On the Optimization of Projective Volume Rendering

How to render very complex datasets, and yet maintain interactive response times, is a hot topic in volume rendering. In this paper we focus on projective visualization of datasets represented via tetrahedral tessellations. Direct projective visualization is performed by sorting tetrahedra with respect to view direction and then by projecting them onto the screen. Different sorting algorithms and "per tetrahedra" projection techniques are reviewed and evaluated. A new method for tetrahedra projection approximation is presented. In addition, we compare the results obtained by the optimization of the rendering process with those obtained by adopting a data simplification approach. 1 Introduction The real usability of a system for the visualization of volume data is strictly connected to the level of interactivity the system performs. This is both to simplify the user--system interaction and to improve our understanding of the results through motion or animation. The efficiency of the vi..