Level Set Methods in Computer Graphics A Practical Approach Based on OpenVDB

The level set method is a numerical technique for tracking interfaces and shapes with which one can perform numerical computations to create curves and surfaces. Recently released as a free, open source project, OpenVDB is an efficient tool for manipulating and storing volumes of creative data, such as smoke and similar amorphous materials. This book presents an easily accessible, yet comprehensive foundation of level sets and offers descriptions of advanced applications of level sets and OpenVDB from actual movie productions.

Theory: Level Set Methods. Motivation.Implicit Surfaces and Signed Distance Fields. Properties for Level Set Surfaces. The Fundamental Level Set Equations. Spatial Finite Difference. Temporal Finite Difference. Stability. Reinitializing and Interface Tracking. Advanced Topics. Implementation: OpenVDB. Previous Level Set Data Structures. VDB the Data Structure. Data Access Algorithms in VDB. VDB Specific Algorithms. Optimization Tricks. Applications: Level Set and OpenVDB in Production. Converting to and from Level Sets. Constructive Solid Geometry. Geometric Modeling. Segmentation. Texturing. Particle Surfacing. Volumetric Fracturing. Shape Morphology. Collision Detection. Ray Tracing. Appendices.