The Characteristic Map for Fast and Efficient VFX Fluid Simulations
Jerry Tessendorf and Brandon Pelfrey
June, 2011
Computer Graphics International Workshop on VFX, Computer Animation, and Stereo Movies
The Method of Characteristics is examined as a tool for making fluid simulation more efficient and effective in VFX production. A mathematical frame- work for a Characteristic Map is shown to be a general- ization of the previous methods called Gridless Advec- tion and Semi-Lagrangian Mapping. We demonstrate that the Characteristic Map can be used to modify a fluid flow post-simulation, including injecting higher resolution motion, and precise flow control from blend- ing Characteristic Maps.