All posts by clement

Game Design

5-Player Wireless Pacman Joysticks

5 Player 3D Pacman By Dr. Clement Shimizu and Keita Takahashi

For Keita Takahashi’s Zooming Out exhibition at Telfair museum, Dr. Clement Shimizu was invited to develop a new iteration of 3D-Pacman. Keita Takahashi requested a 5 player pacman slightly tweaked rules. Because of the immersive nature of the space, the installation called for 5x wireless arcade joysticks color coded to Inky, Blinky, Pinky, Clyde, and Pacman. It was also important that the joysticks stay paired so the color codes would stay paired and consistently color coded.

I ended up building my own 2.4 GHz wireless joystick system that would keep all consistent and reliable without having to deal with bluetooth pairing which can be problematic in a museum environment. My friend Trevor McDonald helped with 3D printing the enclosures.

Wiring diagram for the joystick. Notice the NRF24L01 wireless communication daughter board.

3D Pacman Game Dr. Clement Shimizu and Keita Takahashi
Original Pacman Game By: Toru Iwatani property of Namco Bandai
Original 3D Pacman game for Babycastles
3D Printing by: Trevor McDonald
Feb 2019 Telfair Museum

3D Projection System Sponsored By Elumenati
https://www.elumenati.com/news/3d-pacman-immersive-gaming-at-the-telfair-museum/
Download the electronics wiring diagram here:
https://gitlab.com/drclementshimizu/3dpacman-joystick-electronics
and the 3D printing model here:
https://3dmixers.com/m/171776-ergonomic-joystick-box-with-button-plain-pac-man-style

Final Product. Notice how the joystick and LED buttons are color coded to the ghosts and of course pacman.
Video Art

Robot Dancer

Carol Trindade’s dance moves are controlled by joystick movements and button presses.

I built a video game-style joystick system to control a human dancer pretending to be a robot. The system would transmit a graphic of the joystick moves and button presses to a covert electronic status display for the dancer to incorporate into physical dance moves. Carol Trindade performed as the dancer for @LoadingFestival in downtown Miami. To comply with COVID best practices, Carol was dancing inside of clear glass box while passers by would use the joystick which was located on the other side of the glass box.

For @LoadingFestival in Downtown Miami March 14/2021
Concept, Hardware and software by Dr. Clement Shimizu
Robot Dancer performance by @CarolTrindadeArtist

Game Design

Pirate Jam 2020

I was invited back for Pirate Jam 2020. It was a crazy time because when we started the trip it was at the rising edge of COVID. In this video, you can see me talk about combining stop motion clay animation with 2D sprite animation game engine technology to animate a Dragon. You can see the final game and makeshift arcade cabinet below.

Game Design, Visualization

Super CubeMapper

Super CubeMapper is a simple yet advanced solution to generate and send real-time cube maps or 360 equirectangular texture maps from Unity3d based applications to other applications via texture sharing (Spout, Syphon, NDI).

Dr. Clement Shimizu and the Elumenati
(available on the Unity3D asset store)

Game Design

Pirate Jam 2019 Reality TV Show Top Prize

Dr. Clement Shimizu was a contestant on Pirate Jam 2019 in Thailand. This game jam, had contestants build video games while sailing through Thailand on a fleet of yachts. Clement teamed up with Paloma Dawkins to create Award-Winning Virtual Plant game that won the top prize. The fabulous NY recording artist Katie Rush provided the soundtrack.

The game combined procedural life through L-Systems with hand-drawn art animations in a plant-growing simulator.

