Project Ideas for Appearance Models of Computer Graphics and Vision

• Write a system that allows you to take a geometric model and an anisotropic BRDF and "comb" the direction of anisotropy. Use this to render a horse.
• Develop a self-shadowing theory for an anisotropic rough surface.
• Build a virtual gonioreflectometer and use it to simulate interference on a CD. Use this to render a CD as accurately as possible. Compare with reality.
• Model and render a human eye. For variety, you can also render a cat's eye (or any other that shows strong retroreflection).
• Model and render a snowman.
• Develop an appearance model for glaze and render some examples.
• Render Venus de Milo (we have the model) with a skin model that includes subsurface scattering.
• Render a glass of milk.
• Fit the Hanrahan-Krueger model to measured skin BRDF (data provided).
• Develop a reflection model for car paint.
• Develop an appearance model for a butterfly wing (including iridescence).
• Model and render a standard-issue Gates Building office chair. Make it look realistic at all levels of detail (for fields of view from 1 square cm to the whole thing).