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Welcome to Rendering!

Welcome to Rendering!

In this topic we are going to explore how pixels are painted by solving systems of linear equations.

This topic contains two lessons:

  • Appropriate for all grades 5+
  • Learn more about the basics of rendering and practice some ray tracing and shading
  • Appropriate for the senior high school level
  • Discover the equations used at Pixar to calculate intersection points in three dimensions

Have fun!

Want to join the conversation?

  • piceratops sapling style avatar for user owhaley
    Just about how long does it take to create a full movie like that?
    (13 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user dodia.shreya19994
    This is a great effort by Pixar to spread education about the industry. The content is helpful to even those already working in the industry. My question, being a Lighting artist is that does Pixar consider employing people who do not possess educational qualification on paper, but have gained knowledge say via Khan Academy or other experiences?
    (14 votes)
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  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user R.Paul
    In simple terms, what is rendering?
    (5 votes)
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  • leaf blue style avatar for user Ethan  Garcia
    I have a good question, becuase I'm doing animation for the first time, within my own curiosity I would like to know if "Is it always necessary within having to ("RENDER") an animation in order for it to act as real as seen in movies and short films? If so then I would like to know more about it. Thanks.
    (7 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user KatatonicState
    Am I the only one having issues with the interactives for this lesson? The Ray Tracing interactive hangs in an infinite loop. The Matching Properties of Lighting also seems to not be working correctly. I have submitted an error report, directly, but since this has been an issue for several weeks, I'm beginning to wonder if it's me.
    (5 votes)
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  • hopper cool style avatar for user Hopper
    How long does it take to position the camera for the epic scenes?
    (4 votes)
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  • starky sapling style avatar for user Cherith Gray
    How long did it take to make the incredibles?
    (3 votes)
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  • hopper cool style avatar for user Mafu
    I'm a graphic designer, and I was wondering, how do they manage to render so quickly?
    (3 votes)
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  • duskpin sapling style avatar for user Mirra
    Khan academy is soo underrated! so much of content in her, its so useful!
    (3 votes)
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  • mr pants teal style avatar for user Beth  Jenkins
    I'm in a science research class and I am looking to do something in the field of computer graphics and animation. I asked my teacher about it and she was confused as to what kind of research I would do. Do you have any ideas?
    (1 vote)
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    • leafers ultimate style avatar for user Bryan Ray
      I assume you don't need original research (something that's never been invented before). Off the top of my head:
      Image filtering and anti-aliasing.
      Uses of imaging other than making pictures of visible light. This could touch on X-Rays, digital elevation maps, thermal imaging, heat maps, etc.
      The Bi-Directional Reflectance Function—a mathematical approximation of how light interacts with a surface.
      Techniques of Global Illumination.
      High Dynamic Range imagery (HDRi).
      The physics of color: Additive and subtractive colors and their relationship to one another.
      Simulation and dynamics engines: Modeling physical systems in a virtual environment. Fire, smoke, falling and colliding objects, and so on.

      There are topics in that list for any level of complexity from middle school to college undergraduate, and several have adjustable levels of scope that could occupy a two-week research project up to a full semester, or even longer.
      (3 votes)