Cliff faces in the graphics literature: how good are the results?

Result figures cropped (with captions) from the papers' own PDFs, for review of the granite cliff-face direction. Figures are the authors'; follow the links for the papers. Most relevant first. Click any image for full size. 2026-10-14.

Paris, Peytavie, Guérin, Dischler, Galin 2020: Modeling Rocky Scenery using Implicit Blocks

The Visual Computer 36(10). Project page, code. Fractures in bedrock → implicit block tiles → replicated over vertical walls. Fig. 14: a sea cliff in three block styles.

Verdict: reads as rock from a distance (Fig. 14), but up close a tile is a heap of rounded pebbles or flakes stuck together, close to the "glued-on bricks" look. No sheeting steps or long joint lines.

Peytavie, Galin, Grosjean, Mérillou 2009: Arches, a Framework for Modeling Complex Terrains

Eurographics 2009 (CGF 28(2)). PDF. Material layer stacks, sculpting, erosion into rocks.

Verdict: good arches, overhangs and fallen-rock piles; the faces themselves are soft blobs, with no sharp edges or fractures.

Ito, Nakano, Fujimoto, Chiba 2004: Visual simulation of rocky scenery including the accumulation of collapsed rocks

J. Society for Art and Science 3(3). PDF. Joints → blocks → unstable blocks slide and collapse. Follow-up to Ito, Fujimoto, Muraoka, Chiba, "Modeling rocky scenery taking into account joints" (CGI 2003, not openly available).

Verdict: the mechanism closest to "remove flakes" but early-2000s image quality.

Ito, Fujimoto, Chiba 2004: Modeling of rock form taking into account growing process of columnar joints

J. Society for Art and Science 3(1). PDF. Heat-conduction simulation drives column joints; then weathering.

Verdict: recognisable basalt cliff and Devil's Tower (Fig. 13), but voxel columns.

Beardall, Farley, Ouderkirk, Smith, Jones, Egbert 2007: Goblins by Spheroidal Weathering

Eurographics Workshop on Natural Phenomena. PDF. Voxel weathering simulation.

Verdict: holds up next to the photo (Figs. 1, 9), but a single rounded landform, not a cliff face.

Not included

• Jones, Farley, Butler, Beardall 2010, Directable weathering of concave rock using curvature estimation (TVCG 16(1)): the open copy is behind a Cloudflare check.