A Computer Graphic Method to Enhance the Display and Interpretation of Three-Dimensional Data
Kelly A. Dryden · Proceedings annual meeting Electron Microscopy Society of America · 1990
Three-dimensional density information derived from electron micrographs may reveal complex structural features which are difficult to interpret from one or more two-dimensional views. Displaying a series of static views on a graphics device in quick succession provides an effective means to examine the structure dynamically and in a way which enhances the depth perception. Digital images derived from three-dimensional models are transfered to the memory of a 1280x1024 resolution (8-bit pixel) color raster graphics device (Lexidata 3400, Adage Inc., Billerica, MA) and displayed on a 19 in. color monitor at a 25-30 Hz interlaced refresh rate. Individual pixels are displayed as one of 256 different colors or grey levels from a palette of up to 224—1 combinations. An entire series of images is loaded into the graphics memory in a sequential order, usually in rows. The displayed series is zoomed up to focus on a single frame and separate frames are displayed in appropriate sequence by panning to different regions of the graphics memory. The frequency at which each frame can be displayed is adjustable and only limited by the refresh rate of the monitor. Such dynamic image sequences can be photographed with a standard video camera and replayed on a television monitor with a video cassette recorder. The programs for displaying image data are written in FORTRAN and have been implemented on a VAX/VMS 8550 minicomputer (Digital Equipment Corp., Maynard, MA).