You can learn more about Pirate Jam here:
https://www.pirate-jam.com/

And see the season 2019 here (there are 5 episodes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7UyWCvMsK4

Learn about Paloma Dawkins:
https://palomadawkins.com/

Katie Rush
https://linktr.ee/KatieRushRush

Download the game here:

https://apps.apple.com/za/app/award-winning-virtual-plant


Visualization

NASA – Major Space Act Award

NASA Presents the “Major Space Act Award” to Clement Shimizu for the development of a significant scientific or technical contribution, entitled Nasa Eyes, that has been determined to be of major value in the conduct of an aeronautical or space activity of NASA!  This is a very humbling award because I was only a very small part of a big team including my crew including D’nardo Colucci, Clayton, Hilary McVicker, Michael Ford, Ken Yager, Juan, Daryl, Kathy Fortier, Tony Berger, Adam Wales, and the rest of The Elumenati and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Kevin Hussey presenting eyes under NASA Shuttle enterprise
Kevin Hussey presenting eyes under NASA Shuttle enterprise
Publications and Academic Research

Talk at Savannah College of Art and Design

My talk for the Ideas In Sight Lecture Series at Savanah College of Art and Design: The University for Creative Careers. In this talk, I talk about my history being an academic, entrepreneur, and artist. And pass along some of the most important lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Side note to artists: SCAD is a great art school in a wonderful city. For some creative careers, it has the highest levels of job placement of any college! Check it out.

Recorded on Feb 3, 2017

Game Design

Hacked Atm Machine

Babycastles Bank Manhattan’s Deposits Only is a video game built out of a hacked ATM machine for Babycastles gallery. The purpose of the game is to raise money for the gallery. The ATM was hacked to only accept money via a coin and bill slot and not give money out. The high-score screen shows how much money was donated to the gallery. Since its delivery, the game has brought in thousands of dollars in donations.

Dr. Clement Shimizu – ATM Hack
Krll Honn – NodeJS based high score screen
Levi Yourchuck – Machining

The prototype was built out from an Arduino and a cardboard box, but this was later transplanted into a real ATM machine.
Visualization

Elumenati World Viewer

Worldviewer running in a small dome display
Worldviewer running in a small dome display
Created for use in Elumenati’s GeoDome immersive environments, Worldviewer is a tool that allows users to easily author interactive presentations while incorporating up-to-date multimedia content from a variety of sources. The WorldComposer content authoring platform is easy to learn and simple to use, allowing educators to produce fully interactive experiences based on their own expertise, without requiring programming skills.
World Viewer's built in Flexible Projection Mapping based on the Perspective Projection Mapping Article
World Viewer’s built in Flexible Projection Mapping based on the Perspective Projection Mapping Article
Users can build docent-guided presentations, user-driven experiences, and recorded scripts using movies, still images, and high definition video created for both standard and spherical (panoramic) media. Worldviewer simplifies the process of providing audiences with a fresh, continuously integrated interactive experience.

Worldviewer uses the Omnity “Perspective Projection Mapping” toolkit for projection mapping the earth visualization data onto any type of display surface using a wide variety of video projectors, lens, edge blending, stereoscopic, and camera calibration technologies. Omnity was devloped by Clement Shimizu and D’nardo Colucci for the Elumenati and was based on a publication titled OmniMap Perspective Projection Mapping authored by Clement Shimizu and com during graduate school.

Title: Elumenati Worldviewer
Credits: Clement Shimizu and the Elumenati (Clayton Hooker, D’nardo Colucci)
http://www.elumenati.com/products/software/worldviewer/
Video Art

口付け – A Video Poetry

Pracilla Davanzo 口付け – A VIDEO POETRY
Pracilla Davanzo 口付け – A VIDEO POETRY
Creative collaboration with body modification and performance artist Pracilla Devanzo from Sao Paulo Brazil.

Title: 口付け – A Video Poetry
Artists: Pracilla Devanzo and Clement Shimizu
More Info: 1080p@24p Freelensed Video, 5:34
Location: Filmed in Porto, Portugal, March 2016.
Music: Tetine – Mata Hari Voodoo (Used with permission)
Exhibition: Funarte MG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, May 30th 2016
Exhibition: Tran(S)arau – do Pulso à Virilha – 2ª Edição in Coimbra, Portugal, May 26th 2016
Visualization

Virtual Mosque Dome Simulator for Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Virtual Mosque Dome Simulator Children's Museum of Manhattan's Muslim Cultures Exhibit
Virtual Mosque Dome Simulator Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Muslim Cultures Exhibit

This beautiful video showcases Elumenati’s installation for the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far exhibit. It uses Elumenati WorldViewer software for a 3D exploration of mosque architecture projected inside of a Geodome display.


