Authors:
Anna Semrau
and
Dariusz Sawicki
Affiliation:
Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
Keyword(s):
Fractals, Raymarching, Signed Distance Functions, Ray Tracing.
Abstract:
The use of fractal geometry in computer graphics enables the modeling of natural objects which mathematical description using traditional Euclidean geometry is difficult. However, fractals, due to their properties and specific description, create application problems, especially related to computational and memory efficiency. There are known attempts to solve these problems using graphic hardware and special algorithms. One of the methods that could bring good results is the quite old and rarely used algorithm of raymarching with SDF (Signed Distance Functions). The aim of the article is to analyze the possibility of using this method to increase the efficiency of fractal modeling. Demonstration application that allows testing various modeling cases has been developed, also taking into account the hardware of modern graphics cards. Research was carried out for 5 different types of fractals (Sierpinski pyramid, Menger sponge, Julia set, Mandelbulb object, fractal tree). The fractal im
age generation time and memory consumption were considered. For the Menger sponge, different model generation methods were also compared: traditional boundary generation and those using raymarching with SDF. The conducted research has shown that raymarching is a method worth considering. Moreover, the application of raymarching with SDF can bring many measurable benefits.
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