Efficient perspective volume visualization method using progressive depth refinement

Abstract

In recent volume visualization, high-speed perspective rendering method is essential. Progressive refinement is well-known solution for real-time image generation under limited computing environment. We propose an accelerated rendering method that exploits progressive depth refinement. While performing progressive refinement of volume ray casting, it computes depth values for sub-sampled pixels and determines the minimum value of four neighboring pixels. Original ray casting starts ray traversal from its corresponding pixel. However, rays in our method jump as the amount of the minimum z-value calculated in the previous stage. Experimental results show that our method reduces rendering time in comparison to conventional volume ray casting. © Springer-Verlag 2004.