Chapter 19 - Illustration and artistic techniques

Abstract

Illustration and artistic techniques is a broad area of active research. In applications such as scientific visualization and technical illustration, photorealism detracts from rather than enhancing the information in the rendered image. Applications such as cartography and computer-aided design (CAD) benefit from the use of hidden surface elimination and 3D illumination and shading techniques, but the goal of increased insight from the generated images indicates some different processing compared to the one used to achieve photorealism. Strict use of photorealistic models and techniques also hampers applications striving to provide greater artistic freedom in creating images. Examples of such applications include digital image enhancement, painting programs, and cartoon-rendering applications. One aspect often shared by such applications is the use of techniques that emulate traditional modeling, lighting, and the shading process. Some examples of traditional processes are paint brush strokes and charcoal drawing.