A Median Cut Algorithm for Light Probe Sampling
SIGGRAPH 2005 Poster
| Paul Debevec |
| USC Institute for Creative Technologies |
published in:
Reinhard, Ward, Pattanaik, and Debevec, High Dynamic Range Imaging: Acquistion, Display, and Image-Based Lighting,
Ch. 9, "Image-Based Lighting", Morgan-Kaufmann, 2005, pp. 430-433.
Abstract:
We present a technique for approximating a light probe image as a constellation of light sources based on a median cut algorithm. The algorithm is simple to implement, runs efficiently, and can realistically represent a complex lighting environment with as few as 64 point light sources.
Material:
SIGGRAPH 2005 Poster Abstract:
- MedianCutSampling.pdf, 3.0 MB. ( Adobe Acrobat )
Supplemental Images Poster Abstract:
- MedianCutSampling_plate.pdf, 5.4 MB. ( Adobe Acrobat )
Implementations:
- There is an implementation of the Median Cut sampling algorithm as an HDR Shop 1.0 plugin in Francesco Banterle's Banty's Toolkit beta 1.1, which produces a simple text file with the light parameters.
- The algorithm is also implemented in Jeremy Pronk's Image-Based Lighting Tools package, with support for Maya and Mental Ray.