| Photorealism vs. Non-Photorealism |
The main thrust of the field of computer graphics in the last twenty years has been directed toward achieving photorealism.
Photorealism is the craft of creating computer generated scenes that appear so convincing that they are indistinguishable from photographs or film.
Each year advances in modeling, lighting, and animation bring the computer graphics industry closer to achieving that goal.
An equal and opposite challenge is presented in the area of non-photorealistic rendering.
Any rendering style that does not try to create a photographic look is termed non-photorealistic.
This includes:
scientific visualization,
emulation of traditional artistic media,
the creation of cartoons,
and more
Advantages to Non-Photorealism
Although photorealistic rendering techniques are preferable in some circumstances, such as for cinematic effects, there are many advantages to non-photorealism.
The general audience expects realistically rendered characters to behave realistically. Therefore, to express ideas beyond the physical and logical norm, in a way that is acceptable for the general audience, non-photorealism could be used.
In a photorealistic image, everything in the scene is rendered in fine detail, leaving little to the imagination. A non-photorealistic image, by not depicting every detail, allows the viewer to share in the interpretive process.
When creating an animation it is necessary to focus the attention of the audience on the relevant actions and elements in the scene. A viewer inspecting the fine details of a photorealistic scene can miss the big picture. Most non-photorealistic techniques employ an economy of line, limiting the detail in a scene, which makes it easier for an animator to direct the attention of the viewers.
Non-photorealism also has some practical advantages. By not depicting the level of detail required for photorealistic images, non-photorealistically rendered computer graphics typically take less time to create, take less time to render, and take up less storage space.
[Loose & Sketchy Rendering] [Disscussion] [User's Manual] [Examples & Tutorial] [Downloads]
[Photorealism vs. Non-Photorealism] [Who, What, Why, & How] [Advancements Made]