Abstract: A system and method for pipelining three-dimensional graphical data in which two-dimensional renderings of objects are created from polygon data by transforming and lighting each polygonal vertex and then connecting the vertices.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for avoiding reading z-values in a graphics pipeline. Initially, near z-values are stored which are each representative of a near z-value on an object in a region. Such region is defined by a tile and a coverage mask therein. Thereafter, the stored near z-values are compared with far z-values computed for other objects in the region. Such comparison indicates whether an object is visible in the region. Based on the comparison, z-values previously stored for image samples in the region are conditionally read from memory.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for avoiding reading z-values in a graphics pipeline. Initially, near z-values are stored which are each representative of a near z-value on an object in a region. Such region is defined by a tile and a coverage mask therein. Thereafter, the stored near z-values are compared with far z-values computed for other objects in the region. Such comparison indicates whether an object is visible in the region. Based on the comparison, z-values previously stored for image samples in the region are conditionally read from memory.

Abstract: A graphics rendering system creates an image based on objects constructed of polygonal primitives, which can generate the perception of three-dimensional objects displayed on a two-dimensional display device. An anti-aliasing operation is applied to silhouette edges of the objects, which are the edges of primitives which are displayed at the perimeter of an object. A silhouette edge can be identified by determining how many times an edge is rendered, with each instance of the rendering of an edge corresponding to the rendering of a primitive that adjoins the edge. An edge that is rendered exactly once is interpreted as a silhouette edge. An example of a silhouette edge is an edge that adjoins one triangular primitive that is viewable and another triangular primitive that is hidden from view by other primitives.

Abstract: A graphics accelerator pipeline including a rasterizer stage, a texture stage, and a combiner stage capable of producing realistic output images by mapping irregular textures to surfaces.

Abstract: A graphics rendering system creates an image based on objects constructed of polygonal primitives. Aliasing effects in the image are reduced by applying an anti-aliasing scheme to the areas of the image representing silhouette edges of the objects. The silhouette edges are anti-aliased by creating anti-aliasing primitives which vary in opacity. These anti-aliasing primitives are joined to the silhouetted edges, and create a region in the image where the objects appear to blend into the background.

Abstract: In a bit mapped display environment which has n hardware color look-up tables (CLUTs) where n=1 or more, which also has a limited number of Display Attribute Identification Values, and which may operate under various window systems, such as the X Window System protocol, an apparatus and a method for installing and uninstalling hardware colormaps under the constraint of a finite number of Display Attribute Identification Values, whereby the most recently installed (MRI) policy of the X Window System is followed. The invention provides a scheme which gracefully degenerates to some "color flashing" when Display Attribute Identification Values are exhausted; which allows Display Attribute Identification Values to be uncoupled from colormap management and used for more graphics intensive functions when needed; and which dynamically regenerates when display attributes again become available.