Computer Animation: Algorithms and Techniques 3rd edition

This text is for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students in computer science; it will also be of interest to graphics programmers and digital animators. Coverage is intentionally limited to practical aspects of computer algorithms and programming techniques for specifying and generating motion for graphical objects in 3D computer animation, with no discussion of theory, aesthetics, or production. In some cases, programming examples are complete working code segments in C, which can be copied, compiled, and run to produce examples of the algorithms discussed. Other examples present C-like pseudocode that can be translated into working code. Appendices offer primers and refreshers on rendering issues, vector algebra, and attributes of film, video, and image formats. The text is illustrated with color and b&w images and screenshots. A companion website contains images, code, and figures. Parent teaches at Ohio State University. Morgan Kaufman is an imprint of Elsevier. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Driven by demand from the entertainment industry for better and more realistic animation, technology continues to evolve and improve. The algorithms and techniques behind this technology are the foundation of this comprehensive book, which is written to teach you the fundamentals of animation programming. In this third edition, the most current techniques are covered along with the theory and high-level computation that have earned the book a reputation as the best technically-oriented animation resource. Key topics such as fluids, hair, and crowd animation have been expanded, and extensive new coverage of clothes and cloth has been added. New material on simulation provides a more diverse look at this important area and more example animations and chapter projects and exercises are included. Additionally, spline coverage has been expanded and new video compression and formats (e.g., iTunes) are covered.* Includes companion site with contemporary animation examples drawn from research and entertainment, sample animations, and example code * Describes the key mathematical and algorithmic foundations of animation that provide you with a deep understanding and control of technique * Expanded and new coverage of key topics including: fluids and clouds, cloth and clothes, hair, and crowd animation * Explains the algorithms used for path following, hierarchical kinematic modelling, rigid body dynamics, flocking behaviour, particle systems, collision detection, and more