Particle animation and rendering using data parallel computation

Techniques are presented that are used to animate and render particle systems with the Connection Machine CM-2, a data parallel supercomputer. A particle behavior language provides an animator with levels of control from kinematic spline motions to physically based simulations. A parallel particle rendering system allows particles of different shapes, sizes, colors and transparencies to be rendered with antialiasing, hidden surfaces, and motion-blur. One virtual processor is assigned to each primitive data element: one to each particle, and during the rendering process, one to each pixel-sized particle fragment, and to each pixel. These tools are used to model dynamic phenomena such as wind, snow, water, and fire.