“When the Children’s Museum of Manhattan began work on our exhibition six years ago, it was our dream to be able transport visitors around the world. With the help of the Elumenati’s amazing GeoDome Panorama and WorldViewer, that dream became a reality.” — Andrew Ackerman / Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Content: Lizzy Martin and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Software: Clement Shimizu and Clayton Hooker for The Elumenati
Press: The Muslim Culture Exhibition on TRT Showcase
Visualization

DreamWorks DreamPlace Virtual Sleigh Ride


DreamPlace is an unforgettable journey inspired by a child’s most memorable experience of meeting Santa Claus. DreamPlace will take families on a magical sleigh ride to the North Pole with the help of Shrek and his Friends. -DreamWorks Animation Website
Elumenati was enlisted to produce the Virtual Sleigh Ride that is part of the DreamWorks DreamPlace.

Panorama display: http://www.Elumenati.com
OmniPlayer Software: Clement Shimizu for Elumenati
Ride Automation and Building Experience Design: Parker3D
Publications and Academic Research

A Computer Aided Color Appearance Design System for Metallic Car Paint

Ryan Abellera's Concept Design for CCS Class
Ryan Abellera's Concept Design for CCS Class. Paint formulated on site using Dupont ColorNet and Spectramaster.

Abstract: A computer aided design system for determining the color appearance of metallic automotive coatings has been developed. A sketch based bidirectional reflectance distribution function design interface allows simple concept art to be used to style new metallic car colors. The final design is specified using industrial measurement standards for metallic color appearance, and paint formulations are determined by employing an automotive refinish system. A virtual collection of existing automotive paints, specified using the measurement standard, is provided, and tools for searching this database, for both design and manufacturing purposes, are described. The system is assessed by using it in industrial and educational design studios.

Title: A Computer Aided Color Appearance Design System for Metallic Car Paint
Authors: Clement Shimizu and Gary W. Meyer
Published in Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, 59(3): 030403-1–030403-10, 2015.
Society for Imaging Science and Technology 2015
Presented at 23th Color and Imaging Conference 2015 (CIC23)

Downloads: [PDF] 
 BIBTEX CITATION
@inproceedings{shimizu2015,
author = {Clement Shimizu and Gary W. Meyer},
title = {A Computer Aided Color Appearance Design System for Metallic Car Paint},
year = {2015},
booktitle = {Journal of Imaging Science and Technology}
}
Game Design

Interactive Projection Mapped Water Wall w/ Kinect and Unity3D

Movement drives dynamic natural imagery with a Kinect-based user interface in the Grotto, a contemplative space for patients and their families at the Children’s Pain and Palliative Clinic (Minneapolis). We collaborated with U+B Architecture and Design and the hospital staff to create the immersive environment. Visitors use the Kinect to interact with patterns that imitate the natural flow of ripples and currents in water. Clement Shimizu through Elumenati For U+B
Portfolio

Automotive Design Course at the College for Creative Studies

Automotive design course at CCS
Automotive design course at CCS
Clement Shimizu and Gary Meyer of the University of Minnesota
The students of the College for Creative Studies

As visiting scholars, Clement Shimizu and Gary Meyer helped teach a special course at the renowned College for Creative Studies. The industrial design department offers an automotive design course where students design a car from concept art to fully painted clay mock-up. The students used the BRDF Design Suite to pick and design colors for their concept vehicles. The colors were formulated and sprayed onto clay models.
Portfolio

Image Based Appearance Design

Image of the the Ford Motor Company's S Studio
Image of the the Ford Motor Company’s S Studio
Clement Shimizu and Seth Berrier of the University of Minnesota

A special rendering engine was designed to allow for real time material editing when using high dynamic range environment maps. In this image Ford’s S Studio was photographically captured using hundreds of photos from various angles and exposures. This environment map is used for interactive design and realistic rendering of automotive paints.
Game Design

3D Pac-Man

3D Pac-Man was a collaborative project between Dr. Clement Shimizu from The Elumenati and Keita Takahashi (The creator of Katamari Damacy) created for Babycastles video game events at the Museum of Arts and Design (Manhattan) and Telfair Museum (Savannah). Continue reading →
Game Design

