Neural shadow art

Wang, Caolinwen, Deng, Bailin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0158-7670 and Zhang, Juyong 2025. Neural shadow art. Presented at: The 33rd Pacific Conference on Computer Graphics and Applications, Taipei, Taiwan, 14-17 October 2025. Published in: Christie, M., Pietroni, N. and Wang, Y.-S. eds. Proceedings Pacific Graphics 2025. The European Association for Computer Graphics,

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Abstract

Shadow art is a captivating form of sculptural expression where the projection of a sculpture in a specific direction reveals a desired shape with high precision. In this work, we introduce Neural Shadow Art, which leverages implicit occupancy function representation to significantly expand the possibilities of shadow art. This representation enables the design of high-quality, 3D-printable geometric models with arbitrary topologies at any resolution, surpassing previous voxel- and mesh-based methods. Our method provides a more flexible framework, enabling projections to match input binary images under various light directions and screen orientations, without requiring light sources to be perpendicular to the screens. Furthermore, we allow rigid transformations of the projected geometries relative to the input binary images and simultaneously optimize light directions and screen orientations to ensure that the projections closely resemble the target images, especially when dealing with inputs of complex topologies. In addition, our model promotes surface smoothness and reduces material usage. This is particularly advantageous for efficient industrial production and enhanced artistic effect by generating compelling shadow art that avoids trivial, intersecting cylindrical structures. In summary, we propose a more flexible representation for shadow art, significantly improving projection accuracy while simultaneously meeting industrial requirements and delivering awe-inspiring artistic effects.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Computer Science & Informatics
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Computer software
Publisher:	The European Association for Computer Graphics
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 August 2025
Date of Acceptance:	10 August 2025
Last Modified:	27 Aug 2025 09:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/180640

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