Courses   Conference 8-13 August 1999   Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles, California USA   SIGGRAPH 99 Courses provide a diverse learning opportunity for all practitioners of the trade. Course topics range from those dealing with artistic design issues to visualizing complex data sets. New for SIGGRAPH 99: four Impact Papers, selected by the Papers Jury for the overall impact they are expected to have on the industry, will be presented as tutorials on Tuesday, 10 August, during the Courses program. A total of 24 full-day and 12 half-day courses, and 10 tutorials are scheduled.   "More courses were proposed this year than in the past six years dealing with artistic issues, and the program reflects the growing need for education in this area. As always, the wide range of course offerings supports the diverse populations that SIGGRAPH embodies and embraces, newcomers in the field as well as the most advanced practitioner," said Barb Helfer, The Ohio State University, SIGGRAPH 99 Courses Chair. "The Impact Papers will be a learning experience like no other, an opportunity to hear in-depth presentations on concepts that the Papers Jury feel will have the most significance to the industry."   Courses Highlights   Case Study: Scanning Michelangelo's Florentine Pieta Organizer: Holly Rushmeier, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center   Summary of a recent project to create a 3D digital model of Michelangelo's Florentine Pietá. The emphasis is on practical issues such as equipment selection and modification, planning data acquisition, dealing with the constraints of the museum environment, overcoming problems encountered with "real" rather than idealized data, and presenting the form that is suitable for the art historian who is the end user.   Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Organizers: Nahum Gershon and Betty Edwards, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, Inc.   This tutorial presents basic strategies for accessing the visual, perceptual mode of thinking. This type of thinking is learned through the acquisition of very basic drawing skills and the acquisition of an understanding of the nature of drawing.   Introduction to Computer Graphics Organizer: Mike Bailey, San Diego Supercomputing Center   This course teaches an understanding of computer graphics from data to photons. It covers the fundamentals of geometry, interaction, hardware, modeling, rendering, and animation. Topics beyond just the fundamentals include virtual reality and graphics for the World Wide Web.   Non-Photorealistic Rendering Organizer: Stuart Green, LightWork Design, Ltd.   An introduction to and working knowledge of a range of techniques for non-photorealistic rendering (NPR). The course covers NPR's background, algorithms, and applications, and explains techniques that may be used to create artistic pictures from 2D images and 3D models.   A Practical Guide to Global Illumination Using Photon Maps Organizer: Henrik Wann Jensen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology   This advanced tutorial provides a detailed description of the photon-map algorithm for rendering global illumination effects including caustics and participating media. It features a more complete and practical understanding of the algorithm that goes beyond the information found in the existing papers, including a description of efficient techniques for generating and using photon maps.   3D Photography Organizer: Brian Curless, University of Washington   An introduction to 3D photography: the process of using cameras and light to capture the shape and appearance of real objects. Methods include both passive and active vision techniques ranging from stereo, structure-from-motion, and photogrammetry to imaging radar, optical triangulation, and interferometry. The course introduces these fundamental methods, provides in-depth analysis of several emerging techniques, and concludes with a field study: capturing 3D photographs of Michelangelo's statues.   Virtual Worlds / Real Sounds Organizer: Perry Cook, Princeton University   This course covers concepts, models, techniques, and systems for the parametric digital synthesis and simulation of real-world sounds and sonic environments. Emphasis is on providing well-founded methods and techniques for dealing with sound using parametric computational models, rather than processing and playing back pre-recorded PCM sounds.   A Visual Effects Galaxy Organizer: Jill Smolin, Cinesite Visual Effects   This course will present seven different projects from the finest of this year's roster of films, each focused on specific effects and/or techniques that break new ground, set precedents, or foretell trends in the industry. The sum of these presentations provides a comprehensive overview of the remarkable visual effects industry.   When All You Have Is A Hammer, Everything Looks Like A Nail Organizer: William Lorensen, General Electric Corporation   Marching Cubes is a powerful tool that goes beyond its traditional use as a medical surface construction technique. The tutorial reviews the history, implementation, and innovative applications of Marching Cubes.   Why Does it Do That? 10 Mysteries of Computer Artmaking Revealed Organizer: Anne Spalter   Important concepts behind solutions to 10 common frustrations faced by virtually all artists and designers using the computer, taught from an artist/designer's point of view using visual explanations, art examples, and live demonstrations of popular software packages.