#DrawArt for @MuseumPaige

Love for a farmer's Wife, Paige Dansinger. Original artist Kitagawa Utamaro I
Love for a farmer’s Wife, Paige Dansinger. Original artist Kitagawa Utamaro I
Paige Dansinger, Woman Putting on Face Powder, (Original by Kitagawa Utamaro)
Paige Dansinger, Woman Putting on Face Powder, (Original by Kitagawa Utamaro)
Artist: Paige Dansinger Programmer: Dr. Clement Shimizu #DrawArt is an application created to help Paige Dansinger teach art history in a new and engaging way. The artist digitally paints historical works of art using an iPad. The software records the painting and a animation that can be replayed from a blank canvas. See more at: http://drawart.museumpaige.com/
Publications and Academic Research

Computerised Colour

BRDF Design software developed by Clement Shimizu while at the University Of Minnesota
BRDF Design software developed by Clement Shimizu while at the University Of Minnesota
Abstract: Cynthia Challener discusses the use of Colour Rendering by way of computers to define a popular trend and to speed up colour design. Color Design software by Clement Shimizu, Ph.D. and Gary W. Meyer’s computer graphics lab are discussed.

Title: Computerised Color
Authors: Cynthia Challener
Published in Polymers Paint Color Journal Vol 202 no 4573 June 2012 pages 10-11.

Downloads: Article Text Scan 
BIBTEX CITATION
@inproceedings{Challener2012,
author = {Cynthia Challener},
title = {Computerised Color},
date = {June 2012},
booktitle = {Polymers Paint Color Journal Vol 202 no 4573}
}
Video Art

Mini Siege Warfare

By: Dr. Clement Shimizu for Janaki Ranpura
Music: Olli Johnson on the Baritone Uke
Puppeteers: Dwane Blake Love and Hannah Rivenburgh

These mini siege warfare props were a commision for Janaki Ranpura-a world renowned puppet artist. John Austin’s book Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction was used as starting point for the designs of the siege catapult and claymore mine. The trebuchet is a counterweight design specifically tuned to work in the confines of a small puppet show.

Publications and Academic Research

PhD. Thesis: Computer Aided Design for Color Appearance

Computer Aided Design of Automotive Color at Ford
By: Clement Shimizu
Adviser: Gary W. Meyer

This research documents the creation and application of the first complete computer aided design system for color appearance. In this thesis, the fundamental components of computer aided geometric design (CAD) are applied to computer aided color appearance design (CACAD) including visualization, design, analysis/optimization, and scanning/prototyping tools. A series of experiments demonstrate the CACAD system’s maturity by showing that it is effective at designing, visualizing, and formulating paints in a wide variety of real world situations.
Continue reading →
Publications and Academic Research

Color Styling Tools

Authors: Clement Shimizu and Gary W. Meyer Creative tools are proposed that allow color stylists to take advantage of their training in the art and design fields. A simple reflection model is employed that has the minimum number of free parameters required to design solid and metallic color finishes from conceptualization to fabrication. The parameters correspond to color specification terms familiar to designers such as face color, flop color, travel, and gloss. We demonstrate how the reflection model can also be used to develop effective interfaces for color stylists. We create a virtual mood board that allows direct selection of the reflection model parameters from pictures. We also develop an image based BRDF tweaker for adjusting color appearance directly on a 3D object. Continue reading →
Game Design

Cave Art Interactive


By: Clement Shimizu, The Elumenati, Patrick Bradely, and The Chicago Field Museum

This interactive exhibit invites visitors to use Wii controllers inside of a dome to explore historians’ theories on the origins of Cave Art. The Elumenati produced Cave Art in collaboration with the team at the Field and animator Pat Bradley, as part of the Mammoths and Mastodons exhibit currently touring museums around the country.

