, as well as project files that allow you to master these techniques yourself by working alongside the lessons featured in the text.

This book will allow you to travel through time and space. To facilitate your journey, the editor has scoured the four corners of the earth in a quest for unusual people and their fascinating patterns. From Mozambique, to Asia, to many European countries, the contributors to The Pattern Book include world-famous cancer researchers, little-known artists and eclectirc computer programmers. Some of the patterns are ultramodern, while others are centuries old. Many of the patterns are drawn from the universe of mathematics. Computer recipes are scattered throughout.Although the emphasis is on computer-generated patterns, the book is informal and the intended audience spans several fields. The emphasis is on the fun that the true pattern lover finds in doing, rather than in reading about the doing! The book is organized into three main parts: Representing Nature (for those patterns which describe or show real physical phenomena, e.g., visualizations of protein motion, sea lilies, etc.), Mathematics and Symmetry (for those patterns which describe or show mathematical behavior, e.g. fractals), and Human Art (for those patterns which are artistic works of humans and made without the aid of a computer, e.g. Moslem tiling patterns.)

Discover the tips, tricks and techniques that really work for concept artists, matte painters and animators. Compiled by the team at 3dtotal.com, Digital Painting Techniques, Volume 1 offers digital inspiration with hands-on insight and techniques from professional digital artists. More than just a gallery book - within Digital Painting Techniques each artist has written a breakdown overview, with supporting imagery of how they made their piece of work. Beginner and intermediate digital artists will be inspired by the gallery style collection of the finest examples of digital painting from world renowned digital artists. Start your mentorship into the world of digital painting today with some of the greatest digital artists in the world and delve into professional digital painting techiques, such as speed painting, custom brush creation and matte painting. Develop your digital painting skills beyond the variety of free online digital painting tutorials and apply the most up to date techniques to your digital canvas with Digital Painting Techniques for Animators.

A global information revolution has begun. Converging communications and computing technologies are forming information superhighways, linking people and information interactively, at any time, in any place, via a combination of multimedia, digital video, sound, graphics, and text.
The challenge now is to understand the needs of people as the users of information superhighways and develop products and services that use the technological advances to positive effect. This is the first book to examine these issues. It shows that by focusing on users, a range of multimedia applications emerge which make more imaginative use of computing and bandwidth than the products of the current focus on application development, such as"video on demand."The book emphasizes the point that the information revolution will be driven by users, not the multimedia industry.
Information Superhighways is essential reading for those working in the communications, computing, and media industries, and in multimedia. It will also be of interest to students and practitioners in psychology, computing, and human-computer interaction.
Key Features
* Foreword by best-selling author Nicholas Negroponte, Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Senior Columnist for Wired magazine
* Discusses the importance of the coming information age
* Outlines need for innovation in regulatory policy
* Presents the idea of using multimedia to design organizations
* Describes multimedia-supported group working
* Gives discussion of designing media space
* Provides coverage of issues in user-centered multimedia development

This book is a comprehensive guide to buying and developing multimedia in the most cost-effective manner. Focusing on the human factors in producing multimedia, rather than just the software, Buying and Selling Multimedia Services is aimed at both buyers and sellers of multimedia services and draws on real-world anecdotes war stories from project diaries and first-hand experience, to provide examples of the key ideas delineated within the book. These are true stories culled from 25 years of working on both sides of the desk as a purchaser of creative services for a Fortune 500 company and as a producer and seller for one of the largest multimedia production shops in the country. This book helps the multimedia producer and buyer to recognize flaws in past performances and to anticipate situations in future projects in order to save money and eliminate boardroom confrontations. Accusations, altercations, and recriminations can be avoided and the bottom line enhanced with the production of an effective product targeted to a receptive audience. Souter examines the skills necessary to both the producer and the purchaser of multimedia, allowing each to see the others' problems and viewpoints. Viewing the multimedia project from both sides, as both buyer and seller, Souter highlights the issues which will allow for effective communication between parties, resulting in a better product and a more creative relationship among all involved. In the second part of the book, Souter provides a comprehensive guide to all the digital formats available, to help the buyer and the developer select the most appropriate for a given project.

Rapid advances in 3-D scientific visualization have made a major impact on the display of behavior. The use of 3-D has become a key component of both academic research and commercial product development in the field of engineering design. Computer Visualization presents a unified collection of computer graphics techniques for the scientific visualization of behavior. The book combines a basic overview of the fundamentals of computer graphics with a practitioner-oriented review of the latest 3-D graphics display and visualization techniques. Each chapter is written by well-known experts in the field. The first section reviews how computer graphics visualization techniques have evolved to work with digital numerical analysis methods. The fundamentals of computer graphics that apply to the visualization of analysis data are also introduced. The second section presents a detailed discussion of the algorithms and techniques used to visualize behavior in 3-D, as static, interactive, or animated imagery. It discusses the mathematics of engineering data for visualization, as well as providing the current methods used for the display of scalar, vector, and tensor fields. It also examines the more general issues of visualizing a continuum volume field and animating the dimensions of time and motion in a state of behavior. The final section focuses on production visualization capabilities, including the practical computational aspects of visualization such as user interfaces, database architecture, and interaction with a model. The book concludes with an outline of successful practical applications of visualization, and future trends in scientific visualization.

In this unique book the author explores the history of pioneering computer art and its contribution to art history by way of examining Ernest Edmonds' art from the late 1960s to the present day. Edmonds' inventions of new concepts, tools and forms of art, along with his close involvement with the communities of computer artists, constructive artists and computer technologists, provides the context for discussion of the origins and implications of the relationship between art and technology. Drawing on interviews with Edmonds and primary research in archives of his work, the book offers a new contribution to the history of the development of digital art and places Edmonds' work in the context of contemporary art history.

Catherine McIntyre, like many fine artists, created traditional art for decades before encountering the versatility of digital imaging technology. Free of her Rotring pens and scalpel, she now uses Photoshop to create her montages. Visual Alchemy explores McIntyre's sources of inspiration as well as her methods, offering an aesthetic guide to composition, color, texture and all of the other means of communication that artists have at their disposal. While these concepts and techniques make use of Photoshop, they will apply to any digital imaging program and indeed to any medium, whether traditional or digital. Featuring McIntyre's own art as well as that of artists around the globe, Visual Alchemy is an invitation to discover the artistic possibilities of picture making through digital montage.