System for previewing a photorealistic rendering of a synthetic scene in real-time

• US 6,864,889 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Blaho, Bruce E
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Lee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US09/999,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 345582-587, 345/423, 345426-428, 345418-425, 345/619, 345/633, 345501-503, 345/506, 345/530, 345/539, 345/541, 345/545, 345/552, 345/48, 345/84, 348 24- 25, 348/130, 348/135, 348/142
• US Class Current: 345/426
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/50 Lighting effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/28 involving image processing hardware

Abstract

A system is provided for previewing a photorealistic representation of a synthetic scene in real-time. An object may be sampled in accordance with predetermined parameters to generate a predetermined number of base images. Direction-dependent textures maps are generated based upon the base images. The synthetic scene is rendered based upon the texture maps and output for display in real-time on a display device.

Claims

1. A method of previewing a photo-realistic scene in real-time comprising the steps of:

defining a synthetic object;

rendering said synthetic object offline using an image synthesis tool to generate representations of said synthetic object in accordance with a set of predetermined parameters;

sampling said representations to generate a plurality of base images;

creating a direction-dependent texture map based on said plurality of base images; and

rendering said synthetic object in said scene in real-time in accordance with said direction-dependent texture map.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of rendering said synthetic object offline to generate representations of said synthetic object comprises rendering said synthetic object in an environment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein rendering said synthetic object in an environment comprises modifying the orientation of said synthetic object with respect to the environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sampling said representations comprises capturing a digitized version of each representation of said synthetic object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sampling said representations comprises recording a plurality of image parameters associated with picture elements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined parameters comprise an angle of a lighting source relative to said synthetic object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined parameters comprise an angle of viewing said synthetic object.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said lighting source comprises an apparent lighting source.

9. A system for previewing a scene in real-time comprising:

an object generator configured to create rendered representations of a synthetic object associated with said scene, said synthetic object created using an image synthesis tool;

an image sampler configured to generate base images responsive to said representations in accordance with predetermined parameters;

a storage device for storing said base images;

a controller configured to generate a direction-dependent texture map in accordance with said base images; and

a rendering unit for rendering said scene in real time in accordance with said direction-dependent texture map.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said rendering unit comprises a graphics processor.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said base image represents said synthetic object.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said base images represent said synthetic object within an environment.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said base images are generated via a digital representation.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said base images are responsive to at least one of an environmental parameter and an object parameter.

15. A system for previewing a scene in real-time comprising:

image synthesis tool for creating a synthetic object;

base image generator for sampling a rendered representation of said synthetic object and generating a plurality of base images;

texture map generator for generating a direction-dependent texture map in accordance with said plurality of base images;

storage device for storing said direction-dependent texture map; and

rendering unit for rendering said scene in real-time in accordance with said direction-dependent texture map.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said rendering unit is further configured to output a signal representative of said rendered scene for real-time display.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a display device for previewing said rendered scene.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said rendering unit comprises a graphics processor.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said base image is responsive to at least one parameter selected from an environmental parameter and an object parameter.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said environmental parameter comprises a view perspective.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said environmental parameter comprises a light source position.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein said environmental parameter comprises time.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein said object parameter comprises a surface property associated with said synthetic object.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein said object parameter comprises a relative geometry of said synthetic object with respect to said environment.