Cave Art Interactive installation won the 2011 Silver MUSE Award, an honor from the Media and Technology arm of the American Association of Museums.
Publications and Academic Research

A Computer Graphics System for Examining Paint Color Collections

Benjamin More Paint Selector Authors: Seth Berrier, Gary W. Meyer, and Clement Shimizu A computer graphic program for organizing and displaying the colors in a paint collection is presented. A virtual representation for the traditional color card fan deck is described. This interactive program provides a lightness, chroma and hue interface for selecting a color from the collection. Software for visualizing a paint color on a three dimensional surface is also discussed. This tool allows the user to evaluate the sheen of a solid paint color and the travel of a metallic or pearlescent paint color. Continue reading →
Publications and Academic Research

Predicting and Fixing Geometric Color Mismatches

Illustration of a color mismatch due to geometric misalignment of a car bumper
Why do car bumpers often look like they are painted the wrong color, even if the paint is a perfect match? Small geometric misalignment (labeled angle β) can cause significant perceived color mismatches especially in metallic automotive paints.

Authors: Clement Shimizu and Gary W. Meyer

Color mismatches that result from geometric misalignment are studied. Differences in color can result when adjacent parts of an object are coated with the same paint but are not aligned to create a continuous geometric surface. The color difference that results due to shading can be accentuated by the use of metallic and pearlescent paints with goniochromatic properties. A metric is developed for determining when the color difference is large enough for the misalignment to become apparent. A technique is also presented for selecting a paint that matches the adjacent part and creates the illusion of geometric continuity even though the two parts are misaligned. Continue reading →
Video Art

Intergalactic Photo Funbooth

I built an animated gif photobooth for a science fiction convention.  The Intergalactic Photo Funbooth used a green screen and layered animation assets pulled from science fiction movies and games to superimpose guests into science fiction themed animated gifs. Convergence Sci-Fi convention at Bloomington Sheraton 2009 July 4th Weekend Visuals and Installation by Clement Shimizu in collaboration with Kate Iverson Technology developed by Clement Shimizu & Timesquid/Hal Lovemelt. Sponsored by L’etoile Magazine & UV Vodka
Video Art

Valentine’s Day Photo Funbooth

The Hot Dog Lady
The Hot Dog Lady
By: Hal Schuler and Clement Shimizu These animations are a result of a collaboration between Hal Schuler (Timesquid at the Time, but now known as Hal Lovemelt of Playatta) and Clement Shimizu for a Valentine’s day party hosted by DJ Real Talk Radio. They created a photo booth that superimposes party attendants into looping animations. Participants enjoyed the animations at the party and had the option to download the results afterwards. Continue reading →
Video Art

A Tendercakes’ Kissmas

Tendercakes
“Bust out the strawberry lip gloss and meet us under the mistletoe! We’ve turned boring ol’ Christmas on its ear this year with a sexy holiday party – Tendercakes style!”
By: Clement Shimizu
Director of Photography: Stephen Stephens
Featuring: Tendercakes and Beatrix Jar.   (Clip of Snails from Claude Nuridsany’s Microcosmos used without permission)
Music Selection: Tendercakes and Millions Billions

A Tendercakes’ Kissmas was a kissing centric video for a Kissing Themed Xmas Party, hosted by the fabulous sister DJ duo Tendercakes! Continue reading →
Publications and Academic Research

Automotive Spray Paint Simulation

Authors: Jonathan Konieczny, John Heckman, Gary W. Meyer, Marty Manyen, Marty Rabens, and Clement Shimizu A system is introduced for the simulation of spray painting. Head mounted display goggles are combined with a tracking system to allow users to paint a virtual surface with a spray gun. Ray tracing is used to simulate droplets landing on the surface of the object, allowing arbitrary shapes and spray gun patterns to be used. This system is combined with previous research on spray gun characteristics to provide a realistic simulation of the spray paint including the effects of viscosity, air pressure, and paint pressure. The simulation provides two different output modes: a non-photorealistic display that gives a visual representation of how much paint has landed on the surface, and a photorealistic simulation of how the paint would actually look on the object once it has dried. Useful feedback values such as overspray are given. Experiments were performed to validate the system. Continue reading →
Publications and Academic Research

OmniMap: Projective Perspective Mapping API for Non-planar Immersive Display Surfaces

