Vislab has transitioned from a service-oriented organization to focus more on research using open-source and emerging technologies. It now has access to several computer clusters for graphics processing. Projects include the Access-Grid collaboration tool, the Chromium graphics cluster, and exploring open-source rendering software like Yafray. The goal is to enable real-time collaboration on 3D data across applications, clusters, and networks using tools like Verse. Challenges include usability and whether artists will embrace open-source approaches.

1. Vislab, Open-Source and
Emerging Technologies
Vislab: What's been happening and where are
we heading
Open-Source: The state of play in graphics
How one can help the other

2. Vislab
Founded in 1991 by Bernard Pailthorpe.
Employed Ben Simons, Chris Willing, others.
Extremely successful for over 10 years.
However, changes in computing require a
change in structure: less service-oriented,
more research.
Bernard leaves to go to UQ. Masa takes over
as director.
Ben goes to CORE in Toronto, Steve “takes
over” Ben's role.

3. Vislab v2.0
Vislab moves to Madsen building
Now more research oriented, includes clusters and
super-computing in its mandate

4. Clusters
We now have access to facilities of AC3
Barossa: 155 dual-Xeon nodes
Others (64 processor SGI, NEC Vector computer)

5. Clusters
We have our own clusters
22 processor Intel cluster, Gigabit backbone.
Currently OpenMosix, will convert to MPI
12 node SGI cluster using old O2 machines

6. Access-Grid
Access-Grid is a network collaboration tool.
st
OpenSource success: 1 all-Linux AG, DPPT
for OpenOffice, Firewire cameras.
Chris has now left, but work will continue.

7. Access-Grid
But full potential is not being realised

8. Chromium
Clustering for OpenGL
Processor
GL-App
Tile
Processor
Projector
Processor
Projector
Processor
Projector

9. Chromium

10. Chromium
Other SPUs possible
Software
GL Renderer
GL-App
Image
'Stitcher'
Tile
Processor
Software
GL Renderer
Video
Encoder
Network

11. Blender
Open-Source modeller, animation framework
and renderer:

12. Blender
Interesting for a number of reasons...
Completely OpenGL based (see Chromium),
including the general-purpose widget toolkit.
Contains game-engine.
PowerPoint style presentations?
Python scripting framework, including access to
GUI system. Write plugins, shaders, etc. in
python.
Not perfect (UI could use some work) but
capable of good stuff already ...

13. Blender

14. Open-Source Software
Rendering
Chromium isn't the only sort of graphics
clustering we're interested in.
Clusters widely used in film industry, but are
frame-based. We want to parallelise below
the frame level. So we need to do it
ourselves.
Open-Source allows us to do this in ways
proprietary software doesn't.
So what type of rendering do we want to
provide?

15. Raytracing / Global Illumination
Basic raytracing/GI engines two-a-penny.
Best of breed at the moment is Yafray:
Does threaded/SMP rendering.
Forking rendering fixed, MPI implemented!

16. Renderman
Some “free” ones available, but not all are
free-enough for our needs.
Of interest are Pixie (most of PRMan-11), and
Aqsis. Either could probably be modified to
use MPI.
Lucille: MPI capable already (author works
with AC3). But too young for the time-being.

17. Interconnection and Interaction
We need a bridge between 3D applications,
2D applications, render-cluster and
Access-Grid.
We would like 2-way interaction: Realtime
collaboration on 3D data.
Verse
2D and 3D exchange of data
Low-latency and lightweight
Python bindings already exist
Major initiative now funded.

18. The big picture
Gimp
Verse
Verse
Server
Verse
Verse
[Render]
Blender
Linux Cluster
GL App
Chromium
Renderers
MJpeg
AG/
Internet
Video (Vic)
User
Rest of world
Audio (Rat)
VOIP
Asterix/
Bayonne
POTS

19. Other Stuff of Interest
Gimp just hit 2.0
Now has full Windows support
Modified version ('Cinepaint') widely used in film
industry for post-production work
Asterix and Bayonne
VOIP enabled PABX system. Bridge between AG
and POTS.

20. It's not all roses of course
Usability: Already a problem elsewhere. But
users are the best people to put back in
here.
Culture: Do artists “get-it”? Students seem to
want to focus on products rather than skills.
Is FOSS being pushed out of Graphics field?
Blender creator thinks so.
But this is needed: Graphics tools are
expensive.

21. Comments, Questions, Discussion