Computational Aesthetics in Graphics, Visualization, and Imaging (2007)

Recent work in non-photorealistic rendering has produced results comparable to hand-drawn artistic images. Inspiration for such techniques has come from many traditional artistic techniques, such as pen-and-ink, to depict tone, depth, and shape. These techniques can create visually appealing images and increase understanding as is evident in their use in medical textbooks, popular science, etc. However, when computer-generated images are visually compared to similar hand-drawn images, studies have shown that subjects are generally able to determine differences between both images. This seems to indicate that there are different aesthetics associated with computer-generated images and hand-drawn images. This paper discusses the implications of varying aesthetics amongst hand-drawn and computer-generated images, focusing particularly on the application of stippling to provide tone and shape to an image. 1. Illustrating with Stippling From hastily sketched figures on napkins to complex medical illustrations, hand-drawn images have long been used to convey information to people. Often, the information being presented will be condensed to the most important detail