In 1975 a young computer graphics researcher at the University of Utah named Martin Newell who needed more interesting computer models that was familiar and moderately simple mathematical model to demonstrate his 3D graphics. Martin Newell took his concerns to his wife Sandra Newell. While discussing this problem during tea time, Sandra came up with the idea to use their teapot that was purchased from a department store in Salt Lake City. Newell drew the teapot on graph paper by hand. The teapot is now known as the Utah Teapot. The original teapot that Newell used to draw his design was just an ordinary white ceramic teapot (a Melitta). At first the teapot was donated to the Boston Computer Museum, but now you can find it at the Computer History Museum.
Most will think “What's so special about a teapot?”, but most don't know that the Utah teapot played a significant role in the computer graphic 3D animation history. Back in 1975, they didn't have many objects or data to test their graphic programs so any help was greatly appreciated. Newell released the mathematical data of the teapot's geometry to the public. Using Newell's data meant they didn't have to enter in their own geometric data for a different object, so researchers began to use his data for their graphic experiments. The teapot also had great aspects about it. The shape was ideal for graphics experiments. It was round, had bicubic bezier patches, both convex and concave surfaces, contained saddle points, and didn't take up much space.
Most will think “What's so special about a teapot?”, but most don't know that the Utah teapot played a significant role in the computer graphic 3D animation history. Back in 1975, they didn't have many objects or data to test their graphic programs so any help was greatly appreciated. Newell released the mathematical data of the teapot's geometry to the public. Using Newell's data meant they didn't have to enter in their own geometric data for a different object, so researchers began to use his data for their graphic experiments. The teapot also had great aspects about it. The shape was ideal for graphics experiments. It was round, had bicubic bezier patches, both convex and concave surfaces, contained saddle points, and didn't take up much space.
Fun Fact from: <http://design.osu.edu/carlson/history/lesson20.html#mandrill>: “The actual teapot is about 30% taller than many of its computer-generated images because the data was originally recorded for the rectangular pixels of early displays.”
The teapot could shadow itself, had hidden surface issues, and was reasonable looking displayed without a complex surface texture. The teapot was used as a reference object throughout the years for increasing advanced graphic techniques. Having such an advanced shape back then was important to the graphic development. Researchers were able to test their programs with it and improve their programs from it. Over the years of progressing advancements in the graphic world, rendering the teapot was no longer as much of a challenge as it was back in 1975. The original Utah Teapot did not have a rim for the lid or a bottom. The Utah Teapot from Martin Newell's PhD thesis, contained 28 Bezier patches. To create a bottom for the teapot, four more patches were added bringing the total to 32.
First the computer graphic short films then the full length feature films, the Utah Teapot became an inside joke to hide it somewhere in the films. Films such as Toy Story during the tea-party scene and the “Treehouse of Horror VI” of The Simpsons where Homer finds a hidden portal/door behind the bookshelf. The portal took Homer to a 3D dimension where in the background is The Utah Teapot. The Utah Teapot also has an appearance in Pixar's Monsters, INC in Boo's bedroom.
First the computer graphic short films then the full length feature films, the Utah Teapot became an inside joke to hide it somewhere in the films. Films such as Toy Story during the tea-party scene and the “Treehouse of Horror VI” of The Simpsons where Homer finds a hidden portal/door behind the bookshelf. The portal took Homer to a 3D dimension where in the background is The Utah Teapot. The Utah Teapot also has an appearance in Pixar's Monsters, INC in Boo's bedroom.
Fun Fact from: <http://www.eeggs.com/items/493.html>: The Utah Teapot will only appear on the “Pipes” screen-saver of Microsoft Windows prior to Windows XP.