[Compositing CG into Live Action for Realism]

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

Two experiments explore the color perception of objects in complex scenes. The first experiment examines the color perception of objects across variation in surface gloss. Observers adjusted the color appearance of a matte sphere to match that of a test sphere. Across conditions we varied the body color and glossiness of the test sphere. The data indicate that observers do not simply match the average light reflected from the test. Indeed, the visual system compensates for the physical effect of varying the gloss, so that appearance is stabilized relative to what is predicted by the spatial average. The second experiment examines how people perceive color across locations on an object. We replaced the test sphere with a soccer ball that had one of its hexagonal faces colored. Observers were asked to adjust the match sphere have the same color appearance as this test patch. The test patch could be located at either an upper or lower location on the soccer ball. In addition, we varied the surface gloss of the entire soccer ball (including the test patch). The data show that there is an effect of test patch location on observers' color matching, but this effect is small compared to the physical change in the average light reflected from the test patch across the two locations. In addition, the effect of glossy highlights on the color appearance of the test patch was consistent with the results from Experiment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW2

Believability2

Suspension of Disbelief2

Special Case of Believability2

Technical Issues In Creating Believability3

3D3

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY6

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS10

Results10

Irréversible: Re-organizing Optical Boundaries12

Film CG Analysis15

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION22

REFERENCES24

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Over the years the advancement of technology has constantly allowed the industry to push the viewers' definition of reality. However, as technology advances, so do the viewers' ability to perceive special effects. What was once cutting edge is now often perceived as old-fashioned. This evolving expectation is important in keeping filmmakers on their toes. The ambition of a good compositor is to escape the notice of the average viewer; to create an effect so believable that the viewer wonders how such a fantastical world was captured on film.

The goal of this study was to understand what elements combine during the compositing phase of the film process to create a believable effect. To accomplish this, I first defined believability and analyzed many of the aspects that are important to its development. A brief history of special effects, most notably compositing effects, was included to help understand the development of ...