CREATING CONVINCING AND DRAMATIC LIGHT TRANSITIONS FOR COMPUTER ANIMATION

Lighting and atmospheric changes are complex phenomena that exist in nature; therefore replicating them using computer graphics can be quite challenging. Subtle changes in light conditions can greatly affect the mood or perception of the viewer and has been an important component of film making. With ever increasing technology and computing resources, filmmakers continue to strive to produce such complex effects that enhance their storytelling. Light transition (e.g.; day to night), continuously moving light sources, and dramatic change in seasons have been the focus of experimentation for many films. Most studios have therefore developed their own pipeline to create such effects. This thesis describes some simple and efficient observations and techniques to create such convincing lighting transitions