Pixar

Dana Batali

Julian Fong

David Laur

Per H Christensen

Loren C Carpenter

Small objects causing aliasing are enlarged so that they are likely to be sampled by image sampling points. The opacity of the enlarged object is reduced in proportion to the enlargement. To efficiently render partially transparent objects, such as enlarged objects, objects are sampled using sigma buffer samples instead of image sample points. For each sigma buffer sample, a corresponding portion of the object is set to either completely transparent or completely opaque. The proportion of transparent to opaque portions of the object matches or approximates the partial transparency of the object as a whole. The completely opaque portions of one or more objects are sampled with the corresponding sigma buffer samples. Aggregate values of the sigma buffer samples are determined and can be combined with the attribute values of other objects sampled with image sampling points associated with the same region as the set of sigma buffer samples.

Sigma buffer for rendering small objects

A method and apparatus for rendering a plurality of objects. The method includes receiving ray differential information associated with a ray, determining a first resolution associated with a first surface patch based on at least information associated with the ray and the first surface patch, processing information associated with the first resolution and a database, and determining whether a first geometry representation associated with the first surface patch tessellated at the first resolution is present in the database. The database is associated with a plurality of predetermined resolutions, and the first resolution is equal to one of the plurality of predetermined resolutions. At least one of the plurality of predetermined resolutions includes a first tessellation rate associated with a first dimension and a second tessellation rate associated with a second dimension. The first tessellation rate is different from the second tessellation rate.

Flexible and modified multiresolution geometry caching based on ray differentials

A method and apparatus for rendering a plurality of objects. The method includes receiving ray differential information associated with a ray, determining a first ray differential based on at least information associated with the ray and a first surface patch, processing information associated with the first ray differential and the first surface patch, determining a first resolution based on at least information associated with the first ray differential and the first surface patch, and selecting a second resolution from the plurality of predetermined resolutions. Additionally, the method includes obtaining a first geometry representation associated with the second resolution. Moreover, the method includes if the second resolution is finer than the first resolution, selecting a third resolution from the plurality of predetermined resolutions, obtaining a second geometry representation associated with the third resolution, generating a third geometry representation, and determining whether the ray and the first surface patch intersect.

Multiresolution geometry caching based on ray differentials with modifications

A method and apparatus for rendering a plurality of objects. The method includes receiving ray differential information associated with a ray, determining a first ray differential based on at least information associated with the ray and a first surface patch, and determining a first resolution based on at least information associated with the first ray differential and the first surface patch. Additionally, the method includes obtaining a first geometry representation based on at least information associated with the first surface patch and the first resolution, and obtaining a second geometry representation associated with a second surface patch tessellated at a second resolution. Moreover, the method includes determining whether there is at least one patch crack between the first geometry representation and the second geometry representation, and if there is the at least one patch crack, performing a stitching process to the first geometry representation and the second geometry representation.

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Bainbridge Island, WA, United States of America

Dana Batali