Perlin noise
Encyclopedia
Perlin noise is a computer-generated visual effect
developed by Ken Perlin
, who won an Academy Award for its use in the motion picture Tron
. It can be used to simulate elements from nature, and is especially useful in circumstances where computer memory is limited.
Perlin noise is a procedural
texture primitive, a type of gradient noise
used by visual effects artists to increase the appearance of realism in computer graphics
. The function has a pseudo-random appearance, yet all of its visual details are the same size (see image). This property allows it to be readily controllable; multiple scaled copies of Perlin noise can be inserted into mathematical expressions to create a great variety of procedural texture
s. Synthetic textures using Perlin noise are often used in CGI
to make computer-generated visual elements - such as fire, smoke, or clouds - appear more natural, by imitating the controlled random appearance of textures of nature.
It is also frequently used to generate textures when memory is extremely limited, such as in demos
, and is increasingly finding use in Graphics Processing Unit
s for real-time graphics in computer games. For example, Minecraft
and Minetest both use Perlin noise as part of their procedural landscape generation.
, who developed it while working at Mathematical Applications Group, Inc.
. In 1997, he won an Academy Award for Technical Achievement
from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
for this contribution to the 1982 film Tron
.
Perlin noise is most commonly implemented as a function
of either (x,y), (x,y,z) or (x,y,z,time), but can be defined for any number of dimensions. The function uses interpolation between a set of pre-calculated gradient vectors to construct a value that varies pseudo-randomly over space and/or time. Ken Perlin
improved the implementation in 2002, suppressing some visual artifact
s (see the external links).
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
developed by Ken Perlin
Ken Perlin
Ken Perlin is a professor in the Department of Computer Science at New York University, founding director of the Media Research Lab at NYU, and the Director of the Games for Learning Institute. His research interests include graphics, animation, multimedia, and science education...
, who won an Academy Award for its use in the motion picture Tron
Tron
-Film:*Tron , a franchise that began in 1982 with the Walt Disney Pictures film Tron** Tron , a 1982 science fiction film by Disney, starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan, Dan Shor and David Warner...
. It can be used to simulate elements from nature, and is especially useful in circumstances where computer memory is limited.
Uses
Procedural generation
Procedural generation is a widely used term in the production of media; it refers to content generated algorithmically rather than manually. Often, this means creating content on the fly rather than prior to distribution...
texture primitive, a type of gradient noise
Gradient noise
Gradient noise is a type of noise commonly used as a procedural texture primitive in computer graphics. It is conceptually different, and often confused with value noise. This method consists of a creation of a lattice of random gradients, which are then interpolated to obtain values in between the...
used by visual effects artists to increase the appearance of realism in computer graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
. The function has a pseudo-random appearance, yet all of its visual details are the same size (see image). This property allows it to be readily controllable; multiple scaled copies of Perlin noise can be inserted into mathematical expressions to create a great variety of procedural texture
Procedural texture
A procedural texture is a computer generated image created using an algorithm intended to create a realistic representation of natural elements such as wood, marble, granite, metal, stone, and others....
s. Synthetic textures using Perlin noise are often used in CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
to make computer-generated visual elements - such as fire, smoke, or clouds - appear more natural, by imitating the controlled random appearance of textures of nature.
It is also frequently used to generate textures when memory is extremely limited, such as in demos
Demo (computer programming)
A demo is a non-interactive multimedia presentation made within the computer subculture known as the demoscene. Demogroups create demos to demonstrate their abilities in programming, music, drawing, and 3D modeling...
, and is increasingly finding use in Graphics Processing Unit
Graphics processing unit
A graphics processing unit or GPU is a specialized circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory in such a way so as to accelerate the building of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display...
s for real-time graphics in computer games. For example, Minecraft
Minecraft
Minecraft is a sandbox-building independent video game written in Java originally by Swedish creator Markus "Notch" Persson and now by his company, Mojang, formed from the proceeds of the game. It was released as an alpha on May 17, 2009, with a beta version on December 20, 2010...
and Minetest both use Perlin noise as part of their procedural landscape generation.
Development
Perlin noise resulted from the work of Ken PerlinKen Perlin
Ken Perlin is a professor in the Department of Computer Science at New York University, founding director of the Media Research Lab at NYU, and the Director of the Games for Learning Institute. His research interests include graphics, animation, multimedia, and science education...
, who developed it while working at Mathematical Applications Group, Inc.
Mathematical Applications Group, Inc.
Mathematical Applications Group, Inc. was an early computer technology company founded in 1966 by Dr. Philip Mittelman, it was located in Elmsford, New York. It was one of four companies hired to create the CGI animation for the film Tron...
. In 1997, he won an Academy Award for Technical Achievement
Academy Award for Technical Achievement
The Technical Achievement Award is a kind of Scientific and Technical Award given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to those whose particular technical accomplishments have contributed to the progress of the motion picture industry and who are given a certificate, which describes...
from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
for this contribution to the 1982 film Tron
Tron
-Film:*Tron , a franchise that began in 1982 with the Walt Disney Pictures film Tron** Tron , a 1982 science fiction film by Disney, starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan, Dan Shor and David Warner...
.
Implementation
Function (mathematics)
In mathematics, a function associates one quantity, the argument of the function, also known as the input, with another quantity, the value of the function, also known as the output. A function assigns exactly one output to each input. The argument and the value may be real numbers, but they can...
of either (x,y), (x,y,z) or (x,y,z,time), but can be defined for any number of dimensions. The function uses interpolation between a set of pre-calculated gradient vectors to construct a value that varies pseudo-randomly over space and/or time. Ken Perlin
Ken Perlin
Ken Perlin is a professor in the Department of Computer Science at New York University, founding director of the Media Research Lab at NYU, and the Director of the Games for Learning Institute. His research interests include graphics, animation, multimedia, and science education...
improved the implementation in 2002, suppressing some visual artifact
Visual artifact
Visual artifacts are anomalies during visual representation of e.g. digital graphics and imagery.-Examples in digital graphics:* Image quality factors, different types of visual artifacts...
s (see the external links).
See also
- Value noiseValue noiseValue noise is a type of noise commonly used as a procedural texture primitive in computer graphics. It is conceptually different, and often confused with gradient noise examples of which are the Perlin noise and Simplex noise. This method consists of a creation of a lattice of points which are...
- Fractal landscapeFractal landscapeA fractal landscape is a surface generated using a stochastic algorithm designed to produce fractal behaviour that mimics the appearance of natural terrain...
- Simplex noiseSimplex noiseSimplex noise is a method for constructing an n-dimensional noise function comparable to Perlin noise but with a lower computational overhead, especially in larger dimensions...
- Simulation noiseSimulation noiseSimulation noise is a function that creates a divergence-free field. This signal can be used in artistic simulations for the purposes of increasing the perception of extra detail....
- Wavelet noiseWavelet noiseWavelet noise is an alternative to Perlin noise which reduces the problems of aliasing and detail loss that are encountered when Perlin noise is summed into a fractal.-External links:* at pixar.com....
External links
- Making Noise Ken Perlin talk on noise.
- Original source code of Ken Perlin's 'coherent noise function'
- Matt Zucker's Perlin noise math FAQ
- Rob Farber's tutorial demonstrating Perlin noise generation and visualization on CUDA-enabled graphics processors
- French tutorial about implementing improved Perlin Noise in C#