A parallel implementation of an interactive ray-tracing algorithm

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 1995

Authors

António Augusto de Sousa (Author) FEUP; Fernando Nunes Ferreira (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: Proceedings of International Meeting on Vector and Parallel Processing, VECPAR 93, Volume 6, Number 4/5, August/October 1995

Pages: 409-414

International Meeting on Vector and Parallel Processing

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Other engineering and technologies

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Technology > Computer technology

Other information

Abstract (EN): One of the most-used rendering algorithms in Computer Graphics is the Ray-Tracing. The "'standard" (Whited like) Ray-Tracing ~ is a good rendering algorithm but with a drawback: the time necessary to produce an image is too large (several hours of CPU time are necessary to make a good picture of a moderately sophisticated 3D scene) and the image is only ready to be observed at the end of processing. This kind of situation is difficult to accept in systems where interactivity is the first goal. "Increasing Realism" in Ray-Tracing tries to avoid the problem by supplying the user with a preview of the final image. This preview can be calculated in a considerably shorter time but permits that, with some margin of error, the user can imagine (even see, sometimes) some final effects. With more processing time the image quality continues improving without loss of previous results. The user can, at any time, interrupt the session if the image does not match what he wants. Simultaneously with the above idea, it is necessary to accelerate image production. Parallelism is then justified by the need of more processing power. The aim of this text is to describe the Interactive Ray-Tracing Algorithm implementation, using a parallel architecture based on Transputers. An overview of the architecture used is presented and the main parallel processes and related problems are discussed.

Language: Portuguese

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6