Programmers building graphics systems or applications will value this well-written and colorfully illustrated description of advanced techniques. The book has two parts -- image synthesis, and animation -- and includes such topics as data representation, basic and advanced rendering techniques, procedural and functional modeling and anti-aliasing techniques. As an aid to understanding, four-color prints illustrate the different stages in image production. Directed at graphics systems programmers and graphics applications programmers, this volume is also highly useful in graduate courses in computer graphics, animation, and image synthesis. An exposition of state-of-the-art techniques in rendering and animation. This book provides a unique synthesis of techniques and theory. Each technique is illustrated with a series of full-color frames showing the development of the example. Categories: Computers & Technology Digital Audio, Video & PhotographyVideo Production