Prioritization scheme for enhancing the display of ray traced images

Abstract

A method and means are provided for utilizing, in a color imaging environment, such as ray tracing, display adapter hardware which is capable of interpolating color values for pixels lying in an area between previously color imaged pixels. A computer system CPU performs ray tracing calculations, or the like for a predetermined number of the total pixels, rather then each pixel, as is the case with conventional ray trace image systems. The system CPU then turns over the color imaged pixels to a display adapter, capable of color interpolating therebetween. Additionally, a prioritization scheme is provided which allows a graphics system user to assign priority values to particular areas or objects included in a scene description. In this way, the areas having higher priority values are subject to a greater concentration of ray tracing operations, thereby allowing these object to be displayed at a much faster rate. An even faster display of these prioritized areas can be achieved by combining the invocation of display adapter hardware to achieve color interpolation to the prioritization scheme.