Geometric Modeling and Animation = Computer Graphics 2

Registration

Lecture and exam in  Selma, exercise and password: Opal Course

Lecture

Course Overview

The course Geometric Modelling and Animation builds on Computer Graphics 1 and is split into three parts.

• Advanced Modelling
  Surface representations are introduced that simplify geometric modelling and geometry processing tasks:
  • Implicit surfaces support compact description of surfaces, simple defomation and combination operations as well as skeleton based animation
  • Subdivision surfaces bridge between polygonal models and NURBS modells through a discrete and simple to implement refinement process that generates smooth surfaces in the limite of infinitely many applications. Subdivision surfaces support adaptive rendering, surface compression and multi-scale surface editing
• 3D Scanning
  Image acquisition has revolutionized the ability of machines to automatically interprete our world because of its wide availability and the immense amount of image data available. Acquiring the 3D shape of objects and scenes is much more difficult even today where we have advanced 3D scanning devices. A big challenge is the necessary postprocessing into an efficient to use 3D model.
  In this part the most important 3D scanning approaches are discussed as well as the scan processing techniques necessary to build a 3D modell from raw 3D scans.
• Character Animation
  One application of 3D scanning is the construction of realistic avatars. The third part of the lecture discusses methodology needed for animating such avatars or other characters. The covered topics are
  • representation for ridgid body transformations including quaternions and dual quaternions as the foundation of articulated objects and their animations
  • skeleton extraction and rigging are techniques that allow to define for a given surfaces model (e.g. avatar) a skeleton and to attach the skeleton to the surface model in way suitable for character animation.
  • mesh skinning is a technique to map a skeleton pose of a rigged model to its surface mesh.
  • inverse kinematics allows to define skeleton poses based on a few constraints for example on the hand or foot position of a human like character. This can simplify character animation a lot.

The lectures follow a slightly different order as the description of the course overview in order to respect the interdependency of the different topics.

Schedule & Slides

Advanced Modelling A
15.04.26 Implicit Surfaces 1 (slides, demo windows, linux)
22.04.26 Implicit Surfaces 2 (slides)

3D Scanning
29.04.26 3D Scanning (slides)
05.05.26 no lecture due to Eurographics, video feed (see Opal)
13.05.26 Scan Processing 1 (slides)
20.05.26 Scan Processing 2
27.05.26 ... no lecture due to pentecoste

Character Animation
03.06.26 Rotations & Articulated Objects (slides)
10.06.26 Mesh Skinning (slides)
17.06.26 Dies Academicus
24.06.26 Skeleton Extraction (slides)
01.07.26 Automatic Rigging (slides^SS25)

Advanced Modelling B
08.07.26 Subdivision Curves (slides^SS25)
15.07.26 Surfaces (slides^SS25)

Closing
22.07.26 Exam preparation, Inverse Kinematics (slides^SS24)

Exam

mode: written exam ... for CMS, Bachelor and Erasmus students, and oral exam for all other students (refer to your study regulations to be sure!)
time & place: see exam office website
duration: 90min for written exam, other students see module description

Preparation

questionnaire: SS25
sample exam: SS21
joint consultation: tba

Sample Code

• Realtime rendering C++-OpenGL-Code samples of Nico Schertler GitHub (3D models: zip)
• Nehe Tutorials

Excercises

Supervisors:    Mario Henze, Benjamin Russig
Time & Place:  Wednesday 8:40 (1. DS), APB E023

The voluntary exercise consists of 5 practical assigments accompanying the lecture. By successfully participating, you can earn bonus points for the exam. For details, check the Opal Course.