Light Path Correlation in Digital Image Rendering of a Digital scene

• US 20180197327A1
• Filed: 01/11/2017
• Published: 07/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Sun, Xin, Sun, Weilun, Carr, Nathan Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 10,445,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/06 Ray-tracing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/506 Illumination models

Abstract

Techniques and systems are described that support light path correlation in digital image rendering of a digital scene. In one example, a plurality of light paths between a light source and the digital image to be rendered of a digital scene are identified by a computing device. Each light path of the plurality of light paths includes a primary vertex and a secondary vertex between respective segments of the light path. A plurality of correlated samples is then generated by the computing device from the light paths. Each correlated sample of the plurality of correlated samples is based at least in part on similarity of the secondary vertex of respective said light paths to each other, e.g., on location, geometric normal, or surface material properties. The digital image of the digital scene is then rendered by the computing device based at least in part on the plurality of correlated samples.

Claims

1. In a digital medium environment to render a digital image of a digital scene, a method implemented by at least one computing device, the method comprising:

identifying, by at least one computing device, a plurality of light paths between a light source and the digital image to be rendered of the digital scene, each light path of the plurality of light paths having a primary vertex and a secondary vertex between respective segments of the light path;

generating, by the at least one computing device, a plurality of correlated samples from the light paths, each correlated sample of the plurality of correlated samples based at least in part on similarity of the secondary vertex of respective said light paths to each other; and

rendering, by the at least one computing device, the digital image of the digital scene based at least in part on the plurality of correlated samples.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the similarity of the secondary vertex of the respective said light paths to each other is based at least in part on similarity of respective locations within the digital scene.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the similarity of the secondary vertex of the respective said light paths to each other is based at least in part on similarity of respective surface material properties within the digital scene.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the similarity of the secondary vertex of the respective said light paths to each other is based at least in part on similarity of respective geometric normals within the digital scene.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the similarity of the secondary vertex of the respective said light paths to each other is determined using a nearest neighbor technique based on respective locations, surface materials, or geometric normals.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the generating of the plurality of correlated samples includes reconstructing at least one light path.

7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the rendering is based on a Monte Carlo rendering technique using the plurality of correlated samples.

8. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the primary vertex is closer along the light path to the digital image to be rendered than the secondary vertex.

9. The method as described in claim 1, wherein both the primary vertex and the secondary vertex connect two respective segments of the light path to each other between the light source and the digital image.

10. In a digital medium environment to render a digital image of a digital scene, a system comprising:

a path identification module implemented at least partially in hardware of a computing device to identify a plurality of light paths between a light source and the digital image to be rendered of the digital scene, each light path of the plurality of light paths having a primary vertex and a secondary vertex between respective segments of the light path;

a sample correlation module implemented at least partially in hardware of the computing device to generate a plurality of correlated samples from the light paths, each correlated sample of the plurality of correlated samples based on similarity of the secondary vertex of respective said light paths to each other; and

an image rendering module implemented at least partially in hardware of the computing device to render the digital image of the digital scene based at least in part on the plurality of correlated samples.

11. The system as described in claim 10, wherein the similarity of the secondary vertex of the respective said light paths to each other is based at least in part on similarity of respective locations within the digital scene.

12. The system as described in claim 10, wherein the similarity of the secondary vertex of the respective said light paths to each other is based at least in part on similarity of respective surface material properties within the digital scene.

13. The system as described in claim 10, wherein the similarity of the secondary vertex of the respective said light paths to each other is based at least in part on similarity of respective geometric normals within the digital scene.

14. The system as described in claim 10, wherein the similarity of the secondary vertex of the respective said light paths to each other is determined using a nearest neighbor technique based on respective locations, surface materials, or geometric normals.

15. The system as described in claim 10, further comprising a path reconstruction module implemented at least partially in hardware of the computing device to reconstruct at least one light path as part of generating of the plurality of correlated samples.

16. The system as described in claim 10, wherein the primary vertex is closer along the light path to the digital image to be rendered than the secondary vertex.

17. The system as described in claim 10, wherein both the primary vertex and the secondary vertex of a respective said light path connect two respective segments of the light path to each other between the light source and the digital image.

18. In a digital medium environment to render a digital image of a digital scene, a system comprising:

means for identifying a plurality of light paths between a light source and the digital image to be rendered of the digital scene, each light path of the plurality of light paths having a primary vertex and a secondary vertex between respective segments of the light path;

means for generating a plurality of correlated samples from the light paths, each correlated sample of the plurality of correlated samples based on similarity of location of the secondary vertex of respective said light paths to each other within the digital scene; and

means for rendering the digital image of the digital scene based at least in part on the plurality of correlated samples.

19. The system as described in claim 18, wherein the similarity of the secondary vertex of the respective said light paths to each other is further based at least in part on similarity of respective surface material properties within the digital scene.

20. The system as described in claim 18, wherein the similarity of the secondary vertex of the respective said light paths to each other is further based at least in part on similarity of respective geometric normals within the digital scene.