Abstract: Systems, apparatus, computer software code products and methods for enabling computer graphics systems to accurately render transparency comprise configuring a shader element of the computer graphics system to first extract all layers of an image representation and obtain depth information therefrom, and then rendering all layers back-to-front with shading enabled, such that information obtained from a previously processed layer is available for processing of a current layer.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program code (software) products executable in a digital processor operable to generate a synthetic image include (1) selecting a rank-1 lattice in accordance with a maximized minimum distance function (max-min-dist lattice) corresponding to points in the synthetic image to be generated; (2) generating a data structure for efficient access of data stored in points of the rank-1 lattice, the data structure including the number n of lattice points, generator vector g, s basis vectors, and indices of the basis vectors, wherein the basis vectors are lattice points, and (3) generating, using the rank-1 lattice, digital output representative of a synthetic image, wherein the generating includes using the layout of rank-1 lattice points to represent textures of arbitrary dimension.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program code (software) products executable in a digital processor operable to simulate light transport in a scene by ray tracing (wherein the digital processor is operable to maintain an object list representing a list of objects associated with a boundary of the scene) include executing a ray tracing method that traces r rays through n objects by (1) partitioning the object list in a recursive manner to generate partitions and (2) culling away the partitions of objects from rays, without using an explicit auxiliary acceleration data structure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and computer program code (software) products enable acceleration of ray tracing by using acceleration data structures with high arity to enable processing of nodes using streaming SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) instructions with reduced memory requirements.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and computer program code (software) products enable acceleration of ray tracing by using acceleration data structures with high arity to enable processing of nodes using streaming SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) instructions with reduced memory requirements.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, arrangements, and computer program products are operable in computer graphics systems to make shadow volumes more general with respect to the meshes that can serve as occluding geometry in such computer graphics systems, as well as for accelerating shadow volume techniques, particularly for large and complex input scenes.

Abstract: Computer graphics methods, systems, apparatus and computer program code (software) products comprise: constructing a sparse implicit scene representation, wherein the representation is independent of geometric encoding and complexity of the input scene description, and the density of the resulting finite elements is proportional to their contribution to the final image to be generated, such that the geometric resolution of a given area of the obtained scene representation is proportional to its importance relative to the final image, wherein the constructing comprises using a Monte Carlo or quasi-Monte Carlo path tracing method to sample an adjoint importance distribution function and to shoot importons from a simulated camera into the scene, recording, for each simulated bounce, a particle i defined by selected information, the selected information comprising: 3D position pi, surface normal ni, and reflectance factor pi.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer program/software code products, operable in a computer graphics system designed to render images and to apply shading to images, enable the following: during rendering of an image, modifying the shading normal in the region of a corner of an object in the image, such that when shading is applied to the image, the shaded image is capable of providing to a human viewer, when viewing the corner in the image, the appearance or visual illusion of a rounded corner, wherein the modifying comprises: calculating an amount of modification to be applied to an original shading normal in the region of the corner to simulate the appearance of a given fillet radius R, the calculating comprising: interrogating surfaces within a distance R of the corner for their shading normal, and calculating a new normal that is a weighted blend between the shading normal of the original surface and the shading normal of the interrogated neighboring surface, thereby, by the shading effect, to simul

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and computer program code (software) products operable within a computer graphics system or other computer system enable quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) light transport simulation by ray tracing: and include constructing a bounding interval hierarchy (BIH), within a computer, using quantized planes to reduce memory requirements while maintaining a selected degree of precision.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus and computer software/computer code products operable to enable computer graphics systems to simulate Markov chains (and thus trajectories of photons and the like) comprise simulating, and/or means for simulating, Markov chains using a quasi-Monte Carlo methodology, wherein the simulating of Markov chains comprises sorting states, and wherein the sorting comprises proximity sorting.

Abstract: A system is described for generating a plurality of identifiers, each associated with one of a like plurality of subdivision surfaces of a surface element, and for generating, using an identifier for a subdivision surface, coordinates for the subdivision surface. Each identifier includes one or more position codes. Each position code indicates the position of a subdivision surface at a respective level relative to the next higher level, so that successive position codes in the identifier indicate the positions of subdivision surfaces through successive subdivision levels. To generate coordinates for a subdivision surface from the identifier associated with the subdivision surface, the system sequences through successive position codes in the identifier to determine locations of the subdivision surfaces through the successive levels.