Fisheye Projection Mapping Authors: Clement Shimizu, Jim Terhorst, and David McConville (done under D’nardo Colucci for the Elumenati) Typical video projection systems display rectangular images on flat screens. Optical and perspective correction techniques must be employed to produce undistorted output on non-planar display surfaces. A two-pass algorithm, called projective perspective mapping, is a solution well suited for use with commodity graphics hardware. This algorithm is implemented in the OmniMap API providing an extensible, reusable C++ interface for porting 3D engines to wide field-of-view, non-planar displays. This API is shown to be easily integrated into a wide variety of 3D applications. Continue reading →
Publications and Academic Research

VR Spray Painting for Training and Design

The end result of using the system to spray paint a car hood. Both directionally diffuse and gloss layers have been applied. In this case, a photorealistic image of how the paint would look when dry is displayed to the user. Useful information such as overspray, and percentage covererage is given to the user. This makes the system ideal for training, as both visual and numeric feedback is given to the trainee.

Authors: Jonathan Konieczny, Gary W. Meyer, Clement Shimizu, John Heckman, Marty Manyen, and Marty Rabens

A system is introduced for the simulation of spray painting. Head mounted display goggles are combined with a tracking system to allow users to paint a virtual surface with a spray gun. Ray tracing is used to simulate droplets landing on the surface of the object, allowing arbitrary shapes and spray gun patterns to be used. This system is combined with previous research on spray gun characteristics to provide a realistic simulation of the spray paint including the effects of viscosity, air pressure, and paint pressure. The simulation provides two different output modes: a non-photorealistic display that gives a visual representation of how much paint has landed on the surface, and a photorealistic simulation of how the paint would actually look on the object once it dried. Useful feedback values such as overspray are given. Experiments were performed to validate the system. Continue reading →
Publications and Academic Research

Creating Metallic Color Sequences for an Architectural Wall

Architectural Exhibit at the Goldstein Museum

Authors: Seth Berrier, Gary Meyer, and Clement Shimizu

A metallic paint scheme for an architectural wall is created using computer aided color appearance design techniques. New computer graphic hardware that allows real-time rendering of complex reflectance functions is employed to produce photo-realistic images of the metallic paint applied to the surface of the wall. An interpolation scheme is developed that permits one and two dimensional metallic shade sequences to be determined between individual bricks in a single row of the wall and between the complete rows of bricks that compose the wall. Paint formulation software, originally developed for auto refinish applications, is used to determine the paint mixtures necessary to realize the metallic colors in the design. A prototype of the wall is constructed and exhibited in a museum gallery. Continue reading →
Publications and Academic Research

The Wall of Inspiration: A Computer Aided Color Selection System

Authors: Seth Berrier, Clement Shimizu, Patrick Chong, D’nardo Colucci, and Gary Meyer Computer graphics hardware and software is used to create a new set of tools for selecting a household paint color. Important surface reflection effects, such as gloss and pearlescence, are rendered in real time using pixel shading hardware. Unlike traditional paint chips, this feature permits colors to be evaluated on three dimensional shapes and in different surface finishes. A novel set of color navigation tools is provided to allow the user to visualize the color collection supplied by the manufacturer, to select subsets of the collection for consideration, and to match or modify an existing color sample. This interface is easier to use and less expensive to produce than the fan deck found in most paint stores. The pictures produced by the software are displayed on a four panel video wall. The large size of the wall allows the user to evaluate the appearance of the color at a scale similar to its final dimension once it has been applied to a surface. Continue reading →
Video Art

MN Artists Mashup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3qmyjJoU94&rel=0 By: Clement Shimizu, Kate Iverson, and all of the artists from www.mnartists.org The MN Artists mashup project was created for mnartists.org, a project of the Walker Art Center, as part of the “Festival of Appropriation” exhibit at The Soap Factory curated by Jonathan Nelson and Kate Iverson and sponsored by McKnight foundation. Hundreds of thousands of art images from tens of thousands of artists were spidered from the mnartists.org site to create a 3D video mashup. The MN Artists mashup was shown as part of the Festival Appropriation for the duration of the exhibit at the Soap Factory, as well as at the Bakken Museum and the Walker Art Center in the Fall of 2007. Continue reading →
Portfolio

