Depicting dynamics using principles of visual art and narrations

• Published in: IEEE computer graphics and applications Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 40 - 51
• Main Authors: Nienhaus, M., Dollner, J.
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.05.2005; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Acceleration; Artists; Assembly systems; Cameras; Comic books; Comics; depicting dynamics; Dynamical systems; Dynamics; Graphics; Humans; Layout; Narration; nonphotorealistic rendering; Production systems; sequential art; smart depictions; Subspace constraints; Three dimensional; Tracking; Vision, Ocular; Visual; visual narrations; Visualization
• ISSN: 0272-1716; 1558-1756
• DOI: 10.1109/MCG.2005.53

In visual art, a single static image frequently represents much more than projected 3D scenery. Artists include subtle visual elements outlining movements, indicating past or future events, sketching ongoing activities, or guiding the observer's attention. Artists have found ways to visualize physical as well as nonphysical dynamics of scenes using graphics techniques. In a sense, we can consider these smart depictions - a form of expressive, visual content adopting the styles of visual art and abstraction techniques. These depictions can serve, for example, as pictograms and signs that advise and assist people. They're also present in comic books and storyboards that effectively present dynamics and narrate sequential processes. Taking smart depictions a step further, we created a system that automatically generates smart, compelling images of 3D scenes that depict dynamics following traditional design principles of visual art, visual narrations, and graphic design, such as those found in comic books and storyboards. These media offer a rich vocabulary of visual art deployed as techniques to facilitate visual communication of a wealth of activities and events in static images. In particular, we can symbolize in a single, static image past, ongoing, and future activities as well as events taking place in 3D scenes. Additionally, we can take into account nonvisual information.