(Previously known as CSE274 Advanced Topics in Computer Graphics)
Discrete differential geometry. With prerequisite only in linear algebra and multivariate calculus, this course takes students over the following material. Through the course students are literate in differential geometry and have strong numerical skill in, for example, solving PDEs on surfaces.
Lecture notes for selected chapters:
Introduction to MATLAB and Mathematica.
Houdini is a 3D animation software by SideFX that is broadly used in filming industry. Its built-in shader language (VEX), geometric data structures, and its integration with Python (where one can call numerical linear algebra library such as SciPy) makes it a powerful tool for scientific computing and geometry processing. Moreover Houdini comes with industry standard renderer allowing stunning visualization. Its free apprentice license is fully functional, with only a few limitations in the resolution of rendering preventing commercial uses. Houdini has become a frequently used software for not only research demonstration, but also for teaching and generating illustrations for lectures and talks.