Our Scene
For our scene, we created a coffee shop. We wanted to make a scene that was realistic
and applicable to our daily life, rather than a fantastical or whimsical image.
First, we began with a background of a coffee shop that we projected onto a plane to
create our background. We blurred and scaled the image in Photoshop. Next, we created a
table and textured it with marble and simulated subsurface scattering for the most realistic
lighting. On the table we placed two mugs (created in Blender) and a teapot. For these objects,
we put a simulated glass exterior to model a ceramic finish. Finally, we add a plant to the table
as the focal point of our image; we found it aesthetically appealing to have a center of focus that
was off-center.

Assets
Downloaded
We downloaded obj files from TD3FM for the chairs, table, teapot, and plant.
Created
We designed the coffee mugs in Blender. We also used UV Mapping in Blender to
project the background image on a plane, and to texture the mugs and teapot. In addition,
texturing the plant required significant manipulations of the mesh. We broke the downloaded
mesh into two components (plant and pot) and then implemented separate textures via UV
mapping for each component.

Technical Contributions
Sub-Surface Scattering
We consolted a Nvidia article (http://http.developer.nvidia.com/GPUGems/gpugems_ch16.html)
to simulate subsurface scattering on the marble table. This was done by creating a new marble
material that extended the Material class. We then re-wrote the ComputeBRDF method to
modify the material and simulate subsurface scattering. In ComputeBRDF, we utilized wrap
lighting by adding color tint at transitions from light to dark lighting.

Table Without Sub-Surface Scattering Table With Sub-Surface Scattering

Shadow Rays through Transmissive Objects
We additionally simulated ceramic by allowing shadow rays to pass through transmissive
objects. Following the directions online, we extended the Backward Rendering program to allow
rays to pass through translucent objects. Then, we added a “glassy outer layer” that was slightly
larger than our object to our mugs and teapot to simulate ceramic.

Mug without simulated ceramic Mug with simulated ceramic

Partner Contributions
Marina and Leslie both worked together on all parts of the project. Marina worked more
heavily on the Blender aspect of the assignment by creating the models or finding the models
and texturing them in Blender. Leslie worked more heavily on adding objects to the scene and
placing them properly, and creating the proper lighting. They both worked together to implement
subsurface scattering and shadow rays through transmissive objects.