Computer graphics in video games and movies have gotten terrifyingly realistic and the methods of rendering them have become [increasingly complex and labor intensive](https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/43bk9j/horse-motion-capture). Take it from the researchers at Disney, who in an effort to create the perfect digital teeth strapped some poor man to an upright gurney and outfitted him with some horror movie-worthy gear before blasting him with lights.

&#x201c;The ideal teeth appearance depends on the social and cultural context of the subject, as well as on their age since teeth appearance changes over time,&#x201d; Disney researchers said in a paper titled [Appearance Capture and Modeling of Human Teeth](https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/disneyresearch/wp-content/uploads/20181201224149/Appearance-Capture-and-Modeling-of-Human-Teeth-Thumbnail.pdf). &#x201c;We present a system specifically designed for capturing the optical properties of live human teeth such that they can be realistically re-rendered in computer graphics.&#x201d;

Recreating the appearance of humans in virtual environments for the purpose of movie, video game, or other types of production involves the acquisition of a geometric representation of the human body and its scattering parameters which express the interaction between the geometry and light propagated throughout the scene. Teeth appearance is defined not only by the light and surface interaction, but also by its internal geometry and the intra-oral environment, posing its own unique set of challenges. Therefore, we present a system specifically designed for capturing the optical properties of live human teeth such that they can be realistically re-rendered in computer graphics. We acquire our data in vivo in a conventional multiple camera and light source setup and use exact geometry segmented from intra-oral scans. To simulate the complex interaction of light in the oral cavity during inverse rendering we employ a novel pipeline based on derivative path tracing with respect to both optical properties and geometry of the inner dentin surface. The resulting estimates of the global derivatives are used to extract parameters in a joint numerical optimization. The final appearance faithfully recreates the acquired data and can be directly used in conventional path tracing frameworks for rendering virtual humans.

Link to publication page:
https://la.disneyresearch.com/publication/appearance-capture-and-modeling-of-human-teeth/

Appearance Capture and Modeling of Human Teeth

To capture the beauty of both the teeth and the oral cavity, Disney researchers needed their volunteer to remain still while a barrage of 54 different lights blasted at his face for 10-15 second intervals while a camera snapped pictures.

&#x201c;To facilitate this, we provide a stabilizing neck brace, a head strap and a rigid object to bite on, which also helps to separate the upper and lower teeth,&#x201d; the research paper states. &#x201c;To minimize occlusions by the face, we retract the lips and cheeks using an OptraGate lip retractor.&#x201d;

The visual effect of this gear&#x2014;described in such anodyne, scientific language&#x2014;is a horror pulled from _A Clockwork Orange,_ if the film was about dental hygiene.

Once the researchers obtained their chomper data, they ran it through a complex series of math equations to match their digital recreations with the volunteer&#x2019;s actual teeth. Once this process is complete, post processing and integrating the digital chompers into movies and video games can begin.

This is video game design now&#x2014;we are in the age of [perfectly recreated horse balls](https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-09-29-it-really-does-look-like-rockstar-animated-horse-testicles-for-red-dead-redemption-2) and teeth imaged with a medieval torture device.

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Disney Has a Horrifying New Method to Create Video Game Teeth

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Disney Has a Horrifying New Method to Create Video Game Teeth

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