Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for synthesizing a texture of a desired size from a sample texture is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a matrix of the desired size, and providing values to the matrix. The values include random values and at least a portion of the values represents a desired structure according to which graphical features of a synthesized texture are to substantially conform. The method further comprises executing a texture synthesis process that utilizes the matrix to generate a synthesized texture of the desired size having graphical features arranged therein substantially in conformance with the desired structure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for rendering a digital image having surface reflectance properties is disclosed. The method comprises creating a parametric texture map that comprises parameters for an equation that defines a surface structure in a manner in which the appearance of the surface structure includes surface reflectance properties. The method further comprises rendering a digital image using the parametric texture map.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for performing H-space bump mapping. The apparatus of the present invention is a fragment processor of a computer graphics display system. The method of the present invention is performed by the fragment processor. In accordance with the method of the present invention, for each vertex of each polygon being processed, the fragment processor calculates both diffuse and specular lighting terms. Then, for each fragment within the polygon defined by the vertices, the fragment processor interpolates the specular and diffuse lighting terms to obtain diffuse and specular lighting terms for each fragment. If bump mapping has been enabled, the fragment processor adds perturbations to the diffuse and specular lighting terms to generate the bump mapping. Preferably, prior to performing the H-space bump mapping algorithm, texture coordinate gradient vectors are calculated for the image to be rendered.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system for rendering a pixel of a digital image. The system may comprise a texture map data structure representing a texture map of a plurality of texels; the texture map structure comprising a plurality of coefficients for each texel of the texture map; the plurality of coefficients defining lighting characteristics of the respective texel in response to illumination in a plane. The system may further comprise a modulation data structure; the modulation data structure defining a range of values associated with an illumination vector. Additionally, the system may comprise a rendering algorithm; the rendering algorithm operable to calculate a texel display value using the texture map data structure; the rendering algorithm operable to determine an illumination modulation value from the modulation data structure; and the rendering algorithm being operable to multiply the texel display value by the illumination modulation value to render a pixel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to method for assigning coefficients to a texel of a parametric texture map (PTM) texture. The method may comprise the steps of: generating a random PTM matrix of a desired size, the random PTM matrix comprising texels possessing random valued coefficients; selecting a texel from the random PTM matrix; determining a first neighborhood of the texel from the random PTM matrix; comparing the first neighborhood to neighborhoods of a sample PTM texture to determine an optimal texel of the sample PTM texture; and assigning PTM coefficients of the optimal texel to the texel from the random PTM matrix.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for rendering a three-dimensional 3D graphical image. The method comprises representing the 3D graphical image as a plurality of graphics primitives, each having a plurality of vertices. For each of said plurality of graphics primitives, at least two texture coordinate gradient vectors are computed. Additionally, for each vertex of the plurality of graphics primitives, the method comprises determining a 3D coordinate frame, wherein such determining step includes using the at least two texture coordinate gradient vectors computed for the respective graphics primitive for orienting the 3D coordinate frame. Thereafter, the method comprises utilizing at least the 3D coordinate frame to determine parameters of a parametric texture mapping function.