Nvidia Corporation

Pixar

Larry I Gritz

Daniel Elliott Wexler

Matthew Nicholas Papakipos

David B Kirk

Rui Bastos

Harold Robert Feldman Zatz

Jonathan Rice

Daniel Elliot Wexler

Eric Enderton

Philip Nemec

Cass Watson Everitt

Eric Hugh Veach

Matthew Milton Pharr

Craig E Kolb

Anthony A Apodaca

Mark T Vande Wettering

John F Schlag

In an example embodiment, 3D graphics object information associated with a render of a frame may be stored in an object-indexed cache in a memory. The 3D graphics object information comprises results for one or more shading operations further comprises one or more input values for the one or more shading operations.

Re-render acceleration of frame with lighting change

Digital Image compositing using a programmable graphics processor is described. The programmable graphics processor supports high-precision data formats and can be programmed to complete a plurality of compositing operations in a single pass through a fragment processing pipeline within the programmable graphics processor. Source images for one or more compositing operations are stored in graphics memory, and a resulting composited image is output or stored in graphics memory. More-complex compositing operations, such as blur, warping, morphing, and the like, can be completed in multiple passes through the fragment processing pipeline. A composited image produced during a pass through the fragment processing pipeline is stored in graphics memory and is available as a source image for a subsequent pass.

Digital image compositing using a programmable graphics processor

A method for smoothly transitioning between different object representations in computer animation using stochastic sampling. The method allows for level of detail transitions between object representations made up of different geometric primitives, of different types, with different rendering attributes, and even different topologies without 'popping' or other visual artifacts.

Stochastic level of detail in computer animation

Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices, and/or systems for load balancing two processors, such as for graphics and/or video processing, for example, are described.

Load balancing

Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices, and/or systems for video processing, such as for hidden surface removal or reduction, are described.

Video processing, such as for hidden surface reduction or removal

The present invention is related to rendering computer animated video and/or images generally, and to simulating motion blur efficiently in computer graphics. The present invention includes selecting a plurality of sample locations from which to sample an object scene. If a given sample location overlaps a moving object, existing sample data computed or initialized for the sample location is replicated. This data is then separately updated by sampling the moving object at a plurality of times during the object scene. The replicated data is updated further by subsequently sampling moving and non-moving objects at some or all of the plurality of times. After all of the objects that overlap the sample location have been processed, the replicated data, which may be updated, is combined.

System and method of simulating motion blur efficiently

This invention relates generally to the art of computer graphics, and more specifically to the field of line sampling object scene information for the purpose of reconstructing an image of the object scene. In particular, the inventions distributes a set of line samples across an image plane such that the distribution of the set of line samples is non-regular. Additionally, the invention projects objects from an object scene onto an image plane and computes a view of the objects along each line sample in the set of line samples. Finally, the invention combines the view along each line sample in the set of line samples to form a view of the object scene.

System and method of line sampling object scene information

The present invention is related to rendering computer animated video and/or images generally, and to adjusting the origins of rays cast for object-edge positions. The present invention includes identifying a location of a vertex positioned on a perimeter of an object defined in the object scene by a plurality of vertices. The plurality of vertices include the vertex positioned on the perimeter of the object. A shading position that corresponds to, but is offset from, the vertex is then established. A shading value is then computed for the vertex by reference to the shading position. The shading value may be computed, for example, by casting a ray from the shading position.

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Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Larry I Gritz