ri@pixar.UUCP (RenderMan Information) (07/21/88)
Pixar Publishes RenderMan (TM) Interface for 3-D Scene Description;
Receives Industry Support as Standard for Photorealistic Image Synthesis
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San Rafael, CA., May 18, 1988 -- Pixar today announced the publication
of a 3-D scene description interface, RenderMan, in an effort to
bring photorealistic image synthesis to a wide range of graphics
systems. Photorealistic image synthesis is the ability to produce
digital images of photographic quality.
The RenderMan Interface provides for a standard interface between a
modeler of complex 3-D environments and a renderer of complex 3-D
scenes of photorealistic quality. It defines a methodology for 3-D
modeling systems to attach visual attributes to geometric data. Visual
attributes include such properties as material, texture, reflectivity,
and gloss.
Nineteen leading companies have supported the RenderMan Interface and
many have committed to using the interface in their products.
Hardware suppliers supporting RenderMan include Apollo, Ardent, Digital,
MIPS, NeXT, Prime, Stellar, Sun, Symbolics.
Software suppliers endorsing RenderMan include Alias Research, Autodesk,
Digital Arts, Intelligent Light and Synthesis Software Solutions.
Other endorsers include Industrial Light & Magic, Pacific Data Images,
R/Greenberg, The Analytic Sciences Corporation, and Walt Disney.
Today, professionals in fields as diverse as architecture and
automotive design require scale models to test their ideas before large
financial investments are made in new products or structures.
Scientists also need to produce visually accurate simulations to convey
more information and learn new insights about the physical phenomena
they are studying. Photorealism provides accurate visual
representations for these and other applications.
"A lot of research work has been done to produce realistic
computer-generated images. However, it has not been accessible to a
large number of users because graphics standards have not addressed the
needs of photorealism," said Ed Catmull, president of Pixar. "We
believe that this interface proposal will enable the graphics industry
to make photorealism a standard capability. We expect a new industry
will grow to meet the demand for affordable photorealism."
"Over the last six months Pixar has been getting feedback from leading
graphics experts to ensure that the RenderMan interface specification
is responsive to the needs of the industry. We are pleased to have
these companies announcing their endorsement of RenderMan at this time.
We are calling on software vendors and graphics workstation vendors to
use RenderMan as a tool for 3-D scene descriptions," said Tom Porter,
director of advanced technology at Pixar.
Graphics standards like PHIGS and PHIGS+ have become important
frameworks for managing an interactive graphics workstation and
defining the geometric content of objects and scenes. However, such
standards do not address the needs of photorealism. The RenderMan
interface provides for that capability, in a manner compatible with
graphics standards like PHIGS and PHIGS+ and with interactive graphics
environments like Dore. The interface extends beyond the ability
to define curved surface geometry, providing sophisticated renderers
with models defined by photographic texture maps, procedural primitives
and a shading language for expressing surface and lighting
characteristics.
Founded in 1986, Pixar is the leading vendor of hardware and software
products for image computing and data visualization applications. The
company's expertise in photorealism has its roots in years of research
and production of highly realistic images for film. The company is
headquartered in San Rafael, CA.
If you have questions, please mail pixar!ri or pixar!renderman.
If you would like a copy of the RenderMan Interface specification,
send a letter to RenderMan, Pixar, 3240 Kerner Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901,
and include a check made out to "Pixar" for $15 to cover postage and handling.
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UUCP: {sun,ucbvax}!pixar!ri RenderMan, 3240 Kerner Blvd
ARPA,BITNET: ri%pixar.uucp@sun.com Pixar, San Rafael, CA, 94901