WEEK5PAPER

WilliamT.Reeves,ParticleSystemsTechniqueforModelingaClassofFuzzyObjects

AndrewStrout
12/1/14

Inthispaper,WilliamReevesdiscussestheimplementationandtechniquesof
particlesystemsincomputeranimation.Hediscusseshowparticlesystemscanbeusedto
modelobjectsthatarelessdefinedthantraditional3Danimationobjectsreferredtohere
asfuzzyobjects.Hefirstgoesoverthebasicsofparticleshowtheyarespawned,have
attributes,andeventuallydie.Hethendiscussesthestructureofthesystemexactlyhow
particlescomeintoexistence,theattributestheymusthave(suchasinitialposition,initial
velocity,initialsize,initialcolor,initialtransparency,shape,andlifetime),andthe
mechanicsofrenderingthemtothescreenandeventuallyremovingthemfromthesystem.
Hethengoesintoexamplesofparticlesystemsatwork,suchasinStarTrekorfireworks
simulations.

Personally,Ithoughtthiswasanexcellentpaper.Itcoveredmanyaspectsofwhat
wouldbenecessaryinaparticlesystemrenderer,anditincludedmanyhelpfuland
informativefigurestodescribehowthesystemworkedandhowitwouldlookinaction.
Itsalsoanespeciallyinterestingpaperforhowitdiscussessomethingsoverydifferent
thantraditional3Dmeshanimationsparticlesarehandledinaverydifferentway,yetare
stillverypertinentto3Dcomputeranimation.Clearlythisisaveryimportanttopic
particlesystemsareveryprevalentincomputeranimation(particularlyin3Dvideo
games),andpaperslikethispavedthewayforsuchsystems.Thepaperisalsowell
organizedtopicsflowfromonetothenextwithoutfeelingdisjointed.Itcanbesomewhat
technicalattimes,butnevercrossestoofarintotherealmoftechnobabblejargon.

Itisclearthatthisisalandmarkpieceofworkintheworldofcomputeranimation,
anditcertainlydeservestobeonourlistofreadings.