I would LOVE to have a set of open-source, scientifically-accurate preset materials to choose from so that I don't have to figure out all the physics properties for each substance each time I create a material.
For example, I would love to have presets for: water, gas, glass, metal, stone, clay, fabric, leather, skin, plastic, fire, etc.
Ideally, the physics properties of the presets would be true to life, using the same technical data physicists use.
In the short-term perspective, such accuracy will guarantee the most realistic renderings/simulations.
In the long-term perspective, the accuracy could be of great importance when 3D scanning & printing become more mainstream.
Is there an ongoing move to collect material data from physics labs and make sure the data is formatted in such a way as to be useable by the CGI industry and the 3D scanning/printing industry?
It seems to me such a merger is the inevitable future of CGI, 3D scanning/printing and engineering in general.
I know currently Epic Games, as part of the company’s $100 million Epic MegaGrants program, is
awarding the Blender Foundation $1.2 million in cash to further the success of Blender, the free and open source 3D creation suite that supports the full range of tools empowering artists to create 3D graphics, animation, special effects or games.
The Epic MegaGrants initiative is designed to assist game developers, enterprise professionals, media and entertainment creators, students, educators, and tool developers doing outstanding work with Unreal Engine or enhancing open-source capabilities for the 3D graphics community.
Perhaps Adobe, the 3D scanning/printing field, and the engineering fields should begin working with Epic Games and/or Hollywood CGI companies to formulate a roadmap for future integration of all these industries and their respective platforms.
Perhaps material data could be gathered from sources such as:
- national laboratories like
Jefferson Lab or
Fermilab- academic institutions like
MIT- engineering platforms like
MATLABIdeally, I'd love to see kids playing with modeling software on platforms like
Hack, people
repairing broken products at home via 3D scanning/printing, and high school students producing award-winning Hollywood movies on shoestring budgets in their spare time.
How can I help stimulate/facilitate this vision and merger of industries?