Houminn Practice’s Cloak Wall

Architectural Facade by Houminn Practice featuring a progression of Metallic surface coatings selected with Computer Aided Color Appearance Design tools
Architectural Facade by Houminn Practice featuring a progression of Metallic surface coatings selected with Computer Aided Color Appearance Design tools
Title: Houminn Practice’s Cloak Wall

Team: Marc Swackhamer of HouMinn Practice; Seth Berrier, Clement Shimizu, and Gary Meyer of the University of Minnesota; Allan Rodriguez and David Griffus of DuPont Performance Coatings

The prototype of the Cloak Wall was exhibited in the Goldstein Museum of Design. The key colors in the color scheme were selected directly from the photograph of the intended site using the BRDF Design Suite and interpolated mathematically.
Video Art

Susannah’s Mouth

Sexy mouth eating gummy worm
Susannah’s Mouth from Dead Sexy event installation
By: Clement Shimizu and Kate Iverson
Featuring: Susannah

Description: Susannah’s Mouth was produced for an art party called Dead Sexy 2 at Kingman Studios-known for its wild and hedonistic atmosphere. This video is part of a series of party videos and art installations that focus on a single body part to the point of fetish.

Portfolio

This is the Color

Spot Color Preview Tool For Specialty Color Treatments By: Clement Shimizu, Sarah Steil, Nicole Steinhofer When creating product packaging, the appearance of specialty color treatments, like foils and embossing, is unknown until the design is sent through the printing press. Mistakes are costly, if not impossible, to correct at this stage. A software prototype was created to explore the utility of an Adobe Illustrator plugin to show a realistic preview of specialty foil and gloss spot colors. Continue reading →
Portfolio

Metallic Foil Logo Designer

Design Housing and Apparel Logo contest
Metallic Foil Design Software Workspace
Software Title: Metallic Foil Logo Designer By: Clement Shimizu and Sarah Steil Sarah Steil(then graduate student from Design Housing and Apparel (DHA)) and I partnered to win first prize in a logo design contest for the University of Minnesota. Instead of creating a single static logo, we created a whole software work-space for rapid prototyping of metallic foil logo designs. Personal note: I enjoyed the privilege of taking three courses in the UMN DHA program as a graduate student of Computer Science. This particular project was a done as part of a project where Computer Science students were paired with Design students. The student pairs created collaborative work in the area of color in computer graphics and design. I have very high recommendations for educational programs that provide opportunities where creative minds are joined with technical minds to realize ideas that would be impossible otherwise.
Publications and Academic Research

A Handheld Flexible Display System

Projection mapping a brain onto a flexible rear projection screen. Authors: Jonathan Konieczny, Clement Shimizu, Gary Meyer, and D’nardo Colucci A new close range virtual reality system is introduced that allows intuitive and immersive user interaction with computer generated objects. A projector with a special spherical lens is combined with a flexible, tracked rear projection screen that users hold in their hands. Unlike normal projectors, the spherical lens allows for a 180 degree field of view and nearly infinite depth of focus. This allows the user to move the screen around the environment and use it as a virtual “slice” to examine the interior of 3D volumes. This provides a concrete correspondence between the virtual representation of the 3D volume and how that volume would actually appear if its real counterpart was sliced open. The screen can also be used as a “magic window” to view the mesh of the volume from different angles prior to taking cross sections of it. Real time rendering of the desired 3D volume or mesh is accomplished using current graphics hardware. Additional applications of the system are also discussed. Continue reading →
Portfolio

The Wall of Inspiration

Benjamin Moore Wall of Inspiration for previewing architectural color finishes
Benjamin Moore Wall of Inspiration for previewing architectural color finishes
Title: The Wall of Inspiration University of Minnesota Team: Seth Berrier, Clement Shimizu, Gary Meyer, and D’nardo Colucci Benjamin Moore Paints Team: Patrick Chong and Carl Minchew The Wall of Inspiration was a joint project between the University of Minnesota and Benjamin Moore paints. Customers are often dissatisfied with how different a color looks on a large wall compared to a small color chip. The purpose of the project was to explore the question of electronic color on a large scale display device. By carefully utilizing gloss and BRDF measurements we were able to create a realistic shader that simulated the appearance of paint given the various gloss levels.
Publications and Academic Research

