A
detailed
description of the Aerodyne Colorant Mapping Optimizer (CMO) and the
area of appearance engineering can be found within the
NIST
Appearance Research website.
Appearance prediction and appearance engineering both rely on
accurate physics-based models of light interaction with scattering
properties of 3D object surfaces. Although an object's appearance can be
purposefully influenced by configuring its shaping and surface
properties, its manifested appearance is also determined by typically
ill-controlled variables such as viewpoint and illumination. These
points are widely understood. Nevertheless, a point not widely
appreciated is that an appearance prediction capability does not equate
to an appearance engineering capability; appearance prediction takes the
design configuration as a given. Although a design configuration for a
singular viewpoint and illumination might be obtained by manual
iteration using a prediction framework, such an approach is hopeless for
achieving a design that best manifests the desired appearance over a
range of viewing situations.
Under aerospace industrial and government sponsorship, Aerodyne has
developed a physics-based computer-aided appearance engineering tool,
known as "CMO" (for Colorant Mapping Optimizer).
Out-of-the-box, it performs 3D materials-based camouflage design. CMO
operates using a palette of "colorants" (each possessing full
BRDF description, and potentially non-equilibrium light-emitting
characteristics such as fluorescence), and assigns colorants to a 3D
object's surfaces, to optimize various measures of visibility. It solves
the problem of determining what fixed coating scheme (if any) achieves
given desired appearances under various viewing/illumination situations,
using (a) coating selection; and (b) coating placements as its degrees
of freedom (for fixed non-dynamic coating scheme).
We delineate 3 distinct realms of CMO application: (1) conspicuity
minimization (camouflage); (2) conspicuity maximization; and (3) desired
appearance-matching. For example, under (2), we envision application to
the design of optimal visibility signage, navigation aids, etc. Under
(3), we envision application to design of physical material surface
schemes to manifest desired appearances (under various
viewing/illumination situations). This appears increasingly desired for
matching physical packaging to virtual depictions in e-commerce,
architectural lighting/coloring, theatrical set design, etc.
