GPU Gems: Programming Techniques, Tips and Tricks for Real-Time Graphics

Chapter 4. Animation in the “Dawn” Demo

Curtis Beeson NVIDIA

Introduction

“Dawn” is a demonstration that was created by NVIDIA Corporation to introduce the GeForce FX product line and illustrate how a high-level language (such as HLSL or Cg) could be used to create a realistic human character. The vertex shaders deform a high-resolution mesh through indexed skinning and morph targets, and they provide setup for the lighting model used in the fragment shaders. The skin and wing fragment shaders offer both range and detail that could not have been achieved before the introduction of advanced programmable graphics hardware. See Figure 4-1.

Figure 4-1. A ...