A rendering framework for multiscale views of 3D models

Abstract

Figure 1: A continuous multiscale view (right) of a volumetric human body dataset shows three different levels of detail (left three) in a single image. The image on the right is directly rendered with our multiscale framework. AbstractImages that seamlessly combine views at different levels of detail are appealing. However, creating such multiscale images is not a trivial task, and most such illustrations are handcrafted by skilled artists. This paper presents a framework for direct multiscale rendering of geometric and volumetric models. The basis of our approach is a set of non-linearly bent camera rays that smoothly cast through multiple scales. We show that by properly setting up a sequence of conventional pinhole cameras to capture features of interest at different scales, along with image masks specifying the regions of interest for each scale on the projection plane, our rendering framework can generate non-linear sampling rays that smoothly project objects in a scene at multiple levels of detail onto a single image. We address two important issues with non-linear camera projection. First, our streamline-based ray generation algorithm avoids undesired camera ray intersections, which often result in unexpected images. Second, in order to maintain camera ray coherence and preserve aesthetic quality, we create an interpolated 3D field that defines the contribution of each pinhole camera for determining ray orientations. The resulting multiscale camera has three main applications: (1) presenting hierarchical structure in a compact and continuous manner, (2) achieving focus+context visualization, and (3) creating fascinating and artistic images.

Vessel Visualization using Curvicircular Feature Aggregation

“…Löffelmann and Gröller [LG96] describe an extended camera concept that is able to create artistic effects with ray tracing while maintaining an overview of the scene. Hsu et al [HMC11] propose a rendering framework for multi‐scale rendering of geometric and volumetric models. Their method can present complex structures with multiple levels of detail using a focus+context approach.…”

Labels on Levels: Labeling of Multi-Scale Multi-Instance and Crowded 3D Biological Environments

“…Recently, several approaches that improve the visual communication of structure of multi-scale scenes appeared. Hun et al [21] visually communicate the parent-child relationship in a multi-scale hierarchy by deforming the multi-scale scene. Waldin et al [50] utilize a dynamic approach to color objects in multi-scale scenes based on several levels of the hierarchy to better distinguish between structures on various scale levels.…”