Computer aided design of automotive finishes

Standards for measuring metallic automotive paints

Authors: Gary W. Meyer, Clement Shimizu, Alan Eggly, David Fischer, Jim King, and Allan Rodriguez

The principles of computer aided design were applied to the creation of new automotive finishes. A computer graphic program was written that allows the user to interactively adjust the surface reflection properties of an automotive paint and visualize the appearance of that paint on a three dimensional surface. The program gives a designer intuitive controls over a second order polynomial that defines the color of the paint at a series of aspecular angles. An automotive stylist was permitted to use the program and design three new automotive paints that had never been manufactured. Formulations for the designed paints were determined by inputting the desired aspecular measurements into an automotive refinish system. The new paints were mixed and sprayed on metal panels. Comparisons between the actual and simulated finishes were judged to be adequate by those involved in the experiment. Continue reading →
Publications and Academic Research

Computational Automotive Color Appearance

Controlled Lighting for Comparison between Computer Display and manufactured paint prototypes used a SpectraLight Color temperate and spectrum controlled lamp

Authors: Gary W. Meyer and Clement Shimizu

A computer graphic system has been developed that permits the interactive design of new automotive finishes. The software makes use of a reflection model for car paint that is based on industry standards for measuring the appearance characteristics of the paint. These measurements include gloss for the clearcoat and three aspecular measurements for the metallic basecoat. The program interface provides a means for altering the reflectance properties of the paint and for visualizing the effect of those changes on the color appearance of the car. The desired aspecular measurements for the new paint can be input to a paint formulation system so that the paint can be manufactured. A test of the system shows good correspondence between the designed and the fabricated paint. Continue reading →
Publications and Academic Research

Computer Aided Color Appearance Design Using Environment Map Based Lighting

Material Design in Environment Map Based Lighting
Material Design in Environment Map Based Lighting
Authors: Clement Shimizu and Gary W. Meyer

A BRDF approximation is developed that is suitable for interactive color appearance design in direct lighting provided by environment maps. The BRDFs are approximated as a linear combination of cosine lobes with a fixed set of specular exponents. A nonlinear optimization routine is used to fit the cosine lobes to BRDFs appropriate for a specific color appearance design application: automotive paint. Modification and rendering of the BRDF is made possible by linearly combining prefiltered environment maps for each cosine lobe in real time. Continue reading →
Publications and Academic Research

Interactive Goniochromatic Color Design

BRDF Designer

Authors: Clement Shimizu, Gary W. Meyer, and Joseph P. Wingard

An interactive program has been developed to assist in the design of new goniochromatic colors. The program gives the user a unique set of controls over a second order polynomial that defines these color families at a sequence of aspecular reflection angles. One approach, based on traditional metallic colors, allows the user to adjust the average hue, saturation, and brightness of all of the colors interpolated by the polynomial. Another method, appropriate for the newer effect colors, permits the designer to establish face and flop colors to be reached at either end of the interpolation. In a final technique, variations produced by adjusting model parameters can be evaluated and selected. Continue reading →
Publications and Academic Research

Hardware Accelerated Motion Blur Generation

Authors: Clement Shimizu, Amit Shesh, and Baoquan Chen Motion blur occurs in photography by the motion of objects during the finite exposure time that the camera shutter remains open for to record the image on film. The traditional method of rendering a motion blur with a computer is to render the scene at many discrete time instances in every frame. In this paper, we present an efficient motion blur generation method that leverages modern commodity graphics hardware. Our method avoids rendering the entire complex scene many times per frame. It first renders the scene into a texture, next renders the optic flow, created based on object transformation, to a vector field texture. The scene texture is finally efficiently blurred according to the vector field using texture mapping hardware to do a piecewise iterative line integral convolution. Though our method uses vertex velocities to calculate image pixel velocities, the line integral convolution is performed on an image, making our method largely independent of scene complexity. Continue reading →