Subsurface Scattering and Ray Tracing Using Slim

I propose to implement subsurface scattering and perhaps caustics using only Slim.

The initial image I’d like to create would be perhaps a jade statue surrounded by candles, both of which would utilize subsurface scattering techniques.

After that, if possible, I’d like to work with milk in a glass and use it as an opportunity to explore caustics as well.

Here are three different glasses of milk using different kinds of subsurface shading.

New Turntables!

 

Eternal Time?

One of the real tricks to this project is figuring out what eternal time actually is.  I guess you could ask the question, “is time really eternal?” Some would say yes, some would say no. I tend to be under the impression that time really isn’t eternal. Everything is finite but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t certain things that can seem eternal or feel like an eternity to experience. The human experience is such  an incredibly short one compared to other things, that its easy for us to label anything that’s got a longer span of existence than us to be eternal. The earth, which has been around for a few billion years will eventually be stripped of its atmosphere by either the sun or us when the death knell comes. The seasons seem to be in constant cycle but even they can change depending upon the severity of climate change. Fire, water, wind, these too have a place as well as being eternal but even these things are not truly constant, only the atoms which they can be deconstructed into seem to be eternal since we know matter cannot be destroyed, here since the beginning of the universe.

Either way, I’ve decided I would like to do a picture video collage of the seasons. Something that has established itself to be eternal in the human consciousness but in reality is just as impermanent as everything else. Sounds kind of like a moody dive into Existentialism but hopefully the happy colors will cheer everyone up.

Video references

Color Studies

A rough mock up of two of my scenes with some of the more drastic changes in lighting. I would like to have a like of light streaming in the through the cracks and crevices of the little cabin and to give it just a generally dirty kind of look.

There Was An Old Lady (Rough Layout)

So there are a few things I already want to change, especially the shot of the old lady snoring at the end, the angle is incredibly boring.

There Was An Old Lady (Fly Turntable)

12 Principles of Animation Applied

I think this one so far is the best in terms of anticipation, staging, timing, follow through, arcs, and even a bit of squash and stretch when applied to the spider of my own animation. Especially in the stalking and unsuccessful attempt at catching the fly.

Awesome use of secondary action, timing, and even appeal. Carl’s slow way of doing things, his moments to process things that he takes, the overall body style which is very blocky helps give him a kind of appeal that is enduring and interesting to look at.

Closing thoughts on Second Life and Video

The idea of knowing anything in Second Life is a bit of a tricky one. In many ways for me, I had to rethink how my experiences were being interpreted. Interaction, race, gender, and even time became completely flexible and interchangeable. People and places may share similar characteristics to their real world equivalents but when examined, they are completely different. For example, the A&M campus in Second Life may have Academic Plaza in it as well as a recreation of Fish Pond but then again the layout is different, not to mention the large amphitheater that doesn’t exist in the real life equivalent as well as a beach where one can swim with dolphins.

The very idea of appearance alone must be reevaluated because we are dealing with a medium of pixels that can be reshaped at any time, the “human” appearance especially can be reshaped as easily as it takes for one to throw on another pair of pants. When I first began, I had to “shop” around for a new appearance. Unfortunately, to really get an excellent looking skin you either had to really look around or pay for it and the idea of trading in real money for virtual money is one that has yet to really catch on for me and probably won’t till the rewards become more tangible. In Second Life, appearance and even gender become only two dimensional. I had once run across a girl who was sending out some pretty strong signals over the local text chat. Even at this stage I became uncomfortable but became even more so when she began speaking and a male voice issued out from her.

Learning almost becomes a sort of trial and error in Second Life. So as I began to interact with others in this world, I began to relearn everything, almost like a kid but the stipulation being that its completely virtual.  As I continue to explore, I think of these experiences and how they relate to a real world perspective and realize that there probably isn’t a standard that they can be measured against and instead to just allow them to be in a new world unto themselves.

There Was An Old Lady (renders)

More Slurls

Alliance Virtual Library’s Info International

http://slurl.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/191/64/34

An awesome compendium of links to several different education related websites to the literature and history of areas all over the globe organized into this virtual environment. They even host an area were people can gather and listen to Jazz! Probably the best place I’ve seen yet that actually teaches you something interesting.

Bradley University

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bradley%20University/34/15/24

It appears that their goals are similar to A&M’s in promoting education but they make it much cooler. Multiple areas exploring scifi, mystery, genetics, and even religion. It appears they also have areas where students can gather and create discussion groups depending on related subjects.

IBM Island

http://slurl.com/secondlife/IBM/195/117/24

Very interesting place, its a huge sandbox but what is even more interesting are the buildings that appear to be designed for meetings, complete with a huge amphitheater where many people can listen to one speaker. It also has RSS feeds to different topics concerning new and developing technology.

Article about IBM in Second Life:

http://www-03.ibm.com/industries/retail/us/detail/news/N057747D16880B63.html

IBM is also promoting diversity with one of their buildings, created in Second Life:

http://home.earthlink.net/~eagleibm/

* Anyone whose interested in crazy models as well as cool particle effects should check out this world, especially the teleporter.:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Atlas/126/204/50