Abstract: A computer graphics system generates pixel values for pixels in an image of objects in a scene, using strictly-deterministic low-discrepancy sequences, illustratively Halton sequences, as sample points for evaluating integrals which are used to simulate a number of computer graphic techniques. The computer graphics system uses the low-discrepancy sequence to ensure that the sample points are evenly distributed over a respective region or time interval, thereby reducing error in the image which can result from clumping of such sample points which can occur in the Monte Carlo technique. In particular, the invention facilitates the generation of images of improved quality when using the same number of sample points at the same computational cost as in the Monte Carlo technique.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems and computer program code (software) products for terminating spatial partition hierarchies and other hierarchies by a priori bounding.

Abstract: A computer graphics system generates a three-dimensional model of an object in an interactive manner under control of an operator. An initial model for the object to be modeled is displayed to the operator as illuminated from a particular illumination direction and projected onto an image plane. The operator can update shading of a pixel on the image plane, and, based on the updated shading, the computer graphics system generates an updated normal vector for the updated pixel, which identifies the normal of the surface of the object projected onto the updated pixel. Using the updated normal vector field and a height field, which represents the height of the respective portion of the object as projected onto the respective pixels of the image plane, the computer graphics system generates an updated height value for the updated pixel, thereby to update the height field.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described in which rank-1 lattices are used in computerized image processing, in particular in the context of image synthesis. These include systems and techniques for selection of rank-1 lattices, rasterization on rank-1 lattices, anti-aliasing by rank-1 lattices, and adaptive refinement and filtering by rank-1 lattices.

Abstract: A computer program product for a computer graphics system comprises computer executable instructions recorded on a computer-readable medium: instructions executable to enable the computer to generate a selected number of sample points over an integration domain, such that there is at least one sample point in each of a plurality of strata distributed over the domain, the strata being defined by a rank-1 lattice; instructions executable to enable the computer to, for respective ones of the sample points, generate a value for the function at the respective sample point; and instructions executable to enable the computer to use the generated function values in generating an estimate for the value of the integral in relation to at least one object and at least one light source in a scene, the estimate corresponding to a pixel value for the image, to enable the computer to generate a display-controlling electrical output.

Abstract: Computer graphics apparatus, methods, systems and program products (the term “programs” can include a product consisting of computer-readable program instructions encoded on a computer readable medium) are operable to generate pixel values for pixels in an image, and store or display a human-perceptible image based on the pixel values, using a selected ray-tracing methodology in which simulated rays are shot from the pixel into a scene, the simulated rays representing paths of simulated photons, the pixel value being representative of a point in a scene as recorded on an image plane of a simulated camera. The computer graphics system comprises a subdomain generator, a subdomain photon evaluator, an area value generator and a radiance value generator. An associated computer system generates, based on the pixel values, a display-controlling electrical output operable to control a display element and enable the display element to display an image.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for ray tracing and for the efficient construction of acceleration data structures required for fast ray tracing. A computer graphics system generates, for each pixel in an image, a pixel value that is representative of a point in a scene as recorded on an image plane of a simulated camera. The computer graphics system is configured to generate the pixel value for an image using a selected ray-tracing methodology. The selected ray-tracing methodology includes the use of a ray tree that includes at least one ray shot from the pixel into a scene along a selected direction. The ray-tracing methodology further includes calculating the intersections of rays and surfaces in the scene. An axis-aligned bounding box is defined that contains, for a given ray, the point of intersection of the ray and surface nearest the origin of the ray. The bounding box is iteratively refined until a predetermined termination criterion has been met.

Abstract: Computer graphics apparatus, methods, systems and program products (the term “programs” can include a product consisting of computer-readable program instructions encoded on a computer readable medium) operable to generate pixel values for pixels in an image, and store or display a human-perceptible image based on the pixel values, comprise a photon map generator, a sample point generator and a function evaluator, which respectively generate a plurality of photon maps each associated with a respective point in time during a time interval, generate a set of sample points in accordance with a selected low-discrepancy sequence, and evaluate selected functions using photon maps associated with respective points in time associated with the sample points, thereby generating values corresponding to the pixel values. An associated computer system generates, based on the pixel values, a display-controlling electrical output to enable a display element to display an image.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and computer program products operable in a computer graphics system include constructing a hierarchical ray tracing acceleration data structure comprising a tree structure, the nodes of which are generated utilizing a bounding interval hierarchy based on defining an axis-aligned scene bounding box and two parallel planes to partition a set of objects in a sense into left objects and right objects, and matching split planes to object bounding boxes. The two planes are perpendicular to a selected one of x, y, or z-axes. Given a splitting plane, each object in an image is classified either left or right based on a left/right selection criterion, and two splitting plane values of the child modes are determined by the maximum and minimum coordinate of the left and right objects, respectively.