Simulating complex reflection in continuous volume rendering
Craig E. Thayer · 1992
Massive amounts of computation are required to synthesize effective scientific visualization imagery. Effectiveness can be enhanced by encorporating rendering features that reduce ambiguity. Complex reflection is such a rendering feature. Complex reflection simulates mirrored reflectivity. In volume rendering this is complicated by the lack of precise surface boundaries. Surfaces of individual objects have a depth component which affects the nature of mirrored reflections. This research addresses the problem of defining and incorporating complex reflection into volume rendering by (1) developing a consistent formal model for expressing and evaluating volumetric rendering techniques, (2) by establishing objective cost and quality metrics for assessing the effectiveness of those techniques, and (3) developing and evaluating a continuous reflection algorithm that is both formally sound and highly efficient.