Date of Award
5-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Legacy Department
Digital Production Arts
Committee Member
Dr. Jerry Tessendorf, Committee Chair
Committee Member
Dr. Donald House
Committee Member
Dr. Brian Malloy
Abstract
This thesis presents a method for creating immersive, Hubble Space Telescope inspired space vistas using volumetric modeling and rendering techniques. Scenes of vibrant stars, space dust, and nebulous clouds are assembled using variations of implicit functions, pyroclastic displacement, and wisp algorithms. Scenes are then lit using volumetric light scattering and deep shadow maps. A production pipeline is used to efficiently distribute tasks, with pre-visualization in Houdini, scene creation in Python, rendering in C++, and compositing in Nuke. Camera movement is utilized to create a sense of depth and scope with the ultimate intent of taking the audience on a solemn journey through a vast and vibrant universe.
Recommended Citation
Weeks, Christian, "A Journey Through Space: Creating Vibrant Nebulae Using Volumetrics" (2017). All Theses. 2685.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/2685